What Goes on Tour(20)

If her past relationship had taught her anything, it was that she wasn't  interesting enough to hold anyone's attention  –  let alone a rock star  who had women throwing themselves at him.                       
       
           



       

She refused to be one of those women.

Remembering she'd been about to go out for a walk, she checked she had everything she needed and left her room.

The fresh air would clear her mind.

She hoped.

***

Adrian walked down the corridor, refusing to glance back at Libby. He  let out a sigh of relief when the door closed. What was wrong with him?  Libby was his employee, she was there for Kate. He shouldn't be feeling  this way about her. Yes, she'd said all the right things, allaying his  doubts about whether he was doing the right thing by Kate, but that  didn't mean anything. She was just kind  –  there was nothing more to it.  She'd even reached out to comfort him when he needed it. He'd reacted  with an instinct born from his childhood, drawing away rather than  allowing himself the comfort he craved. It was a luxury he'd never been  able to afford.

No, he didn't need any complications and he sure as heck didn't need to  jeopardize Kate's happiness by scaring off her nanny. The less he saw of  Libby Myles, the better for all concerned.

He entered his suite and walked through to the living area, expecting to  see George and Kate playing a game or watching television. Instead they  were both tapping away at the keyboards of their respective laptops.

"Weren't you going to play a game?" he asked.

Kate didn't acknowledge him, but George stopped typing and said, "Kate  wanted to get some words written before we head out today."

Adrian pursed his lips. He wasn't sure what to make of Kate's sudden  desire to write a book. It was a wonderful goal but Kate had no idea how  much effort it required.

"So are we heading out today, Kate?" he asked.

She grunted. "Let me finish this scene."

Adrian exchanged a look with George, who shrugged. Neither of them knew how long that would take.

Adrian filled the rucksack full of snacks and drinks, as well as a  fold-up umbrella. It was an overcast and wet day in Melbourne.

Adrian's cell rang and he crossed the room to pick it up. He checked the  number and rolled his eyes. "It's your aunt," he told Kate as he  answered it. "Hi, Susan. How are you?"

Susan was Kate's aunt on her mother's side and thankfully no relation to  Adrian. When Penny had been alive, Susan had been decent company, often  laughing with Penny, and they'd had some pleasant dinners together, but  since her sister had died she'd become another woman. She was  withdrawn, far more conservative and worried about people's opinions.  She thought Kate needed a mother in her life, not a rock star uncle, and  had been devastated to learn Daniel and Penny had made him guardian of  Kate.

"I'm fine, but it's not me I'm worried about. You've been in Australia  for almost a week now and I haven't heard from you. You promised to call  me each time you moved cities so I knew where you were." Her voice was  prim.

He had promised, despite the fact that Susan had a copy of the tour  itinerary so she knew exactly where they were at any time. "The first  few days were a little hectic and with the time difference, I didn't  want to wake you." It wasn't an apology, nor would she get one. She  wasn't his mother or Kate's and he didn't owe her anything.

"Well, I'm awake now and you have the day off. What are you doing?"

Adrian bit back his impatience and the urge to say, "Cruising for drugs  and hookers." He sighed. "We haven't decided yet. Would you like to  speak with Kate?"

Kate made frantic just-a-minute motions and pointed to her screen before  continuing to type with her tongue stuck out between her teeth.

"Of course."

"Ah, hang on a minute, she's finishing something. Tell me, how are your kids?"

"They're both having a wonderful time at summer camp. I'm sure Kate would have really enjoyed spending time with her cousins."

Adrian strode away from the table toward the window and looked down at  the city below. "I don't believe she's ready for camp." They'd had this  discussion before.

"Being away with children her own age could only be therapeutic,  especially with no parents around to remind her of what she's lost."  Susan was clearly parroting something she'd read in a self-help book.

"We'll have to agree to disagree." Kate tugged on his arm. "I'll put Kate on." He handed her the phone.

"Hi, Aunt Susan," Kate chirped as she wandered away from the window and around the room.

Adrian smiled, amused at the way his niece never sat still when talking on the phone.

"I'm having a great time. We went to an island the other day and saw  koalas and went to a chocolate factory." There was a pause as Susan said  something. "We bought tons but Uncle Ade only lets me have a bit at a  time."                       
       
           



       

Adrian and George exchanged looks.

"I'm writing a book." Pause. "No, it's not too hard. I've got Libby to help me."

Adrian cursed under his breath. He should have mentioned Libby to Susan.  She was going to hate the fact he'd hired another nanny, one she had  not recommended herself.

"Libby's my new nanny."

Adrian held out a hand for the phone and said, "Let me speak to her."

"Libby's wonderful. She's so much better than Emily was. Hang on, Uncle Ade wants to say something." She handed over the phone.

"What is this about a new nanny? Why didn't you tell me? What happened to Emily?"

Adrian held the phone away from his ear as he walked into his bedroom  and shut the door behind him. Kate didn't need to hear them arguing.  "Emily quit."

"Why? What did you do?"

"She didn't have Kate's best interest at heart," he said.

"What do you mean? Emily came highly recommended by one of my friends. They couldn't stop raving about her."

There was something about Susan that always made him defensive and  short-tempered. "She tried to come on to me, and suggested that we leave  Kate alone in the hotel room. When I rejected her advances, she quit."  He kept his voice low, not wanting Kate to hear him yelling.

Susan was silent for a moment as she regrouped. "What about this new  nanny? Who is she? What does she do? What do you know about her?" The  rapid-fire questions were like facing a firing squad.

"Libby has been wonderful with Kate. They get on well and are having fun  together." He wasn't going to mention Libby's career  –  she deserved  some privacy as well. "Both George and I spent time with Libby and Kate  before we agreed she was suitable." Mentioning George was his trump  card. Susan had decided since George wore a suit and was his manager, he  was more responsible than Adrian. She believed he wouldn't let Adrian  make any mistakes with women that would jeopardize his career.

Susan harrumphed. "What's her surname? I'll look her up."

He'd had enough. "No."

Susan gasped.

"I have hired Libby and she is suitable for Kate. I am Kate's guardian,  not you. You don't get a say." Even as he said it, he regretted it.

"My concern is always for my niece's welfare." Her tone was high and  Adrian pictured her with ramrod straight spine and pinched lips. "You  can't stop me from caring. If I don't believe she is being cared for  properly, I will do something about it."

Before Adrian asked what she meant, she'd hung up.

He swore and pressed the end call button. He hadn't wanted to anger  Susan but sometimes she irritated him to the point where he didn't care  what she thought of him.

He was doing the best he could for Kate, but Susan made him constantly doubt himself.

He sank down on the bed and breathed out. Susan's parting words had sounded like a threat.

Daniel and Penny had made him guardian of Kate in their wills. The court  had acknowledged it. He didn't think there was any way for Susan to get  custody.

But he'd do some research to make sure.

He returned to the living area and both Kate and George looked up.

"Is Aunt Susan mad?" Kate asked.

"She's a little put out I didn't tell her about Emily quitting."

"She's not going to make Libby quit, is she?"

"Of course not." There was no way he'd let that happen. He walked over  and slung an arm around Kate's shoulder. "Have you finished your scene?"

"Yep. Saved and backed up as well." She pointed to a memory stick on the table.

"Great. Let's get going then."

"Yippee!" Kate ran to get her raincoat.

Her enthusiasm soothed Adrian, as usual. It reminded him of what George  and his sisters had been like when Adrian had first met them. He'd never  experienced that carefree excitement and it had taken some getting used  to. Now he was older he understood what he'd missed out on in his  childhood. He wanted Kate to have all the love, security and stability  he'd never had.