Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2)

by Rebecca Barber

  Unable to contain her frustration, Ava undid the clip holding the mass of brown curls up off her shoulders and shook them loose. Scratching at her head, Ava quickly scrunched them up again and secured the clip. “Couldn’t someone else help them?” Ava complained as she dropped a pile of papers on the corner of Amanda’s desk.

  “I’m not sure. All I was told was that they wanted to speak to you, and they were going to wait. It’s been about twenty minutes.”

  Ava spun around and went to head downstairs, but her evident annoyance caused her to drop her pen. “Fuck!” she cursed as she bent to collect it. “It’s seriously not my fucking day!”

  “What’s up?” Amanda chirped more happily than Ava could stand.

  Wishing her day was over, Ava shrugged off the negative thoughts. She had hours to go before she could make it home to her too-deep bath tub and the half bottle of chardonnay that was calling her name. “Later,” was all she managed to offer. Realizing she was taking out her bad mood on Amanda, Ava turned and flashed her best fake smile. “Thanks. I’ll head down and sort it out. Hopefully it won’t take too long. I’m downstairs if anyone is looking for me.”

  “No probs.” Amanda said as she twisted her hair around her fingers before turning her attention back to the ringing phone.

  Chapter 3

  Tyler

  The sound of the clock ticking was driving him insane. Every second that counted off left Tyler feeling like he was waiting for his own execution. His frustration was boiling. Unable to sit any longer, he stood and paced. A caged lion was calmer. He knew he didn’t have the right to be pissed that she had kept him waiting—she didn’t even know he was there—but that didn’t calm him. He was used to getting his way and for some reason this girl, a girl he’d never set eyes on nor spoken to, had gotten under his skin. And now she was keeping him waiting.

  Tyler paused and stared out the window, attempting to focus his attention on something else, but it didn’t help. Nothing did. The heavily tinted glass just showed him his own reflection, and what he saw scared him. He was tired, dishevelled, and his eyes were wild. “Shit!” Tyler muttered to himself, running his huge hands across his face, willing himself to calm down. He couldn’t confront her looking like this. She would take off. Screaming. And as much as he wanted to punish her, he wanted to talk to her more. He wanted to know why she had done it, but even more importantly was how. How’d she get into his head and understand him better than even he understood himself without him even knowing?

  Hearing voices on the other side of the door made him freeze. For almost twelve hours he’d thought of nothing but this moment, but now it was here, he was having second thoughts. It was too late. He was here now. Time to get some answers.

  Tyler sank into the lounge and grabbed a fistful of the nearest cushion. Sucking in deep breaths, he tried repeating reassurances to himself. It wasn’t working. But then he realised it. The anger had faded. The annoyance and frustration were gone. Instead he was filled with nerves like he had never experienced before.

  The door creaked open and she appeared. Her face was directed down the hallway as she finished her conversation. Her voice washed through his body, and suddenly he was calm. Tyler quickly rubbed his clammy hands along his thighs as he rose to meet her. His eyes betrayed him and disclosed his curiosity. Thankful that she was still occupied with finishing up her discussion, he noticed she seemed slightly off balance in her orange pumps. His gaze snuck up her legs appreciatively as an unexpected warmth spread through his body. Clenching his fists, he forced his eyes higher. First he noticed the slight pull of the fabric across her well-endowed chest before landing on the wet spot on the top of her breast, which left it clingy and transparent. A shallow groan tumbled from the back of his throat as he forced his eyes higher and met hers.

  Tyler gulped down his embarrassment. He’d been caught blatantly ogling her. He’d come to see her, to yell at her and make her apologise. Yet somehow, without even trying or knowing it, she had completely turned the tables on him.

  Her eyes went wide as she realised who was standing before her. An involuntary gasp choked out only seconds before she paled and fell to the floor in an unconscious pile.

  Dumbfounded, Tyler just stood there staring at the woman at his feet. It was definitely not the reaction he was expecting. Rubbing at the stubble coating his chin, he shook his head, forcing the confusion aside and compelling him to action. As quickly as he could, he stepped over Ava’s crumpled body and pushed open the door.

