Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2) Read online

  Nobody’s Obligation

  Rebecca Barber

  Nobody’s Obligation

  Copyright © 2015 by Rebecca Barber.

  All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: December 2015

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-396-0

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-396-4

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  For the boy who inspired me and gave me a reason to dream.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 1

  Tyler

  He stormed through the door, his long strides filled with purpose. He was stunning, but angry. His slightly too long dirty blond hair was tousled as though someone had run their fingers through it in frustration. His piercing chocolate eyes were filled with determination and something she couldn’t quite place. With his shoulders square, jaw set, he pushed open the heavy glass door and entered the crowded reception area. If he was frustrated before he noticed the queue of people waiting to be helped, he was beyond reason now. Clenching his fists at his side, he forced himself to take a long, deep breath as he attempted to control the fury bubbling inside of him.

  He counted five groups in front of him, at least two with a handful of paperwork to review, and another with a whining child perched precariously on her hip. Running a hand over his chin for the first time, he regretted not stopping to shower and shave as his fingers caressed the two-days’ growth before he confronted her, but he knew he had to do it now. Do it before the rage faded. Before the embarrassment consumed him. Before he lost his nerve.

  Ten minutes later his temper had mellowed slightly as the young girl looked up at him with eyes filled with recognition. Gulping, she managed to barely mumble the words, “G-Good morning, sir. Can I help you?” as the blush crept up her neck.

  Fuck! Tyler swore under his breath. He’d hoped to get in and out quickly without anyone recognizing him or even bothering to take a second glance, but his hopes were dashed as the perky brunette behind the counter gazed up at him. Despite his annoyance, mainly at himself, he forced a warm smile back at her and indulged in a second look. She was a stunning young girl who couldn’t have been more than eighteen at the most. She straightened her back and thrust forward her perky breasts as she tried to capture his attention. Nice try, sweetheart. He shrugged casually. Not on your life.

  “Hi.” He shot her his widest, warmest smile—his most panty-dropping smirk. “I’m wondering if you can help me. I’m looking for someone, and honestly I’m not even sure she works here,” he admitted as unease consumed him. It was as if reality suddenly smacked him up the side of the head. What was he doing, really? He’d been up all night reading that damn book before filling his travel mug full of the strongest coffee he could stomach and driving three hours down the highway just to confront her. He didn’t even know who she was or where she worked. Last night his plan seemed brilliant, but in the light of day he was not only having second thoughts, but third and fourth as well.

  With a wide, perfect pout, her eyes filled with lust, she summoned all of her courage and asked in what he only assumed was her best bedroom voice, “Absolutely! Who are you looking for?”

  Stifling the laugh that caught in his throat, he managed to stop himself from blurting out his innermost thoughts. Honey, stop trying so hard. And if that’s your bedroom voice, I have to wonder, do you even know what to do once you get there? Instead he used all his years of coaching and experience to put on a show. “Her name’s…” He reached into the front pocket of his navy blue hooded jumper and pulling out a dog-eared book. “Ava. Ava Jacobs.”

  As her name tumbled from his lips he knew there was no turning back now. If she was here, he was going to come face to face with her in moments.

  With a deflated smile, the perky receptionist replied, “Yep. Ava works here. I’ll just call upstairs and she if she’s available. Is she…is she expecting you?”

  A flash of panic consumed him. Did she know he was coming? Hell no! Unable to string words together, something that had rarely happened to him, he managed to shake his head softly and watched as she picked up the phone and dialled. Roughly he ran his hands through his hair, causing his jumper to rise with the movement. At that exact moment he noticed all the eyes blatantly staring at him. He wished the floor would open up and swallow him. Or he’d thought of another way. A better way. But it was too damn late now.

  Forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, he bent forward, leaning his elbows on the counter. Taking his time to really see the receptionist for the first time, he noticed how pretty she actually was. She was skinny, too skinny, but not in a ‘look at all my bones’ way, but more of a ‘this is how I am so deal with it’ way. Her eyes were alive and she obviously spent time taking care of herself. He smirked as he noticed the fake French manicure on her dainty fingers and the perfectly straight hair that hung halfway down her back. As hard as she was trying to capture his attention, she was definitely not his type. And that was before you took into account the age difference.

  “Hey, Amanda. Is Ava around? I have—”

  Just as she was about to say his name, he reached out and covered the phone with his large, warm hand. “Please don’t give them my name. She won’t come down,” he begged pathetically as he plastered his panty-dropping smile across his face. He knew without a doubt that would and could get him anything that he wanted. History had proven that more than once.

