Chapter 3
Ashley’s breath ceased for a second, then it released rapidly.
Dave then continued, a smile on his lips, “You’ve been admiring me ever since I stepped inside this house. But, hey…” He threw his hands in surrender. “I’m not complaining."
“Wh–What exactly do you want from me?” Ashley quietly asked, unable to be snarky anymore.
“Ashley.”
Her belly tingled at that meticulous, deliberate way he uttered her name.
“I want to help you, Ashley. I’m aware we don’t know each other, but I can’t walk away when you look like you’re carrying a burden you need some help with.”
In a part of her mind, Ashley was certain this man was nuts for speaking as if he knew her. In the other part, she was starting to yearn for the help he had just hinted at.
“I’d take a wild guess and say your divorce has taken a toll on you.” He shifted forward, his eyes drilling into mine. “If you go on like this… it might be too dangerous.”
She turned her focus on something ahead.
Almost silently, she asked, “How will you help me?”
“The answer to that is sort of a secret. For now.”
That response made him more dubious.
“Mr. Dave, this-”
“Dave,” he corrected.
“Dave.” She faced him fully. “Why does it sound like your ‘method’ has a lot to do with physical intimacy?”
Amusement flashed in his eyes. “Is that what you want?”
That question took Ashley aback. And it also made her realise that it had been a while since she felt a man’s touch. It had been nine months precisely.
“Ashley,” Dave called her out of her thoughts. “If that’s what you want, just say the word. I don’t mind taking you to that couch and pleasuring you till you’re satisfied.”
Ashley felt a slight shiver in her chest.
This was getting too tempting.
Oh. She was very, very tempted.
Keeping her knees together to suppress the new feeling between her legs, she said, “L- let’s focus, Dave. What exactly is your plan?
“Just as I said earlier,” he smirked, “it’s a secret.”
“Is it therapy?”
“No, Ashley. I don’t do therapy, I fix.”
“I’m not a pipe, Dave. You can’t fix a human being.”
“Fix might be a crude word, but trust me, to some extent, humans can be fixed.”
“This is ridiculous.” Ashley shook her head. “What the heck do you even stand to gain from this?”
He shrugged.
“That’s not even a proper answer!” she exclaimed.
“It’s the right amount of an answer. So…” He searched her eyes. “What do you say, Ashley? Will you let me help you?”
“No. Sorry…” She got up. “You’re a stranger so-”
Dave got up too. “A stranger you’ve been talking to for the past five minutes. Ashley…” He took three steps closer and leaned forward.
Ashley almost lost her balance as the gap between their faces became super narrow.
“Am I really a stranger?”
The chaos in her body, especially in her lower area, was not one she could ignore.
“Dave, please,” Ashley groaned after she managed to suppress the feeling that was about to get out of hand.
“What?” he questioned amusedly. “You even know the name of this stranger?”
“Please, I appreciate your concern, but I don’t think I need your help. Thank you for fixing my pipes, though, at least I am assured of sleeping in my own house tonight.”
Slowly, he backed his steps, Ashley looking anywhere but his face.
With a certain affection that was strange to Ashley, he answered, “Some battles are better fought with someone by your side, Ashley. When you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
He stepped back, reached for his cup and downed the rest of the tea.
“Someone will come over later this week to review the new installation,” he said once the cup was back on the glass stool.
“Uh… Yeah.” Ashley was not sure she heard everything he had said.
And she definitely didn’t hear what he said when he reached the front door. All that was replaying in her mind was his tempting offer to help her.
Was she a fool for not accepting it?
~~~
It took a week for Ashley to succumb to the temptation.
After battling so many inner thoughts and so many memories of his fit chest and arms, she was now outside, mildly feeling the summer breeze against her face.
Once she reached her destination, the tall building before her not what she expected, she found a suitable parking spot.
Soon, Ashley’s wedged sandals, which accessorised her simple flared gown, graced the marbled ground floor of the building, which led to the desk of the receptionist.
“Hello.”
“Hi, there, ma’am. Welcome to Everything Pipes. How may I help you?”
"Uh, yes.” Ashley leaned against the desk. “I would like to see Dave Scott, please.”
She noticed his full name on his toolbox the other day.
And she could see the way the receptionist’s face lit up in slight surprise.
“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.
Ashley frowned. “No, I don’t. Am I supposed to? Or doesn’t Dave Scott work here?”
“Uhm… your name, please?”
“Ashley Steve.”
“Oh.” The lady said quietly after she had read something off the computer screen in front of her. “Please, take the elevator to get to the last floor. You will meet his secretary waiting for you. Have a nice day, ma’am.”
Still confused, Ashley replied, “Thank… you.”
Many thoughts rushed into her mind as she headed into the elevator, but she tucked them aside since she was about to find out what was really going on.
Once the elevator stopped, Ashley walked out to see a woman seated behind a fine desk.
On this woman’s face was an unpleasant expression.
“Are you Ashley Steve?”
Though it was unclear why the slender, blue-eyed, ivory-skinned, and well-suited woman was irritated by her presence, Ashley nodded in response.
“Mr. Scott will see you now. Please go in.”
Ashley barely smiled as she put two and two together.
She headed past the pots of fake plants and the blurry glass doors.
And there Dave Scott was…. Seated behind a beautifully carved wooden desk, looking all serious, the nameplate before him boldly read: CEO DAVE SCOTT.