Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2) by Rebecca Barber Page A

female employees’ eyes were all locked on the empty doorway Tyler had exited. Some mouths were agape, while others wore a confused expression. Shaking his head in amusement, John turned his attention back to Ava, who was silent and frozen where she stood. “Tell me this isn’t your dream come true, Ava, and I’ll make it go away.”
    “It’s not,” Ava stated, not missing a beat, her eyes still stuck on the empty doorway.
    “Liar,” John called her bluff.
    “I-I can’t,” Ava protested meekly. Her voice was small and shaky.
    “Ava, look at me,” he demanded, putting his fingers under her chin and raising her eyes to meet his. “You can and you will. Ava Jacobs, get out of your own head. I know what you’re thinking.”
    “Bullshit!”
    “You’re thinking that you can’t do this and that you’re not good enough for him,” John said bluntly, his blistering gaze never wavering.
    “I wasn’t.”
    “I know you.”
    “Bastard.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
     
    Tyler
     
    Tyler stood back in the reception area fidgeting with anything he could get his hands on. He flipped through the local paper and a couple of magazines, not really paying attention. He couldn’t remember a time when he had ever been this nervous and exhilarated in the same moment. Every time he saw Ava something spread through him and he became someone he didn’t recognise. It was like when he was with her—even the few minutes he had already spent with her—made him feel like it was okay to be himself. And that was something that excited and terrified him.
    “Enjoying yourself?” Amanda probed, noticing the mischief dancing in his eyes.
    Embarrassed he’d been caught daydreaming, Tyler had never been one to back down from a challenge. “Absolutely. You?”
    “Look, I don’t know what you’re doing and I don’t particularly care, but one thing you should know is that Ava looks and acts tough, but it’s all bullshit. She’s a mess. It’s all fake. And if you take advantage of that, I don’t care who you are, I’ll kick your arse!” Amanda declared confidently before reaching down and picking up the ringing phone.
    Tyler listened with fascination as the girl who had just put him firmly in his place oozed charm and professionalism down the phone while her steely glare was still firmly fixed on him. Not quite knowing what to say to placate her, Tyler simply nodded his understanding and collapsed into the visitors’ chair behind him, silently praying for Ava to hurry.
    Moments dragged past agonisingly slowly and Tyler could have sworn that Amanda’s eyes never left him, but each time he risked a glance in her direction, she was engrossed elsewhere. “Shit!” he muttered to himself.
    “Sorry?” Ava’s angelic voice pulled him out of his funk instantly.
    “Ready?” Tyler asked, jumping to his feet.
    “As I’ll ever be.” Ava grimaced, hoisting her handbag up onto her shoulder.
    Shaking his head, Tyler fell in step with Ava as they walked down the corridor towards the elevator. “Ava, it’s okay. I’m not going to kill you.” Tyler grinned mischievously.
    “Promise?”
    “Promise. Smile for me? Please?” he begged as they stepped into the elevator side by side. Summoning her best smile, Ava flashed him a toothy grin. “That was terrible.” He laughed. “But it’s a start. Now let’s get lunch.” Stepping from the elevator, Tyler wrapped his gigantic hand around Ava’s without thinking. A bolt of electricity raced through Tyler’s already nervous body. Without exchanging a word, as quickly as it had happened, Tyler dropped her hand and instead dug his hands into his pockets.
    Without a word, Ava fell into step beside him and breezed through the heavy glass doors to the driveway. Tyler pointed towards a car and moments later Ava dropped into the leather seat.
    “Not what I was expecting,” Ava confessed, taking stock of her surroundings.
    “Which part?” Tyler