Page 42

‘Do you think we should offer to help again?’

‘Worst he can do is crack the shits with us.’

They walked back over to the air-boat. It was good to be in male company. He missed the bond he’d had with the guys in the military. The friendships that were forged there drew similar characters together. Black and white outlooks, aggressive personalities and a workplace where expletives like Bill’s filled most conversations.

Bill accepted their help without comment and by the time he let out a grunt of satisfaction, long afternoon shadows were filling the large open shed. ‘Thanks. Appreciate it.’

‘Coming for a beer, Bill?’ Terry wiped his hands and then passed over the piece of rag and Kane took it over to the sink in the corner.

‘Dad?’ The gate clanged shut and Kane turned around from the sink. Heather hurried across to the boat where Bill was topping up the oil. ‘Can I get a lift home with you? My car’s ratshit.’

Kane dropped the towel and walked out of the dark corner, and Heather smiled apologetically when she spotted him. ‘Ah, I mean it won’t start.’

Terry’s white teeth flashed and Kane hid a smile.

‘Hi, Heather.’ He stood beside the boat and looked down at her. ‘What’s wrong with it? Would you like me to take a look at it?’

‘If you’ve got time that would be great.’

Bill straightened and wiped his hands on the front of his overalls. ‘If you want to come home with me, you’ve got fifteen minutes.’ For the first time since Kane and Terry had come into the workshop, Bill chuckled. ‘But I’m warning you, I had a few roos in the wagon yesterday and it’s got a bit of a stink up. No whinging on the way home, okay?’

Heather pulled a face and turned to Kane. ‘If you can take a quick look, maybe I won’t have to go in Dad’s smelly truck.’

Terry laughed and shook his head. ‘I don’t know why you don’t get yourself a ute like the rest of us, Uncle Bill.’

‘Perfectly good Land Cruiser wagon. It’ll see me out.’ He stepped back from the boat. ‘Fifteen minutes or I go without you, missy.’

‘Come on, Kane.’ Heather held her hand out but Kane ignored it and stepped past her to the gate.

‘Where is it?’

‘In the staff car park.’

Bill narrowed his eyes as he looked at Kane. ‘Fourteen minutes.’

Heather and Kane walked quickly to the car park and she dug out her keys.

‘Pop the bonnet and I’ll have a look.’

As Heather closed the door and moved around beside him, he was conscious of her soft breasts pushed into his arm and he moved away. A bit too blatant for him. Besides, he’d stuffed up with a female staff member once already, and he had no intention of taking Heather up on her rather obvious offer.

‘Where did you get to last night? You left early.’ Her perfume washed over him as she leaned into him again. ‘I didn’t get a dance with you.’

‘Yeah.’ His reply was noncommittal.

‘Ellie left early too.’

‘Did she?’ If gossip was what she was after, he wasn’t going to satisfy her need. He wasn’t one to kiss and tell. He stretched away from her and reached into the engine. ‘You were right.’ He chuckled. ‘It is ratshit. Looks like rats have chewed through a cable.’

‘Bloody rats. It’s happened before.’ Heather turned around and leaned back on the front of the car, and put her shoulders back to emphasise her breasts.

‘This won’t start until you get that cable replaced.’ Kane stepped back and held the bonnet with one hand, waiting for her to move out of the way so he could slam it shut. ‘Do you want me to get one and fix it for you?’

‘Oh, that would be so lovely of you.’ Her voice was soft and breathy.

‘You’d better get a move on if you want a lift home with your dad.’

‘Kane.’ She reached out and put a hand on his arm, but before she could say whatever was on her mind – and he had a fair idea of what that was – her phone trilled.