Already used to Dave Scott taking her to unusual places, Ashley slightly turned in her seat and gently said, "This is my mother's house."

"Well, this is where your ex-husband lives now," he replied.

"That cheap bastard," Ashley cursed under her breath.

How dare he move into the home she grew up in? The home her father and mother once lived in happily.

"This is where we are going to release the rest of your anger. Well, most of it. Strangely no matter how hard you try, some will still be there, tucked away, waiting for the best chance to show up."

"Uh..."

The tone of his voice was oddly calm, Ashley had to wonder if Dave Scott had a story of his own. She wondered if she'd ever know what it was.

A sharp exhale from the man and he said, "Okay. Let's go in."

"Go in? What for? How... how did you even get this address?"

"I have my ways, Ashley Steve."

"What are your ways?"

"I am a rich man with the ability to hire people to look into people."

"Saying that just makes you look more suspicious. Now I have more reason to run away from you. What if you have an alternative reason for approaching me?"

"I do have an alternative reason."

Her brows jerked with surprise. "What?"

"You'll find out in due time. For now, I want us to go into that house because we are going to be trashing your ex-husband's new house."

Ashley's eyes widened. There was no way she was going to trash her childhood abode. It was too special to her. Shaking her head furiously, she said, "No, we are not. My mother lives here. And..."

"Your mother slept with your husband."

Dave's statement hit in a way that forced Ashley to face the reality that surrounded her divorce.

Throughout the time she spent bawling her eyes, she avoided thoughts about a certain person.

That person was her mother.

Ashley had forced herself to believe that the woman she caught with her husband was not her mother. That helped take her mind off certain thoughts, but the truth prevailed in the end.

Dave Scott reminded her of the truth. And the truth hurts.

"I know what my mother did," she mumbled in response, her eyes trained on her fingers.

"And you don't think she deserves to be punished for what she did?"

"This is also my home, Dave. I grew up here. I don't think I can trash it."

Dave gave a slow nod. "Okay. Let's just go in, you can take a look at your childhood home. Nothing else."

"No trashing?"

"No trashing."

They both got out of the vehicle and soon walked past the little iron gate that led to the huge bungalow that was still as Ashley remembered it.

"Are you sure there is no one at home?"

"Nobody will be around for a while." Dave pulled at her hand. "Come, let's go in."

"How on earth do you even know that?"

"I told you," his hand pushed open the entrance door to her surprise, "I have my ways."

"You sure do." Ashley was not sure of what to make of the fact that he opened the front door without using any key. Curious, she reached for the flower pot that lay just right beside the door to search for the house key that was normally there.

"Are you coming?"

The key was intact.

"Yes."

When Ashley entered, a short smile played on her mouth as the familiar yet missed scent of her home penetrated her senses.

"Nothing has changed." Ashley's legs walked her past the beaded curtain on her left which exposed part of the living room.

Having a vintage touch to it, the huge room drove Ashley to a state of nostalgia.

Smiling softly now, she faced Dave who was leaning against the wall, studying the room. "My dad and I used to sit on this couch and gossip about my mom whenever she was out or in the kitchen."

"Your dad sounds fun, where is he now?"

Sadness draped over her face. Her eyes shifted to the wall ahead that held pictures of their family, and she said, "He passed away when I was fourteen."

A minute's silence existed before Dave commented quietly, "It must have hurt to lose him."

"It hurt a lot." Ashley took careful steps toward the wall, her eyes squinting. "This is strange."

"What is?"

"My dad's pictures are no longer here." She looked back at Dave. "All of his pictures, including the ones he took with my mother and me."

Dave left her observation unanswered and stayed quiet for a while. Ashley went on to study the room to see if anything else was missing.

"Are you sure you don't want to trash something?" Dave asked.

Ashley sent a glare his way, and he raised his hands in surrender.

"I need to check my room." She walked out of the living room and continued her journey down the corridor. On getting to the entrance of what used to be her room, Ashley took in a deep breath.

And she was grateful she had taken that quick breath.

Her room, which used to be an abode that she was proud of, considering the fact that she painted the walls of the room with the help of her father and designed it herself, had been turned into a dump.