  “Someone help!” he called out, barely recognising his own shaky voice as it echoed down the empty corridor. “Please.” Hoping someone, anyone heard him, he refocused all his attention on Ava. She needed him, whether she knew it or not. Guilt was spurring him to action. “I should never have fucking come,” Tyler swore angrily at himself.

  “Everything okay in here?” a bald gentleman asked, poking his head through the gap in the door. Tyler watched as his face fell as he observed the situation. “Shit!” He turned towards the open door and called to someone else. Turning his attention back to Tyler, his face softened. “What happened?” He was a conundrum that Tyler couldn’t quite figure out. He looked powerful and important, but Tyler didn’t see any judgement in his face.

  Tyler felt off kilter. “Not sure. She opened the door and in the next breath she was out cold,” Tyler explained as the man with the very expensive wristwatch checked her pulse. Tyler stepped back and watched. He wasn’t sure what to do or even what to say, and that wasn’t a feeling he was used to. No one had ever made him feel off balance before.

  “Christopher, need a hand?” a voice cooed through the door as two men stepped in and assessed the situation.

  “Thanks. Go find someone to help and grab a glass of water. When she comes to she’s not going to be feeling one hundred percent and someone’s going to need to watch her,” the man known as Christopher said. His authority wasn’t in Tyler’s head. It was oozing from his every pore. Tyler was fascinated how the others just fell in line.

  “Patrick, you grab the water, I’ll go find someone,” a man with short brown hair directed.

  “Actually, Michael, can you sit with her and I’ll go?” Christopher asked, standing up and stepping back.

  “Sure,” Michael agreed, shrugging out of his jacket and crouching down beside Ava’s limp, unresponsive body. “Anyone know what happened?” It was only moments before all three men glanced up into Tyler’s bewildered face. Tyler watched as three pairs of eyes settled on him before exchanging knowing glances.

  Tyler wanted to scream, no one was telling him anything. Wide grins broke out across the faces staring at him while they all seemingly ignored Ava.

  “Yep, that’ll do it,” Michael said with a chuckle as he reached for Ava’s wrist, wrapping his long fingers around hers as he checked her pulse.

  Frustrated and feeling helpless, Tyler lashed out without thinking. “Someone want to tell me what’s so fucking funny?”

  With a throaty laugh, Christopher offered his parting words. “Michael, you’re up. I’m going to get Amanda.” With that, Patrick and Christopher vanished.

  Ignoring Tyler’s bulky frame hovering over him, Michael instead focused on Ava and bringing her back to the land of the living. “Ava! Ava,” he cooed softly as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Come on, Ava. Time to wake up now.”

  Tyler watched on helplessly, his stomach cramping with nerves—something he was used to dealing with for a completely different reason. He could stand in front of a crowded stadium or a room full of paparazzi ready to dissect his every word and every move, yet here he was, metres from an unconscious woman, completely consumed with anxiety. She had to wake up. She had to be okay. Although he had driven hours with every intention of making her life as miserable as he possibly could, he had never wanted to see her get hurt.

  “Ava, please,” Michael pleaded as he pushed a stray curl from her forehead.

  “She’s coming round,” Tyler mum
bled as Ava’s eyelids began to flutter. Not open, but there was a definite movement.

  “Okay. Come on, Ava,” Michael whispered one more time before her delicate eyelids flickered open.

  Tyler had never experienced such relief as he stepped out of her line of sight and watched as she slowly came around. Her eyes were darting about, trying to piece together the situation but not really focusing. Her cheeks were slowly filled with a red blush that crept over her body.

  “You’re okay, Ava. Don’t try to sit up yet. Just give it a second,” Michael instructed and Ava immediately complied. She stopped fidgeting and fretting and instead just trusted Michael implicitly. “Ava, did you hurt anything?”

  After a pause that Tyler could have sworn lasted an eternity, Ava began to murmur, “Umm…my head is fuzzy.”

  “That’s okay. Anywhere else?”

