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

taunted.
    “Honestly? Any of it,” Ava mumbled, folding her arms across her chest, silently cursing herself for leaving her jacket at home.
    “Don’t tell me that when you got up this morning you didn’t expect me to stroll into your office like I owned the place, make a fool out of myself in front of your bosses, and then drag you away for lunch.” He smirked his adorable I-know-I-can-get-away-with-anything smirk.
    Now more annoyed than anything, Ava snarled, “More or less.”
    “Come on, Ava. Lighten up! I’ll admit I came to see you mainly to make your life hell but hey, shit happens. I changed my mind. And I apologised. So stop sulking and let’s just go and enjoy lunch.”
    “Fine! One condition,” Ava added slyly.
    “I’m listening,”
    “I get to pick the music. Yours is shit,” Ava giggled, reaching towards the stereo.
    “No way!” Tyler chuckled wholeheartedly “My car, my music,” he instructed as he reached out to knock her hand out of the way. As soon as their fingers connected Ava quickly withdrew her hand. He could have sworn she’d seen tiny blue sparks ignite between their fingertips, but he knew that was ridiculous. With one final glance at Ava, who sat beside him staring out the window while absentmindedly picking at her fingers, Tyler revved the car and merged into traffic.
    Fifteen minutes later Tyler swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. Noticing Ava had turned an odd shade of grey, Tyler let out a laugh. “What’s up?” he asked nonchalantly.
    “Ummmm,” Ava murmured, unsure.
    “Ava, I don’t bite,” Tyler reassured her, his steely gaze locked on her.
    Gulping, Ava summoned all the strength she had and blurted out, “You said you weren’t going to kill me.”
    As soon as the words left her mouth, Ava turned beetroot red. Out of all the things she could have said, he hadn’t been expecting that. And when she clasped her hand over her mouth in a gesture that screamed she wanted to take the words back, Ava started struggling for air. Tyler couldn’t contain his amusement at Ava’s obvious discomfort. When she broke out in a coughing fit, Tyler’s laughter died instantly. It wasn’t funny anymore. Without hesitation he slipped his hand from the gear stick and started patting Ava’s back softly.
    Startled at his touch, Ava sucked a deep breath in and forced her eyes open. Instantly her gaze caught Tyler’s and the small smile that tugged at his lips. He was fighting desperately to contain his own laugh. With another deep breath, Ava exhaled. “Thanks. Not sure what happened. I guess I forgot to breathe.”
    Allowing himself a soft chuckle, Tyler sighed, “Ava, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you and I don’t want you to be someone you’re not. Seriously. Be you. Be real.”
    Sighing dramatically, Ava’s shoulders drooped instantly as her head fell back against the seat and her eyes drifted closed. “Okay,” she whispered.
    “Sorry?” Tyler asked, slowing the car down.
    As her eyes fluttered open, Ava found herself grinning earnestly. “I said, okay.”
    Tyler was stunned. Not only did she agree to let things be, but as soon as the words left her mouth Tyler’s own stomach fluttered. Caught deep in his own thoughts, Tyler didn’t see the pot hole on the dirt road that he had turned onto as the car clunked in and back out of the hole. “Fuck!” he swore, not sure if he was swearing at himself or at the possible damage to his pride and joy.
    “Sure you don’t want me to drive?” Ava taunted.
    “Nice try.” Tyler smirked as he spun the car into a parking lot, sending a cloud of dust up in its wake.
    Stepping out of the car as smoothly as she possibly could, Ava glanced around at her surroundings and realised she had absolutely no idea where she was. From the looks of it she was in someone’s immaculately maintained backyard. The grass was clipped to perfection and the garden beds filled with an array of colours and scents. It was stunning,