Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2)

by Rebecca Barber

  “Fuck! Friday!” Ava gasped as it sunk in. She had a date with Tyler Andrews on Friday. A real pick her up and take her out date. Ava couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been on a date. Not even a casual coffee. Suddenly her pulse kicked into overdrive and her palms were sweating.

  When her email pinged, it brought Ava crashing back down to reality. Quickly she tapped on the icon and the screen opened up. Bloody Amanda.

  Amanda: Who sent the flowers?

  Ava: None of your business.

  Amanda: I could have opened the card…

  Ava: You wouldn’t have…

  Amanda: Nah, but I thought about it.

  Ava: Tyler.

  Ava was thankful she had someone to tell. Friday was a long way away and if she was going to get through it and still be sane when he picked her up, Ava was going to need all the reinforcements she could get.

  Amanda: Nice. ;)

  Jumping from her desk, Ava stalked through the office like a woman on a mission. “Seriously? What’s that supposed to mean?” Ava growled as she rounded the corner and came face to face with a smiling Amanda and Matthew.

  “Ava?” Matthew asked, confused.

  “Oh, don’t worry, Matthew. Ava’s just got her knickers in a twist because Tyler just sent her the biggest bunch of flowers you’ve ever seen. I nearly did my back in carrying them,” Amanda exaggerated.

  “Oh.” Matthew chuckled.

  “They’re nothing,” Ava denied.

  “Sure.” Matthew snorted sarcastically.

  “Then why are you so upset?” Amanda asked.

  “Argh! I hate you both!” Ava snapped before spinning on her heel and heading back the way she came.

  Matthew waited till Ava was a few steps away before turning his attention back to Amanda. “You sure she’s okay? She seems kinda out of sorts.”

  Unable to bite her tongue, Amanda couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, she’ll be fine. It seems that maybe Ava isn’t the only one who has a crush and that may have spun her off her axis.”

  Joining in the laughter, Matthew replied, “Yep! That’ll do it!”

  Ava wanted to slap them both. “They could have at least had the decency to wait till I was far enough away that I couldn’t hear them,” she grumbled to herself.

  Ava took her time in the bathroom trying to regain her composure but it was shot to shit. It seemed like every time Tyler did or said something it threw her off balance and she didn’t know whether she was coming or going. Today had been no different. They were just flowers, yet they were so much more. They were flowers and a promise. A promise Ava wasn’t sure she wanted him to be making. A promise she didn’t know if he could keep.

  Knowing she couldn’t hide forever, Ava washed and rewashed her hands before heading back to her desk. As she passed Amanda’s desk she was thankful she had been caught on the phone, silencing her inevitable snarky comments. Right now Ava just needed a moment to herself and Amanda’s taunting wouldn’t help.

  Sitting back at her computer, Ava saw the last email Amanda had sent through, and was relieved. Her friend was back.

  Amanda: Lunch?

  Ava: Absolutely.

  It was like she had some kind of psychic power knowing that Ava just needed someone to talk to. Someone to help her make sense of this mixed-up situation. Someone to help her choose what the hell she was supposed to wear.

  By Thursday Ava was a mess. She hadn’t slept all week and her nerves were frayed. She would never survive Friday, let alone keep it together till then. Ever since the invitation had arrived, Ava had watched her perfect, snow white lilies open one at a time, bringing her nearer and nearer to the moment that was making her crazy. Driven to distraction this week, she had unwittingly hung up on someone, missed several important meetings, and forgotten to return numerous calls. But no one said anything. Not one person mentioned her undeniable failings or the mistakes she was making. Matthew remained silent. Christopher was oddly calm. If it was at all possible, that was making her more nervous.

  When Matthew approached her desk late on Friday morning, Ava exhaled heavily. Finally someone was coming to put her out of her misery. Summoning up all the courage she had, Ava swivelled in her chair and faced him directly.

  “Hi!” she greeted him.

  “Hey. How’s it going?” Matthew offered as he sank onto the desk beside her.

  “You tell me,” Ava replied, giving him the opening he would need to tear her a new one.

