Callum drummed a beat on the dashboard of the four wheel drive as it sped down another seemingly endless road edged by empty dry paddocks. They'd set off well before dawn when Callum had finally persuaded McMillan that they shouldn't wait any longer.
McMillan glared at him. "Must you?"
"Sorry man, helps me think."
"About?"
"That Francine woman that answered Nate's phone."
"What about her?"
"We're supposed to call her and tell her when the band will all be together and then we get Nate back."
"And?"
"Maybe if we did that she'd return him in one piece. If we piss her off by going after them she might go mental and hurt him."
"Mr. Blaine is a big boy, I'm sure he can look after himself."
"Not if she's got a gun, actually probably not even if she doesn't. Nate has issues with girls."
"Mr. Blaine doesn't like girls? That's not the stories I've been reading."
"Nate likes girls well enough, he just doesn't trust them. No way would he go off with one of them without letting us know about it. And no way would he refuse to talk to me unless he wasn't able. Are you sure we're doing the right thing?"
Mc Millan slowed the car as they entered a built up area. "I'm a professional. I will do everything to ensure his safe return."
"Maybe I should try ringing him again?"
"How about we stop and get some breakfast first and then you can call him before we do a search of the area. We might spot her car."
"Are we here already?"
McMillan pulled the four wheel drive into the curb and applied the brakes. "Indeed we are."
* * * * *
Sunglasses on, and hat pulled down low on his brow, Nate jogged across the street from where he had parked Katie's car. He'd thought about waking her but didn't have the heart. She looked so comfy snuggled in bed. When he wriggled out of her embrace she mumbled but had soon settled back down. He managed to shower and dress without disturbing her.
Even though he had woken shortly after sunrise he felt more alive than he had for days. Sleeping with Katie was the tonic he needed. He grinned. Who would think actually sleeping with a woman could be so refreshing. The weight of her arm around his middle and the warmth of her body pressed against him had kept the nightmares and dark thoughts at bay.
As he jogged toward the bakery at the end of the street the tumble of colors and sweet scent of flowers displayed outside a florist caught his attention. He stopped and pondered the options. Roses? They were a symbol of love and romance. A bunch of roses would give the wrong impression. He didn't love her. He frowned. Did he? The only real love he knew was the love of his family.
Bollocks. He'd been so caught up with having an adventure he hadn't called them for two days. His mum would be worried sick about him and his gran would think the worst. She never believed his lies. Her crinkled face had been the first he'd seen in the hospital when he came around. She scolded him for scaring them and then smothered him with kisses. They'd always shared a special bond. To her he would always be her little Nate no matter how famous he was. She owned his heart.
His brother, Ben, would shrug and assume Nate had got a better offer when he didn't make contact. Last time he'd spoken to them his mum he been so down and now he'd disappeared off the radar. They had a pact that he phoned every day when he was on tour. When he got back to the house he'd have to borrow Katie's phone and call them.
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He turned his attention to the florists. A bunch of yellow and white flowers caught his eye. They looked happy. They looked like Katie made him feel. He grabbed up three bunches and strode into the shop paying cash and making a hasty exit when the shop assistant gave him a puzzled look.
The sun was starting to warm the air. It was going to be a glorious day. No one should be miserable in a country where the weather was so fantastic. London and his home town of Manchester had weather to break the soul of the most strident optimist but this, this was the business.
He shoved the door to the bakery open and stepped inside. After returning the smile of the girl behind the counter he ordered a box of mixed Danish pastries and croissants before paying with cash. Hopefully Katie would still be asleep when he got back and he could surprise her with breakfast in bed.
With the box of pastries under his arm, he used his hip to open the door and retraced his steps towards Katie's car. A door to a café opened as he wandered past and the warm morning air was filled with the mouth watering scent of bacon. Maybe she'd prefer a cooked breakfast? Although, his last attempt at cooking was less than successful. His pathetic attempts had stirred her to action and he'd gotten a flash of her cute bum in her sleep shorts. She had a bum a man could spend his life worshipping. Some lucky guy was going to have a great time with those toned cheeks. He liked to look but she was strictly off limits. Katie was the perfect friend and he would never do anything to damage what they had, no matter how much his willy loved rubbing against her bum.
As he crossed the street he glanced over his shoulder and froze. Shit! A man had stepped from the café behind him. Dressed in dark jeans and a black leather jacket, he looked exactly like Callum. The man tugged his sunglasses off and Nate groaned. He was Callum. Not now. He wasn't ready to be found. He needed a couple more days alone with Katie to set him up for the rest of the tour. Nate broke into a jog, ignoring the sound of Callum calling after him.
*
Callum stared in disbelief as Nate leapt into the car they had been searching for and sped away. He was alone. He wasn't being held hostage, so what the bleedin' hell was he up to?
Mc Millan appeared beside him. "Why did you run off? Your breakfast is getting cold."
"I saw Nate."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"He took off in that purple car."
"Did you get the number plate?"
"No." Callum tugged at his hair. "Bollocks. I should have, but I was so shocked to see him running around by himself."
"Did he see you?"
"I called after him and he sped up to get away from me."
"Did he look to have been harmed?"
"Not bloody likely. He was carrying a box under one arm and flowers in the other."
"That changes things."
"How?"
"If he isn't in danger then we need only to persuade him to come to Sydney with us. You should call him again. Now he knows we're on to him he might be willing to come to the phone."
"And if he doesn't?"
Mc Millan smiled. "Then we start making enquiries about the places he could be staying. Where ever it is it must be low profile, so not a hotel or anywhere else where he could be recognized."
"Nate doesn't slum it so it won't be anywhere down market and sleazy."
"In that case, I suggest we start with holiday houses to let, but not until I finish my breakfast. Are you coming?"
Callum shook his head. "Lost my appetite. I thought I knew him. I thought I was his best friend. He needed me."
Mc Millan patted him on the back. "He still does. I hear that without you to fight his corner he would have been sacked from the group some time ago. You can still be his knight in shining armor."
Callum glanced at him and McMillan smiled.
Callum snorted. "You have a sense of humor?"
"Indeed."
"You need to work on your act...I'm not laughing."
Mc Millan raised an eyebrow and turned and strode back to the café. Callum kicked a stone across the street and glared at a young girl who dared to smile at him.
Chapter 15.1
The bacon sandwich and mug of coffee was hitting the spot. Now that the sun was finally up it was starting to get warm. Ava had considered booking in at the caravan park but if she got a lead on Nate she might not be staying another night and she needed to be careful with her money.
A group of teenagers entered the café. One of the girls stared at her. No doubt the girl thought Ava looked like a hobo. Not that she cared what anyone thought about her. Once she found Nate she would be living in the lap of luxury with a man most women could only ever dream about. She stuck her middle finger up at the blonde girl who looked away before following her mates to a table in the back corner of the café.
Now that she had eaten she had no more plans for the day. She could check the internet again? Maybe someone had spotted Nate. As if by magic his phone started to dance across the table top. She snatched it up and sneered when she saw who was calling. She could answer, or not.
The woman was a pain in the arse but Nate would never forgive her if she upset the one person who would always mean the most to him. Even she wasn't that stupid. Messing with Callum was one thing. Pissing off Nate was another. She needed him to want her when she finally tracked him down. It might take a few days but he'd soon see they were meant to be together. Star crossed lovers. She snorted with laughter and then scowled. Whatever it took she was going to get him back. No matter who she had to take out to get to him. The band and his family had kept her away. None of what happened was down to her or Nate. If everyone had left them alone they'd still be together.