  Rubbing her hand across her eyes, Ava’s face was squished with concentration as she tried to form words. Tyler could have sworn he heard her heart beating faster than a drum. “My…my wrist.” She massaged her left wrist.

  Instantly Michael took it in his hands and inspected the offending appendage. “You’ll be fine. It looks like you banged it as you fell, probably on the coffee table, but it doesn’t look broken. Maybe just bruised. Take it easy. You ready to sit up?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her to sit.

  Tyler watched as her eyes rolled about. She was still clearly out of it. He didn’t dare to speak or approach her, instead he found himself taking a step backwards and slumping his shoulders in an attempt to make himself as small as possible.

  “How’s that?” Michael asked, seemingly having forgotten about Tyler standing behind him.

  “Okay,” Ava whimpered, clutching at her head. Clearly she was lying.

  “Ava, Amanda’s here. She’s going to take you to the bathroom to wash your face. That should help,” Christopher announced as he stepped to Ava’s side.

  Michael and Christopher pulled Ava to her feet slowly and held her hands until she stopped swaying. Then a skinny young girl with wild curly brown hair and wide green eyes stepped up beside Ava and took her hand. “Come on, Ava. Let’s get you cleaned up,” she cooed softly, like she was talking to a child.

  Chapter 4

  Ava

  Ava’s eyes darted about the room frantically as her mind tried to piece together what had happened, when her gaze locked on Tyler’s. Instantly she knew. She didn’t know how or why or when, but she knew. Tyler was standing before her in all his perfect sexiness and she had lost it. Then suddenly she was self-conscious. Ava knew how bad she must look. Hell, she knew she looked like something the cat had dragged in before she collapsed, so after that she could only imagine.

  “Come on, Ava. I’m sure you’ll feel more human after you’ve washed your face.” Amanda snickered knowingly as she led her out of the room before Ava had the chance to give herself a panic attack.

  Ava allowed herself to be led away but her gaze never wavered. Instead it was locked in a penetrating battle with Tyler’s steely glare. Was he mad? Ava couldn’t help but wonder. Stumbling over her own feet, Ava was forced to focus on the task at hand, placing one foot in front of the other as she wobbled her way towards the bathroom.

  It took a moment for her to regather her wits to the point where she could form coherent sentences. “Wh-What I mean, is that really Tyler Andrews in there?” Ava mumbled.

  “Yeah.” Amanda flashed her megawatt smile.

  Taking a deep breath, Ava exhaled nervously. “Amanda, why is Tyler Andrews here? And what the fuck does he want with me?” Ava growled irritably.

  Shaking her head with a sneaky, satisfied smirk, Amanda couldn’t refrain from taking advantage of the moment. It was a very rare opportunity that she got to see her boss caught completely rattled and the composed ice queen façade melting away. “I honestly have no idea. But damn! He is hot!” she admitted, a blush creeping up her neck.

  Amanda snuck a look at Ava as the words left her mouth, and couldn’t stifle the giggle as she heard the growl emanate from the back of Ava’s throat and the daggers shoot from Ava’s icy blue eyes. Ava might like to play the tough-as-nails bitch but she was definitely laying claim to Tyler Andrews. With a loud huff, Ava couldn’t help but agree. “He is that. I just wish I knew why he’s here.”

  A smile extended across Amanda’s face, lighting up her eyes. She knew Ava better than almost everyone and yet this was a side of her that even she hadn’t seen before. She was filled with a mixture of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. A toxic combination of jealousy, anxiety, nerves and possibly a dash of embarrassment. Amanda pushed open the bathroom door, quickly checking it was vacant before locking the door, ensuring that they had complete privacy so Ava could pull herself together. She didn’t have much time. Besides, Amanda didn’t know how long she could wait to get some gossip from her boss.

  Amanda wet some paper towels and handed Ava the bundle before she stepped back. As Ava started dabbing her forehead, careful not to smudge her lightly applied makeup, Amanda decided now was the perfect time to pry. “So seriously, what do you think he wants?”

  “Fuck if I know!” Ava snapped harshly. Her eyes darted to the empty stalls behind her.