Or what else would she call a room that had been converted into Kevin's office? Or to put it better, his man cave.

"Whoa. This is a cool room." Dave admired the sight from behind, while Ashley on the other hand was seething.

How dare her mother?

First, she takes down her father's pictures, then gives her room to her ex-husband to use as a relaxation spot when there was a spare room in the house that could have served that purpose.

And, she freaking stole her husband right from under her nose!

What next, she covers the whole house with pictures of her boyfriend, Kevin?

At that moment, Ashley wished her mother was right there. She would have properly thrown the venom building up inside her at the woman.

'Jeez! I hate both of them!'

"Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"I have to trash this house."

"Are you sure? You just said..."

Ashley turned in her heels to face the tall man, her eyes glaring, "I need to trash this house."

"Okay." He walked into the room and grabbed a baseball bat. "Here, trash away."

Her tongue flicking, she walked into the room with renewed buoyancy.

Standing in front of his desktop computer setup which she clearly remembered getting for Kevin, Ashley cursed and the next thing, she was hitting away at the system.

Next was his shoe rack. Most of his shoes there, she had gifted to him.

The idiot actually hardly bought things with his money.

Heck!

Ashley had gathered her all to buy the house they lived in while he kept giving the excuse of being too broke.

As she went on to attack his stupid paintings that were so freaking ugly, she heard a chuckle behind her. Still fuming, sweating even, she slowly turned, her eyes bulging.

"You think this is funny?" she questioned Dave Scott.

Dave immediately replied, "No, no. Not at all." He slowly walked towards her. A closer look at his face and Ashley saw the dark look that took over his face. The bat in her hands became a burden because all her soul could concentrate on was the handsome Dave Scott. "I just think," even his accent had become heavy, "that it is funny that I found you so hot and irresistible while you were kicking that painting."

"Y... you..."

He was getting even closer and his sexual intention became clearer.

Ashley could not move an inch, she wanted it. She immediately knew that she wanted whatever new, amazing form of pleasure Dave Scott was about to throw her way.

As his hand covered hers, Ashley flinched and the bat dropped. His touch was something else. It affected her in a way that felt strange yet good.

His eyes roaming her face in a way no man had ever done before, his thick voice murmured, "You are a very beautiful woman, Ashley Steve. So, don't blame me. I can't help but be attracted to you."

Her whole body warmed, and her insides flew.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked.

A bit surprised at the question and the manner with which it was asked, Ashley raised her head and when she saw that intent of his again, she couldn't help but tug at her lower lip in coyness.

It seemed that little move of hers affected Dave who groaned, instantly drew Ashley closer, and covered her lips with a fierce kiss.

And, just as in the cemetery, she reacted without hesitation and she loved every moment of it.

His hands trailed her back with precision to her desirous pleasure. His tongue explored her mouth and Ashley gave in to him totally, not bothering to fight for a chance to dominate.

Before she knew it, her back was against the wall, and she was further sandwiched with the built man whose body housed hers in a way that guaranteed increasing reaction in her private region.

Their kiss still didn't break, but Dave's hands had changed positions, they frolicked all over her body in a way that made her feel extremely loved.

And Ashley just had to moan in reaction because the moment became more and more intimate.

Not willing to be idle while her soul was being lifted in such an amazing way, Ashley's hands went on to play with the back of his hair and when she heard the groan he sent into their kiss, she pressed her body into his some more.

That moment could go on forever if there was a chance to, but like all things in life, the kiss came to an end.

Ashley and Dave stared into each other's eyes, breathless and speechless.

Ashley who had never experienced a sexual play as strong as that listened as Dave apologized.

"Sorry, I didn't wait for your answer."

Ashley's lips struggled with a smile. "I didn't have to answer." Her voice was not hers.

A door slam from outside interrupted whatever Dave was about to say, causing Ashley to frown.

"I thought you said no one would come around," she said to Dave.

Dave straightened his stance, his hands still around Ashley's waist. "Things don't always go as planned," he replied.

'Francine! I am home!' An annoyingly familiar voice cried from the entrance.

And Ashley almost cussed as she nervously said, "Oh my God Dave, it is Kevin."