  “All good.”

  Inside Ava was screaming. What the fuck! She had been expecting to be hauled over the coals for all the things she’d stuffed up but instead all she got was a lopsided grin and an ‘all good.’ It was complete bullshit.

  “What can I do for you?” Ava tried again.

  “Why don’t you take a long lunch today? Get some sun, get your hair done, go shopping and buy shoes or whatever it is that you women do to relax,” Matthew suggested, waving his hand about.

  “Huh?” Ava asked, dumbfounded.

  “Ava, you did an amazing thing the other day pulling off the gala with no notice and no help. You’ve worked your butt off for the past couple of weeks. I know the pressure you’ve been under and you have met every challenge. Now it’s time for you to relax. Go out. Get a massage. Do whatever makes you feel good. You deserve it,” Matthew said, rising from his perch on the desk.

  Shocked beyond belief, Ava managed to stutter, “B-But why today?”

  Matthew didn’t answer. Well, not in so many words. A sly wink told Ava everything she needed to know. Matthew already knew her plans for tonight. He knew about Tyler. That fact alone made Ava pray that the ugly blue carpet beneath her feet would open up and swallow her whole.

  Chapter 43

  Tyler

  Although the cleaning team had been through his apartment only hours before, Tyler found himself on his hands and knees cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing the kickboards in the kitchen. He’d already changed and re-changed the sheets in both his own bedroom and the spare, which had never actually been used. His nerves were frazzled.

  As the minutes ticked by Tyler got closer and closer to the edge. When he had nothing left to do or clean, he flopped on the lounge and scrolled through his phone. For twenty minutes he managed to distract himself by checking in on Facebook and commenting on friends’ status updates, something he rarely did. But today he was desperate for the distraction.

  At five o’clock his alarm chimed and he bounced off the lounge and dashed into his bedroom to change. He had everything planned out. He’d arranged every meticulous detail personally. Now all he could do was hope that Ava was okay with it.

  Ten minutes later he was in his car, adjusting the air conditioning, hoping to get his racing pulse and clammy hands under control before he got there. When his phone chirped, Tyler jumped so high that he bumped his head on the roof.

  “Shit!” he muttered as he dropped the phone and watched as it clattered to the floor. With his luck the screen would be fractured into a million pieces.

  Bending down to pick it up, Tyler groped around for it before his fingers trapped it. As he rose, his head collided with the steering wheel, earning another long list of expletives to come rushing over his lips.

  Checking the message, Tyler wasn’t surprised.

  Katie: Good luck. :-)

  Katie knew. She was the only person who did. She was the only one Tyler could tell. The only one he could go to for advice. The only one who would help him without hesitation or question.

  Tyler: Thanks. Gonna need it.

  He started the car and eased out of the parking lot.

  It was less than five minutes from Tyler’s apartment to Ava’s office, but he didn’t want to be late. And he didn’t want to get stuck in the weekday traffic. Tyler was determined to make a good impression, and leaving her standing on the street was not going to help his cause. But the Gods were smiling on him. No traffic, no red lights, and a car park at the front door. He was early.

/>   Tyler had ten minutes to kill before Ava would emerge, so he sat in the car, turned up the music, and tried to squash the nerves that were eating him alive. He knew that as soon as he saw Ava everything would quieten down. She had this mysterious way of calming him and she wasn’t even aware of it. Closing his eyes, Tyler dropped his head on the head rest and tried to drown out the world. A knock on the window beside him shocked him back to life and scared the living shit out of him.

  “Tyler?” a soft, shaky voice called, barely audible over the blasting stereo.

  Tyler wound down the window to see Ava standing at his door. She was early. “Hey,” Tyler mumbled as he reached forward and turned the stereo down.

  “Ready?” Ava asked quickly as her head swivelled back and forth.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess,” Tyler spluttered, unsure of anything at the moment.

  Ava scurried around the car and slipped into the front seat before buckling her seat belt. Tyler watched on in silence, his mouth gaping. This was not in his plans.