  “Sorry. I dropped the phone.” She looked up into his face from under her thickly painted eyelashes. “I have a gentleman down here who would like to see her. Oh ok
ay. No problems. I’ll let him know.” She giggled into the phone before dropping it into the cradle. Being only able to hear one side of the conversation was beyond frustrating.

  He could see in her playful eyes that she was enjoying his misery and so prolonged his torment, taking her time to relay the message. “Ava is just finishing up a meeting so she shouldn’t be long. Then Amanda will send her down.”

  He exhaled the breath he hadn’t even been aware that he was holding. “Thank you,” he breathed, suddenly filled with trepidation. “Is there somewhere I can wait?”

  “Ummm…”

  “Maybe somewhere…private?” he asked, glancing around as casually as possible to indicate the wide-open scrutiny he was currently under.

  Indecision consumed her. She clicked her mouse then stood up, straightened her too short, too tight skirt, and tottered down the hallway, beckoning him to follow her. He had no idea where she was taking him but he followed anyway, unable to tear his eyes off her toned legs, wondering how the hell she balanced on the stiletto heels as she clicked along the corridor.

  Just as he was dragging his gaze from the back of her legs, her voice shocked him out of his daydream. A daydream he should definitely not be having. “If you want to wait in here, I’ll send Ava straight in. She shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Thanks for your help.” Tyler forced a tight, relieved smile.

  “No problem, Mr. Andrews. And please let me know if there is anything else you need,” she almost whimpered. With another wide, fake grin, one final thrust of her chest, and what he could have sworn would be counted as a curtsey, she pulled the door closed and vanished down the hallway.

  Once the clacking receded he knew he only had moments to pull himself together before Ava appeared. Now he was so close, all his thoughts evaporated. On his drive down he’d played out the scene in his head over and over again. But now the time had come, words failed him. Did he yell? Did he demand an explanation, or did he just simply sit there with an annoyed look on his face and give her enough rope to see if she hanged herself? That’s what she deserves, he thought smugly. Running his hands through his hair and across his jaw, he realized he was nervous, and that intrigued him. He knew why he was there. He had been in situations through the years infinitely more nerve-racking than this, yet for some reason his stomach was filled with what could only be described as vultures—circling their prey, waiting, biding their time before they swooped in and devoured.

  Chapter 2

  Ava

  She was sitting in the meeting wishing she were anywhere else. She was bored. No, it was beyond that. She was tired of hearing the same old arguments come from the same mouths. They were getting nowhere, and she had a mountain of work to do—something no one else in the room seemed to be concerned about. Instead of paying attention to the incessant chatter, she rubbed at her temples, praying the migraine would subside and she could survive the day. It was barely nine in the morning and already her day had turned to shit.

  Ava glanced around the room, pausing to notice that the others all wore the same stoic expression. No one wanted to concede that they were getting nowhere. She felt out of place. Why had she even been invited to the meeting? She still didn’t understand even after forty-five frustrating minutes. She was out of her league. Way out. Not only was she the only female sitting around the mahogany table, she was the only one under fifty and the only one who wasn’t obviously wealthy. The men surrounding her wore impeccably tailored three-piece suits that had been pressed with military precision. She, on the other hand, wore a simple knee-length black skirt and white shirt she had purchased at a discount shop months earlier. Even her jewellery looked cheap.

  A deep, commanding voice brought Ava’s mind back from its abstract adventure. “Anything to add, Ava?” her boss asked her pointedly.

  Gulping, she knew she’d been caught daydreaming. Instead of looking like a wounded animal, she straightened her shoulders and spoke with all the authority she could muster. “Honestly? I don’t think we’ve gotten very far at all in the last half an hour. We seem to be going around in circles, which is a complete waste of time. We know what everyone wants. We all know that we each place different levels of importance on different things. The only thing we haven’t done yet is agreed to a compromise so we can set a priority list.”

  In complete contrast to her outburst, Ava picked up her coffee and swallowed a large mouthful, desperate to drown her nerves. She was below everyone in that room on the food chain and they all knew it. Way below. And she had just let her frustration consume her and vocalized her thoughts on the matter. Now all she could do was wait for the repercussions. Instead of keeping cool and calm, her fingers were shaking as she lowered the cup back to the table. Humiliation consumed her as her trembling fingers betrayed her and the mocha brown liquid splashed on her white top, instantly making the fabric cling to her every curve.

