Lifeboat Katie

Chapter 15

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.