For a second, Ashley wondered if she had miraculously been transported to a mini-waterfall area. Judging by the sound filling her ears, it was as though she was lying next to a flowing water body.

As Ashley departed her state of partial unconsciousness, the noise became louder. And it did not sound like it was coming from outside or a magical waterfall area.

Not bothering to wonder how she went from dressing up after a lengthy bath to sleeping at the end of the stairs, Ashley got up so she could find the source of the gushing water. And her long and baggy gown, which she found on the surface of her wardrobe, swept the floor after her.

As she walked, her senses decided to wake up from their break and Ashley began to realize how much of a mess she had turned her once perfect-looking house into.

During normal times, the expensively furnished duplex wore a bright look. With the walls pure white, each time sunlight managed to hit the neatly cleaned windows, the whole house would suddenly shine, you would think for a second you mistakenly entered some sort of heaven.

But, presently, even the windows had managed to gather dust.

And, Ashley knew she really needed to get herself together and this time, she had to do it.

Slowly, Ashley made for the kitchen which her senses had directed to and what she saw was crazier than what she had imagined was going on.

Instead of meeting a tap that she had probably absentmindedly left on, she met a huge pool, right in the middle of the room.

And the mass was getting larger by the second in a way that could flood the house.

Determined to not become homeless due to a flooded kitchen, Ashley pushed her way towards the sink.

When she opened the compartment below the stainless steel sink, she gasped.

The linked pipes had been severely destroyed in the most terrible way and water rushed out like it was desperate to find its freedom.

"Kevin," was the first suspect that came to her head. That must have been why he was holding a wrench when he came over, Ashley reasoned further. Her head tilted to the right, she studied the disaster and asked no one in particular, "Was he trying to peel the pipes as if it's orange?"

'Gosh, he is such an idiot.' a tiny voice commented and Ashley nodded in agreement.

As the idea of what to do to fix her issue became hard to find, Ashley stood upright and began to circle her forehead until it occurred to her.

"I can use Google! Of course. God, I am a mess."

~

Thirty minutes had passed since Ashley requested the service of a plumber to help her lessen the likelihood of becoming homeless for the night.

Pulling at the window blind in her hand, Ashley wondered if she had perhaps chased all available workers off with her request.

Surely; Help, my pipes have been torn apart and my kitchen is getting flooded, is a request they don't get every day.

Regardless, it would be a thing of joy for her if someone would just ring the doorbell and offer to fix her busted pipes.

And the doorbell did ring.

The excitement that rushed through her was one she hadn't had in a while. She ridiculously skipped towards the entrance, the dust napkin she was using to clean still in her hand.

The doorbell sounded again.

"Thank goodness, you are finally..."

Immediately Ashley opened the door, and the rest of the words just got stuck in her throat.

Ashley had often read or sometimes heard about women being swept away just by some men's looks. She always thought it was ridiculous.

How on earth would you suddenly see someone and the next thing, your whole body starts to react? It was bullshit to her.

And that bullshit was what she was experiencing at that moment.

Wondering if the tall, gorgeous man in front of her had perhaps missed his direction, Ashley took some seconds to scan him from head to toe.

But when she saw the toolbox and bundle of neat steel pipes resting at his feet, she confirmed that he was really at her doorstep, to fix her pipes.

"Hello, ma'am."

Instantly, without thinking twice, Ashley responded to the smile that accompanied his greeting with a huge grin.

And, Ashley was ninety-nine percent sure it was a grin that would eventually embarrass her.

"You messaged our company about some severely tortured pipes?"

His accent. Oh, God! It was so sweet to hear. It was like healthy juice for her ears.

And his eyes?

They were so beautiful without wearing a shade of blue or green.

His irises were pure black, yet his eyes lacked a dark intense look most people rumour good-looking men tend to have. When she stared a little more, Ashley noted that his eyes were gentle yet a bit mystical.

"Uh... yes." Ashley swallowed hard while something in her head urged her to regain composure. "Please come in." Her stability was threatened so much that she didn't know that the duster in her hand had fallen.

'Well, good for it.'

"So where are these pipes?"

If she was not being crazy, the entire house shook off its depression on hearing his voice.

"In the kitchen. Please, follow me."

"Wow. You were not kidding. Your kitchen is really flooded." Ashley could not help it, but she found herself reacting positively to the aura he brought along. "Well, I guess I should get to work."

'God! Even his backside is beautiful,' she thought and Ashley just prayed she was not embarrassing herself at that moment, but what could she do?

He was easily the best appealing thing that entered the house since the divorce.

"Who on earth did this? He destroyed the lives of these pipes," the plumber spoke, his voice a tone deeper.

"That would be my crazy ex-husband," she muttered to herself, her eyes trained on the gradually increasing body of water that was wrapping her feet. When Ashley raised her head to sneak another peek, she realized he was curious about her response. He stared at her with one of his full eyebrows cocked.

"You said something."

"Uh..." Chuckling almost nervously, she pointed at the refrigerator. "... would you like a bottle of beer?"

"Sure, thanks."

Resisting the urge to turn back and take another look at the embodiment in her almost flooded kitchen, Ashley soon found herself in front of the refrigerator.

Suddenly, Ashley felt conscious of her appearance. She had taken the liberty to freshen up and look a little presentable. But considering the situation she was presently in, it was not enough. She could have shaved her legs, trimmed her hair, made...

'Wait a minute,' Ashley stopped her thoughts, squeaky sounds coming from the sink compartment. 'Why on earth am I being over-conscious because of a man? A stranger. A good-looking stranger.'

As she opened the door of the fridge, Ashley cautioned herself to keep it together and not let her crazy thoughts in collaboration with her vulnerability drive her to the point of doing something she would regret.

'Shit, I have drunk all the beers.' Ashley gritted her teeth.

"Uh..."

"Dave," he replied.

Ashley was glad to know his name.

"Hm. Dave. Would you like water instead?"

"When my knees are already deeply immersed in one?"

Ashley turned to face him and she met a short smile on his face and his exposed, dusky chest.

It was suddenly hot in the room.

The sight was just so, so... mesmerizing!

The way his chest was set caused Ashley to imagine her hands running through it.

"Uh... you don't have beer, do you?" Even when Dave asked questions, there was this unfailing twinkle in his eyes that beckoned Ashley to come over and stay in them forever.

"Uh..." Ashley needed to work on zoning out while ogling the man. "That will be my bad." She did not miss the look of pondering that grazed his face after her statement.

"Do you have anything other than water?"

"Well, I can always make some tea."

"Tea will be just fine." And he went back to work.

As Ashley closed the refrigerator, she stole another look at the squatting man.

'Damn, his backside is so freaking beautiful,' she inwardly acknowledged that fact again.