  Chuckling, Amanda turned to face her. “Don’t stress, we’re alone. And I locked the door. Say what you want,” she encouraged.

  “He’s hot, though!”

  “That he is.”

  “Why is he here? And why does he want to see me?” Ava asked, still not understanding.

  “Hey!” Amanda all of a sudden exclaimed after a long moment of silence. “Why don’t you get your shit together and go find out? This time, maybe try to stay conscious…you never know, it might help!”

  “You’re a bitch, you know that?” Ava said, throwing the bundle of paper at Amanda and hitting her squarely in the chest.

  “Yeah, but you love me anyway. Come on, let’s try and make you presentable.”

  Less than five minutes later Ava and Amanda emerged from the bathroom as if nothing had happened, despite the fact that the company gossip circles were working in overdrive. News of Ava’s unconscious adventure had already spread thick and fast. Stalking down the hallway, Ava felt like a different person. She had ditched the pantyhose—she’d already managed a ladder from her ankle to her thigh and she still didn’t know how that one had happened. She’d given up on her unruly hair and abandoned the hair clip instead, allowing the mass of curls to fall free, making her look even more girly and vulnerable than she liked. But she was back on her feet and this time she was going to remain that way. She knew exactly what she was walking into. She knew who was waiting for her behind the door. And although she didn’t know what he wanted, Ava knew she could handle it. Well, that’s what she was repeating to herself with every step.

  “You sure you’re up to this?” Amanda checked as they reached the door.

  “Yep,” Ava exhaled. “No.”

  “You’ll be fine. Just talk to him. Or suck face with him. Or mount him. Whatever takes your fancy.” Amanda laughed, trying to lighten the situation.

  “Amanda!” Ava admonished, but secretly she was wondering about all three. Quickly dismissing the idea, Ava shook her head. She couldn’t let her mind go there, that was dangerous ground. She didn’t even know him and he didn’t know her.

  “Go get him!” Amanda instructed with a playful smack on Ava’s bum as she pushed her towards the door.

  Reaching for the door, Ava paused, hearing the deep voices on the other side discussing her.

  Chapter 5

  Tyler

  Tyler slumped in the oversized chair wringing his hands nervously, wishing he was anywhere but here, but he couldn’t walk away now. No. It was his fault she was hurt and he would do the right thing. He would stay until he knew she was okay. Until he had the chance to apologise.

  “I don’t get it,” he admitted. “What’d I do? I didn’t even speak to her.”

&nbs
p; “It’s not you, Tyler,” Christopher assured him with a sly smirk.

  Tyler found himself wondering if Christopher had any other faces. In the ten minutes since he had met him, Christopher had half smiled more times than anyone Tyler had ever known. It was the kind of half grin that said ‘I know something you don’t know,’ and Tyler was desperate to discover what was behind it. There was a quiet confidence that Christopher exuded that intimidated the hell out of Tyler and he wasn’t sure where it came from.

  “What is it then?” he almost begged, not recognising his own whiny voice. Tyler watched as the men exchanged glances. They were silently debating how much to tell him and how much to keep to themselves. In a way he understood, but he was about to burst with frustration. “Please! Someone just fucking tell me.”

  Michael sighed heavily, then looked at Christopher, who barely nodded before he began to speak. “It’s not you, Tyler. And it is you.”

  “That makes no sense!”

  “Tyler, Ava might look like the tough, ‘nothing can hurt me’ ice queen, but that is so far from the truth I doubt she can even see reality anymore. Ava is a romantic in every sense of the word. And it’s worse than that. She’s an optimistic romantic. But life has beaten her down so many times that by hiding behind the tough-as-nails disguise, no one can get close enough to hurt her. No one can scale the walls she’s built. No one except you,” Michael explained.

  Tyler’s mouth fell open unconsciously as the words sunk in. “B-But she doesn’t even know me,” he mumbled.

  “But she does. Tyler, for as long as I have known Ava, you have been her hero in every sense of the word. You’ve been her inspiration. Her guiding light. You were the one thing that was able to pull her from the darkness when it closed in and threatened to swallow her whole,” Christopher added, his voice soft and soothing.