They were interrupted.

It was as though Sasha knew that something heated was about to happen right there in the office. She walked in with her bubbly personality and the duo who were about to feel something insane had to separate.

Since then, Ashley nurtured frustration in her soul.

At that moment, she and Dave were on their way to her house and throughout most of the ride, Ashley who kept trying to stop herself from groaning could not help but glance now and then at Dave who maintained a serious look while driving.

Each repeated look at the gorgeous man made Ashley want him more. Even while he was stoic-looking, Dave managed to look so good.

As the curved road that led to her street appeared, Ashley began to devise a plan that would ensure that the growing hunger inside her was quenched.

Maybe it was high time she had a rebound, she reasoned.

But the rebound she was going to have would be more than a rebound. It might lead to something serious and she had a feeling that the person she was going to have the rebound with was going to be around for a very, very long time.

No. No.

Ashley shook her head frantically.

She already told herself she was not going to let anything happen between them, sexual or not. Her heart was too fragile at that moment. Handling the emotions that might trail her romantic involvement with Dave Scott might not be easy.

'Aargh!'

Ashley could not help but scream in her head. She could have reached for the sides of her head and moaned about her predicament, but she did not want Dave to think that she was insane.

But why?

Why was Dave Scott driving her so crazy? What was he doing to her? How is it that he entered her mind and raided it too easily?

"We are here," Dave announced, his car jerking as he pulled the handbrake.

Instead of looking toward her destination, Ashley's eyes immediately went to glue themselves on Dave whose curls kept sweeping to the front of his face.

While she wondered if Dave had plans to continue the heated session they shared earlier, Ashley's eyes travelled to his hands which were now resting on the arch of the steering wheel.

"You are staring," Dave commented in a low voice. And with a sharp movement of his head, he faced her, the twinkle in his eyes very present. "I could not help but notice that was all you did throughout the ride."

Ashley gave a short smile. What answer could she possibly give to refute his correct observation?

He continued, his lips tugging with charm, "Is there something I should know? Is there something you want me to do for you?"

Dave was teasing her. He knew she wanted him so bad, he could read it off her.

Ashley realized that she had to up her game a bit. She didn't want to be the first to give in to the pull between them.

So, after deciding to leave his question unanswered, she dug her teeth into a portion of her lower lip.

And, before she knew it, Dave went from filling the space with a groan to smashing his lips against hers within a second.

It was fierce, it entailed extreme hunger, the kiss was fire and it asked for Ashley's attention. And Ashley gave in without holding back. She leaned in to accept the taste and feel of his lips and it took every nerve in her not to leave her seat and climb onto his lap.

"Staying away from you is so difficult, Ashley Steve," Dave murmured when the kiss came to a disappointing end. With the tip of his thumb, he caressed her chin. His murmured words sent vibrations through the woman, she just had to give a low moan while her eyes clamped shut to enjoy the bliss of that moment.

Ashley was about to run her hand through Dave's plentiful hair when a knock on the window interrupted them.

The unexpected presence surprised Ashley.

"Uncle Sam?" A deep frown formed on her face as she pressed the button to roll down the window. When she saw the short smile on the face of the man who bore a striking resemblance to her late father, Ashley forgot her urges. Facing Dave apologetically, she said, "I will meet you later, Dave. Thanks a lot for today."

Dave returned her smile. "Have fun."

Seconds later, Ashley was out of his car. After watching Dave take a sharp turn and advance toward his next destination, she turned in her heel.

"Hello, Uncle," Ashley greeted, not sparing the man a look as she walked past him, her hand stylishly fetching the house keys from her small bag.

"Ash, it is good to see you."

After a deep sigh, Ashley took a minute to ensure that her mental state was fairly stable. She needed that stability to deal with her Uncle's reappearance.

Opening the door wide, she beckoned to him to enter. Another sigh escaped her lips when Ashley closed the door. A few steps further into the house and she dropped her bag on the floor.