  “Shit,” she muttered as quietly as she could. As soon as the word left her mouth she knew she hadn’t been as quiet as she’d hoped. Instead, every pair of eyes in the room was now firmly locked on her ample chest as she tried to salvage her waning pride. “Excuse me,” she mumbled as she rose from the table and headed out the door before anyone had a chance to stop her.

  As she scrambled from the room, she teetered on her too high, too small heels. She hated wearing them, but on days like today, when she had to play the part of the consummate professional, she gave in and squished her huge feet into the uncomfortable stilts. For years she had fought the high heel debate but no one seemed to be able to fully comprehend, or maybe it was that they just didn’t care that Ava in high heels was really a safety hazard. One day she was guaranteed to topple over and hurt herself. And the way today was panning out so far, Ava was certain today would be the day.

  Angry with herself, she ducked into the nearest bathroom and grabbed fistfuls of paper towels. Moments later she was dabbing at her shirt, trying to pull her shit together with little success. She was more annoyed at herself than the pesky coffee mark which refused to budge. Not only had she managed to make it worse, but she also spread the wet patch further, only helping to increase the visibility through her shirt. “Seriously?” she growled at her reflection, before spinning on her heel and striding purposefully down the corridor back to the meeting. Ava was determined not to let a simple caffeine mishap prevent her from doing the job she’d fought so hard to get, and looking foolish and incompetent in front of a room filled with her superiors wasn’t going to deter her. Not in the slightest.

  With her jaw set she pushed open the door, causing everyone’s heads to snap in her direction. “Sorry about that. What did I miss?” she asked, slipping effortlessly into her chair and snatching up her pen.

  Quick, shocked glances were exchanged between the gents before the steady and firm voice of the company’s CEO, Christopher, filled the room. “We were just wrapping up. You were right, Ava. Going around in circles isn’t getting us anywhere,” he pronounced, shooting her a half smirk. “We’ll meet here again in two weeks and everyone will have reviewed the list of items on the to-do list and prioritized them for their own needs. Then we will consolidate to one single list that best meets the needs of the greater organization.” Christopher’s voice was thick with authority. It was a skill that Ava understood. He never dominated the room by exerting his power, yet his understated authority seemed to ooze from his pores.

  “Thanks everyone,” Michael concluded, rising from his chair and effectively ending the meeting.

  Michael was the number two head honcho in the company and in many ways just as powerful as Christopher, but that’s where the similarities ended. He seemed softer, more approachable, more in touch. Ava had lost track of the number of times she’d been an unwitting participant in conversations regarding Michael’s sex appeal. She just didn’t see it. He was a lovely person, both inside and out, but she would never declare him a heartthrob. He was tall, muscular, with short dark brown hair and misty hazel eyes. Ove
r the years, Ava had spent enough hours with him to appreciate his appearance, but it just didn’t do it for her. She didn’t melt like others did.

  Everyone was stumbling out the door, most headed for the nearest coffee shop, when unexpectedly Michael grabbed Ava’s hand and pulled her back into the room. “Ava, you okay?” he asked, tenderness filling his eyes.

  “I’m fine.” Ava blushed at being singled out.

  “You know my door’s always open. Anytime,” he offered genuinely.

  Ava prayed the floor would open up beneath her feet and swallow her whole. She didn’t know whether to be pissed at herself that he could see she was falling apart or thankful that someone had noticed how much she was struggling. “Thanks. I’ll be fine,” Ava managed to blurt out before darting around him and out of the conference room, which for some reason Ava had found suffocating.

  Taking a deep breath, Ava strode purposefully back to her desk, hell bent on immersing herself in her to-do list for a couple of hours in hopes that she might actually accomplish something. Although she understood and could appreciate the importance of meetings, sometimes they just frustrated her more than anything. Sometimes just finishing a task could bring more relief than spending a day brainstorming the next new initiative.

  “Ava?” a soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “Yep?” Ava replied, her head snapping around to see who had called her before her eyes settled on Amanda perched behind the reception desk.

  “There’s someone waiting to see you downstairs,” she announced softly, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

  Sighing heavily, Ava couldn’t mask the disappointment. There went her plans of actually finishing something today. “Who is it?” she asked with an exasperated sigh.

  “Not sure. I just got asked to send you down. I told them you were in a meeting and not sure when you would be out, but they insisted on waiting,” Amanda babbled.