Moonlight Plains Read Online Free PDF Page A

the cutest sparkling-eyed grin. ‘I think I’ve cleared most of the cobwebs.’
    He waved a hand towards the open front door with its multicoloured stained-glass panels. ‘So it’s a standard design. Hallway down the middle. Lounge and dining room on one side, bedrooms on the other, kitchen at the back.’
    ‘Laundry outside?’
    ‘Yeah, but I’m thinking about bringing it into the house, next to a bathroom.’
    And some woman in the future will love you for that, Sally thought.
    She noticed, with interest, a pile of books in one corner. At a glance they seemed mostly to do with architecture.
    They moved through the front doorway into a hall with tongue and groove timber walls and exposed timber floorboards.
    ‘Oh, I love the timber archway.’ Sally pointed to a decorative arch halfway down the hall.
    ‘There’s a better one in here.’ Luke steered her through another doorway where a larger, gracefully curved timber arch divided the empty lounge and dining rooms.
    ‘Yes, lovely,’ Sally agreed. ‘I can picture it with fresh white paint and pots of ferns on those built-in plant stands.’
    He laughed. ‘I might have to consult you on the interior décor.’
    She thought of the piles and piles of decorating magazines she’d collected but never put to use, and felt a little shiver of excitement
. We’ll see.
    Once again, she was incredibly conscious of Luke, of his broad shoulders and deep chest, his suntanned skin, his capable hands . . .
    Carefully they continued, making their way around a ladder that disappeared through a hole in the ceiling where timber panels had been removed. The doors to the other rooms, presumably bedrooms, were closed and Luke didn’t offer to open them, so they arrived next at the kitchen.
    A small, rusty fridge stood in one corner and a very basic sink was positioned beneath the bank of windows. In stark contrast to the orderliness of the toolboxes she’d seen elsewhere the sink was filled with a clutter of unwashed plates and mugs.
    A couple of crates on the floor held bottles of sauce and tins of basics like tomato soup and baked beans. A two-burner stove plate was propped on another box that was turned on its side and there was also a camp table and a metal folding chair.
    Standing in the middle of the room, all big shoulders and boyish smile, Luke shoved his hands in his trouser pockets as he looked about him. ‘Believe it or not, this is going to be a showpiece one day.’
    ‘Of course it is.’
    His smile tilted. ‘So . . . would you like a drink? I’m afraid it’ll have to be beer or beer.’
    Sally gave a soft laugh. She wasn’t much of a beer drinker. ‘I’d love a beer.’
    ‘Great. Take the weight off.’ Quickly, he grabbed a tea towel. ‘Hang on.’ With a flick of the towel he dusted off the metal seat. ‘Can’t spoil that borrowed finery.’
    Luke watched as Sally sat down, watched the way his dark coat fell apart to reveal her pale-pink dress, watched her graceful movements as she crossed her slim legs.
    For a moment he was transfixed and he just stood there, drinking in the sight of her. So perfect in his shabby, inadequate kitchen.
    Then he remembered he was supposed to be getting their drinks.
    Shit, did he have a clean glass?
    He wished he was calmer. Anyone would think he’d never hit on a girl before, but there was something about Sally that messed with his head. Half a dozen times already – in the ute, on the verandah, in the hallway – he’d nearly given in to his desire to kiss her, but for some reason he didn’t quite understand, he knew he wanted to get this right.
Had
to get this right. Sally was different, so perfect in every way, he needed to lift his act.
    To his relief, he found a clean glass and poured her beer, and it didn’t froth too much or run down the sides.
    Sally smiled as he handed it to her, and her dark eyes were warm and eloquent, almost as if she was sending him a silent message. He just hoped he was reading