"I don't think I can do this Dave," Ashley retreated.

"Why? Are you scared to walk into your own company?"

What sort of ridiculous question was that?

"No, no."

Dave left her side and stood in front of her. "So, are you nervous?"

Ashley slightly ducked her head and placed her gaze on the cemented floor, and she replied quietly, "Maybe. I don't know. Can you tell that I am nervous?"

"Yes." She looked up at him. "You have the habit of tucking your hair behind your ear whenever you are nervous." The little frown on her forehead came when she wondered how he noticed such a little detail. "You do it a lot even when you are not aware."

The tenderness etched Dave's eyes as he answered her mind's question got her wondering what else he had noticed about her.

Heaving a deep sigh, Ashley made to swirl her heel and leave. Eyes squinted with worry, she asked, "Can't I just come here another day?"

"Why? Aren't you the boss here? Why are you so feverish about going inside?"

Her eyes darting to the side, Ashley let out a huge sigh as she thought of a way to table her emotion. "It's just... Never mind."

Reaching out for her arms, Dave pulled her a bit closer and made her look into his eyes. "No. Don't tell me not to mind. I am here to fix you, remember? So, what is the problem here, Ashley?"

The somewhat ravenous feeling that she was experiencing because of his touch on her bare skin was one problem already.

"I... I just don't know how to..." A quirk on Dave's brows got her spitting out her true emotion. "People will talk, okay!"

"So?"

"So? People will talk and that means that I am going to be uncomfortable for a long time. And trust me, feeling uncomfortable is not what I need right now. So, if going to work means not feeling at ease, I might as well just sit at home."

Ashley detached herself from his hold, her arms crossing while she waited for Dave to tell her to go into the car.

"Ashley, talking is what people will always do. No matter what you do or say, whether it is good or bad, people will always find something to say."

"But..."

"Listen to me," he went on to hold her hands and Ashley noted how their body contact was gradually getting plentiful, "wherever you are, be it at home o-or, at work, anywhere, you can never escape being talked about. It is in the human genes."

"I..."

"You need to realise that if you mainly live your life based on what people say or do not say, you are in error." She frowned. "Yes. You don't exactly have all the time in the world to hide at home for a long time because you don't want to hear people talking about you."

Dave's words were true, it pricked her where she did not like it.

Being a person who largely hated people telling her what to do, Ashley could have burst with severe anger in reaction to his sermon. But Dave was right, he was so freaking right and she could not argue.

"Besides," Dave continued, "aren't you the boss here? If your employees know what is good for them, they won't dare to act all gossipy in front of you."

Tucking her lower lips in, her soul in deep ponder, Ashley concluded that it was high time she resumed her work. It was time for her to stop wishing for the strength to do the things she was supposed to do.

Feeling assured, Ashley nodded and said, "Let's go in."

"Good. That's the spirit I was wishing to see. And, don't worry, I am here with you, every step of the way."

Ashley gave Dave a soft smile in response and after a few seconds of eye contact, they walked into the building, side by side.

Ashley's company which was fitted into a huge bungalow had rooms that didn't look like a regular office. Ashley passed the reception area where she was greeted by Gina with a huge smile that had a bit of pity behind it and she realized how much she missed the artistically coloured walls of her company.

She and Dave walked into the main office which looked like a clothes store relaxation lounge with clothes hangers scattered here and there, and Ashley could not help but recall where she had started from.

In terms of her business, she had indeed come a long way, it just took her a while to notice that simple yet admirable fact.

When she was greeted by more smiling faces who were busy at their stations before she walked in, Ashley became more confident.

Sasha, her assistant, approached her with absolute joy on her face. "Miss Steve! It is so good to see you."

"Yeah, you..."

Sasha immediately threw herself into Ashley's arms. The latter was startled at first, but she returned the hug, bliss flowing through her.

Sasha wasn't ready to let go easily. With her shrill voice, she said, "I am so glad you are okay. We tried reaching you to no avail." Ashley caught the smile Dave threw her way as the hug became lengthier. "I even came to your house, but nobody answered me. Oh, I am so glad you are fine."

"Sasha, get yourself together. You are squeezing me."

"Oh my!" Sasha quickly let go. "Sorry. It is just so good to see you." She was so giddy, you would think she was a five-year-old who just got her favorite toy.

"It's okay." Ashley turned to the rest. "It is good to see you guys too."

Uh-oh...

As she gave every other person a quick and appreciative glance, her confidence began to fail her.

Something inside her chest began to race, the sides of her eyes started to itch and when she became desperate to get rid of the itch, her hands wouldn't budge.

Her palms felt sweaty and her knees started to tell her that they wouldn't be able to take her weight anymore.

To worsen matters, Ashley stole another look at her employees. They were all smiling in reality, but to her, they had grouped themselves in twos and threes, and without shame, they were whispering things to each other, their judging eyes heavily trained on her.