"So, Uncle, why the sudden visit?" she asked, her tone hardly filled with delight.

Scratching the stubble on his chin, one of his hands pocketing, a forlorn look on his face, Sam replied, "I know my visit is quite unexpected. But I had to come as soon as I heard about what your mother did."

Ashley scoffed. "You had to come as soon as you heard. How nice of you, Uncle. I hate to break it to you, but I don't need your sympathy."

"Ash, please don't do this now," he pleaded.

"Let's go have our seats. Would you like anything to drink?"

"No, thank you."

They went to have their seats on the long sofa.

"Uncle..." Ashley could not help but feel emotional. Seeing her Uncle that close reminded her so much of her father who she missed with her whole heart. She missed his smiling and teasing face, as well as the ridiculous stories he told her at random hours of the day. "Where have you been?" she asked.

"Ash..."

"Twelve years, Uncle. You left for twelve good years. No notes, no messages, not a single call! Why did you abandon us? Dad had just died and we needed you more than ever. But what did you do?" Ashley searched his eyes as the tone of her voice made sure to lash his soul. "You freaking vanished."

"Ashley..."

"I hope you have an explanation. A very good explanation."

Closing his eyes as though trying to achieve a calm state, he replied, "I... I don't have an explanation."

With an unbelieving laugh, Ashley asked, "What are you doing here then?"

Sam made eye contact with her. "I came to talk about you. Your divorce. I came to talk about what your mother did."

Her laughter this time was louder and extremely sarcastic.

"Let me get this straight, Uncle." She filled the air with a short and tense pause. "You disappeared after Dad's death without a trace only to show up at my doorstep out of the blue. And the thing you want to talk about is my divorce? You are mistaken."

"Ashley, listen..."

"No, you listen. If at all you know what is right, asking about my divorce should come right after an apology and explanation for leaving years ago." Ashley huffed. " Mum and I were in a bad state and we needed someone to be with us. We needed you to be with us. You just..."

"I am sorry! Okay? I am sorry!"

Abruptly getting up, anger etched on her face, Ashley cried, "Don't shout at me, Uncle."

"I am sorry." Sam burst into tears to Ashley's discomfort. "I didn't mean to run. I was not supposed to run, I just... I just became very scared."

"Sacred of what, Uncle?"

"Life. The reason I was able to cope in life had just died. I became hopeless and scared after his death." Uncle Sam cupped his face and his shoulders shook as he cried.

When Ashley had her seat, a certain heaviness settled on her chest and she reached to comfort her Uncle. Tapping his shoulder with affection in her eyes, she asked, "Why didn't you say anything? We would have stood by you. We would have helped you. All you had to do was stick with us."

"I was scared, Ashley." A loud sniffle came after he halted his sobs. "Running away seemed like the best idea back then, but it turned out to be the worst idea. It took me three years to get my life together before I could do something meaningful with it. I know showing up like this is so crazy, but I am sorry for abandoning you and your mother."

"It is fine, Uncle. I just wish you had let us help you."

"Ashley," his tears finally stopped flowing and he made eye contact with her, " we need to talk about your mother. You need to forgive her for what she did."

"Are you fucking serious right now?"

"I know what she did was terrible, very, very terrible. But she is your mother at the end of the day."

Ashley shifted away from him, feeling enraged again. "Exactly, Uncle. She is my mother! Mothers don't go about sleeping with their daughter's husbands. I don't see what I should forgive here."

"But still..."

"Do you want to know the crazy thing, Uncle? Not that I expect her to, but the woman called my mother has not called once to apologize. It is so obvious she did this on purpose. So, Uncle, there is nothing to forgive."

Sam tenderly reached for her hand that rested on the couch. "I am not trying to make excuses for her action. But, I think I know why your mother did what she did without thinking twice."

"Please don't say she was lonely. There are a lot of men out there who still admire her, so..."

"You were adopted, Ashley."