  “All good?” Tyler asked, his mouth suddenly feeling like it had been stuffed with cotton balls.

  “Yeah,” Ava replied less than enthusiastically.

  Tyler started the car and effortlessly manoeuvred his way out of the busy car park, his entire focus on the traffic in front of him. When Tyler pulled the car to a stop at a red light he didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the pause and steal a glance at Ava for the first time. Pushing aside his wildly beating heart, he sucked in a deep breath, causing Ava’s subtle yet seductive scent to overwhelm him.

  “Ava,” Tyler began, clearing his throat, “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” he asked nervously. As soon as the words were out, Tyler wished he could take them back. The truth was he didn’t want to know the answer, so he wasn’t quite sure why he’d even asked.

  “What? No! I just—it’s not—I don’t—” Ava stumbled as her words failed her.

  “Ava, breathe! It’s okay. I get it,” he admitted as a sad smile crossed his face. Without another word Tyler reached out and took Ava’s hand, wrapping it in his own.

  After a few moments of silence, Ava found the courage to break the quiet. “So, where are we going?” she asked nervously, picking at the skin around her nails. Tyler appreciated her efforts but knew it wasn’t real. The smile plastered across her face didn’t meet her eyes. There was no sparkle there. No mischief. No wonder. And suddenly Tyler realised that he wanted it to be there—he wanted to be the one responsible for putting it there.

  “It’s a surprise,” he replied, his eyes never leaving the road.

  Ava pouted. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and folded her arms across her chest. “I hate surprises,” she grumbled, sticking her bottom lip out.

  “Trust me,” Tyler said seductively as he turned and pinned her with his gaze.

  Less than five minutes later they turned into an underground car park and Ava had completely lost her bearings. They pulled up to the heavy steel gate. Tyler lowered his window and punched in a code before the door swung open freely. Quickly Tyler navigated his way through the car park and pulled into a reserved spot. Less than two minutes later, Ava was standing behind Tyler’s shoulder in the elevator, his fingers intertwined with hers as the elevator lifted them into the sky.

  As they rose floor after floor so did Tyler’s nerves. He’d taken on board everything that Jake had told him but he never revealed what he was going to do with those decisions. Tyler didn’t have to look at Ava to know he was worried. He felt her shift behind him and felt her short, shallow breaths as they danced in the hair on the back of his neck.

  Stepping out of the elevator, Tyler didn’t look back. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to see the fear in Ava’s eyes. He wanted her to be comfortable. He wanted to feel like she was at home. He strode purposefully down the wide, white corridor before coming to an abrupt halt at the door. He pulled out his keys and opened the door wide, waiting for Ava to catch up. He hadn’t realised how far ahead of her he’d gotten until he turned around and saw her still walking down the hallway.

  When she reached his side, she looked up at him with wide, stunned eyes. “Come on in.” He invited, gesturing for her to enter.

  Tentatively Ava stepped over the threshold before spinning back around to look straight at Tyler. Without a word Tyler kicked off his shoes and stepped past Ava into the wide expanse of the main living area.

  “Tyler?” Ava called out, her voice shaking.

  “Yeah?” he returned, sticking his head around the corner.

  “Where exactly am I?”

  “My place.”

  “Your place?”

  “Yep. Is that a problem?” Tyler asked, suddenly scared he’d done the wrong thing yet again.

  Tyler watched as Ava’s face fell. “Yeah,” she blurted out.

  Chuckling to himself, Tyler rounded the corner with two tall glasses of ice cold water. “Come on in, Ava. I won’t bite. Promise,” he encouraged.

  “Want me to take my shoes off?” Ava asked, her voice quivering.

  “Your call. Don’t feel like you have to, though. I just want you to be comfortable.” Tyler smiled honestly.

  “Well, how lovely of you. I would have been so much more comfortable if you’d given me any clue what we were doing,” Ava admonished as she kicked off her black kitten heels. “I could have worn jeans instead of feeling like a freak!” Ava teased.

  “Sorry about that…”

  “Tyler, it’s okay. Really.” Ava attempted to reassure him.