'Look at her, she lost her husband to her mother.'

She could hear them say those words and her heart felt messier. But still, she could not soothe herself, her hands refused to move.

And her eyes refused to look away from the disastrous scene her mind was playing. Her employees were still staring right at her, whispering into each other's ears as they did.

'Turned out she wasn't so perfect,' they said. 'She couldn't keep her home at the end.'

Vile looks, heart-piercing side talks, a racing heart, a body that refused to move... Ashley felt doomed in the midst of all this. She felt confused and she wanted to run back home and hide under her sheets.

Coming out was a mistake, letting Dave Scott get to her was a mistake, and...

In the midst of her troubled mind, with a deep crease on her forehead, Ashley found Dave's eyes and before he could wear concern in his eyes, she reached for his hand and dragged him into her office.

When Dave closed the door, Ashley finally felt like she could breathe. Hands on her chest, she wondered if she was more damaged than she thought. She wondered if she had undermined the effect the divorce had on her soul.

"Hey, are you fine?" Dave asked when he walked up to her. Ashley shook her head. With her lips trying to fight a cry, her eyes closed and she tried to achieve a clear mind. "Hey, look at me. Look at me," he urged. Reluctantly, she did as he asked. And, the care he had in his eyes baffled her so much that another wrinkle settled in the middle of her forehead.

A hand of his settled on her elbow and Dave said, "You don't have to stay here if you are not comfortable."

"No," Ashley pushed his hand away, "it is fine."

"Are you sure?" She nodded. "Really?" She nodded again.

After a pause, he continued, "Today is all about achieving happiness, no matter how little. Tell me, Ashley, are you happy when you work?"

Ashley, who was now a little calmer, asked, "What sort of question is that?"

"Just answer me. Does your work make you happy? Does this place make you happy?"

"Yes. Of course."

His question was still somehow ridiculous to her.

"Good. I didn't make a mistake bringing you here then."

The man was just a mystery to her. The way he thought, the questions he asked, and his methods of fixing her... They were weird to her.

Ashley's eyes fell on her desk and she groaned. The paperwork left there for her was quite a lot. But since they were probably there for her to cross-check and sign, she decided that she could quickly settle and sort them out.

"I can't believe I have missed so much work," she said, her legs walking their way to the arched, glass-topped, aesthetic desk.

But Dave's hand hurriedly stopped her from behind before she could reach for the document on top of the pile.

She raised a brow and he shook his head.

"Ashley Steve, we did not come here so that you could work. There is no such thing when I am around."

His touch...

That damned touch of his was stirring something inside her again. Groaning inwardly, her eyes planted on his masculine hand, Ashley wondered what exactly the problem was. Was deciding not to give in not enough to wave off the effect of Dave's presence?

Then, as their contact persisted, the fingers of the man's hands started to draw light strokes in a way she could not ignore. Ashley looked to the side to capture the outline of his face and while it was hard to tell what was on his mind, she could deduce that he had been feeling the same frustration she'd been facing ever since they met and shared two kisses.

"Dave..." Ashley swallowed hard to hide the fact that she was gradually getting aroused. She turned her head in a way that ensured that their eyes met. "I thought we decided we were not going to..."

His eyes became dark with intent just as they did at her parent's house. A slight move in his stance and Dave brought his free hand to slowly comb through the sides of her hair. Ashley shivered a little in reaction and he noticed.

Then, he said, "I know what I said, Ashley Steve." He said her name carefully as if it was a crate of eggs helplessly dangling in the air. "I remember saying we can't take the risk, but now..."

"Now?" she croaked.

Not giving an instant reply, Dave was swift enough to pull her body closer to his. He began to draw the strokes to and fro her left arm and his breath fanned her hair, her skin, her soul...

And the closeness between their lower bodies made things worse.

Ashley looked away from him when she felt a little cry in her throat. She really wanted the man.

"Now, I think..."

Moaning when he leaned closer and placed his lips on her exposed shoulder blade, Ashley quickly reached for the edge of the table for support.

She didn't fully realize it before, but her attraction to Dave Scott was deeper than she thought.

Ashley's eyes displayed the growing desire in her soul and with a little thickness in her voice, she asked, "Think... what?"

"I think I am going to take the risk."

Dave abruptly turned her to face him and a fierce gasp escaped her. While he looked intensely into her eyes, Ashley's eyes went to his formed lips.

Dave leaned in towards her lips and their eyes met again and each saw that the reckless desire they had for each other could burn their soul if not careful.

Regardless, Ashley wanted him to ravish her lips. She was loving the risk they were taking, but... "Right here, Dave?" Ashley asked, wondering if it would be fine to take that much risk.

The vigour with which Dave captured her lips was enough response.