  “Good! But just for the record, I think you look beautiful,” Tyler added as he placed the glass in Ava’s hand as she walked straight through his apartment to the wall of windows.

  “Your view is stunning,” Ava babbled, not really to anyone.

  “Yes, it is,” Tyler quickly agreed.

  At the sound of his voice, Ava spun around and locked her eyes on Tyler. He wasn’t looking at the same view she was. He was staring directly at her like she was the only roll at a picnic.

  Tyler’s gaze dragged up and down Ava’s flushed body unashamedly. From her toes, painted burnt orange, up her legs, and over her knee-length black cocktail dress. She looked stunningly simple. It wasn’t over the top; it wasn’t slutty but it wasn’t conservative either. She had nailed her outfit perfectly. It was what most women should wear on a first date but very few ever did. In the past Tyler’s dates had worn a skirt that was two inches too short or a top that was a missing a couple of buttons. But somehow Ava had pulled off classy yet downright sexy. Tyler had to force his thoughts out of the gutter.

  Chapter 44

  Ava

  Gulping down her embarrassment, Ava padded across the apartment in her bare feet and climbed up on the stool at the kitchen bench. As she sipped her ice water she tried to cool herself. She was on fire, and it was only her imagination making her that way. Okay, maybe her imagination and the way that Tyler kept looking at her.

  “So…” Ava wondered out loud.

  Tyler couldn’t hide the wide, effortless smile that covered his face. “So…” he taunted, leaning back against the bench behind him, casually sipping his drink.

  Sighing heavily, Ava knew she was trapped. Tyler wasn’t giving an inch. “So, what’s next? Are you feeding me or not?” Ava pouted, using the very last of her courage.

  “I suppose I could do that.” Tyler said casually, straightening himself and ducking into the fridge.

  “Good!” Ava replied as she leant back casually on the stool.

  “Oh no, Ava, don’t get too comfortable.”

  “What? Why?”

  “You’re cooking!” Tyler joked before dropping an armload of food on the bench between them.

  “Excuse me?” Ava asked, agape.

  “You heard me. You’re cooking tonight—well, helping anyway.”

  Feigning shock, Ava held her hand to her chest. If Tyler wanted to play, she could play along. “So you mean to say, Jake bought me a date so I can cook for myself?
”

  “Yep!”

  “What a waste of money,” Ava added under her breath as she stood up, walked into the kitchen, and washed her hands.

  Minutes later Tyler was frying chicken while she sliced and diced vegetables. It didn’t matter how many times he assured her that in the end it would be a delicious stir-fry, Ava just didn’t buy it. She was generally a pretty decent cook at home but as she watched the way Tyler tossed an assortment of spices and sauces into the mix, she wasn’t convinced.

  As Ava diced the carrots she couldn’t help but steal a glance at Tyler. He was the complete opposite of everything she’d always imagined. He was barefoot in the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans that hung deliciously on his hips and a t-shirt which fitted him like a second skin, softly singing to himself as he sautéed their dinner. It was so…normal. So…domestic. And the part that frightened Ava the most was that it just felt so…natural.

  While Ava’s eyes glazed over and were indecently caressing Tyler’s perfect muscles, Tyler caught her. “Enjoying the view?” He mocked, causing her to burn with embarrassment.

  “Actually, I was wondering if that was going to be edible,” Ava shot back, surprising even herself with the speed of her reply.

  “Of course! Wanna taste?” Tyler asked, stalking towards her, wooden spoon held out high.

  “Um…I’m okay,” Ava spluttered between giggles.

  When Tyler’s deep guttural laugh joined hers, Ava realised she was head over heels in love. She didn’t want to be. She would have preferred anything else, but the truth was right there. Everything was so easy, so simple, and so effortless with Tyler. As quickly as the truth slammed her in the side of the head, Ava forced it back down and tried to ignore it. He was still Tyler Andrews, and tonight wasn’t something he had chosen. Someone had paid him to do it. Someone had paid a lot of money for him to take her out.