Read Online Spiritbound by Dani Kristoff - Free Book Online

Grace could have eaten several servings of turkey with all the trimmings, her hunger was that bad.
    Finally, after zipping through a number of other mountain suburbs, Declan pulled over onto a grass-covered area. ‘He we are.’ He tugged off his helmet and gestured to a small cottage, obscured by shrubs and a riotous cottage garden.
    Grace took off her own helmet and shook out her hair. Using her fingers, she tried to arrange it to get rid of the flattened hair she’d acquired from a couple of hours riding pillion while Declan held the bike for her.
    ‘Where is here?’ She lifted her leg off the bike, her muscles stiff.
    Opening the pannier, he pulled out her handbag, passing it to her.
    She stretched and shook out her legs. The sun had dropped lower on the horizon. They would have to travel at night to get back home to Balmain. She kept her mouth shut, although she was dying to make a snarky comment about the so-called ‘picnic’.
    Declan dismounted from the bike and engaged the bike stand. He reached into the panniers and took out what looked like a bottle of wine wrapped in brown paper, and another shopping bag. Grace watched him with hooded eyelids, suspicious all of a sudden.
    ‘I thought you said we were going on a picnic. That to me implied food and maybe a blanket, a beach, a park or something.’
    Declan tossed his keys in the air and caught them. ‘Patience. All will be revealed.’ He strode past her and stepped onto the veranda of the little house. He paused, looked over his shoulder and said, ‘What are you waiting for? You’re not a scaredy-cat, are you?’
    With a sniff, Grace tossed back her head. ‘You would have to try a lot harder to scare me, Mallory.’
    She raced to catch up, lifting her chin defiantly when she drew level with him.
    ‘Then enter.’ His eyes studied her, pushing the door open.
    A warm liquid feeling overshadowed her annoyance. In that moment, for that moment, it was as if they had never been apart, never been separated by terrible deeds.
    Then, letting that thought go, she stepped into the house. A warm polished floor greeted her gaze. The short hallway opened onto a cosy lounge room with stuffed sofas in natural-coloured upholstery, and a fireplace framed with old-fashioned green glazed tiles. A modern kitchen led off the room. Declan strode over and put the bottle on the bench and started opening cupboards and pulling out wineglasses. ‘Will you take a glass?’
    ‘Yes, I’d love a drink.’ Grace ambled around the lounge room. The fireplace was stacked with wood, ready to light. ‘Should I start the fire?’ It was starting to cool down as the sun disappeared, thought it wasn’t actually cold.
    ‘If you wouldn’t mind. I’ll get our picnic ready.’
    Grace chuckled to herself as she sent a spark into the kindling. As the wood caught, she shook her head. Declan Mallory was a trickster . What was he planning?
    Collecting her wine, she took a sip and then sprawled herself on the sofa, drinking in the atmosphere of the cosy little cottage. It really was a relaxing, peaceful place to be. She took another sip of wine and let it slide slowly down her throat. Then she frowned at a sudden thought. What was she doing alone in the Blue Mountains with Declan Mallory?
    She bolted upright. Declan was slicing bread in the kitchen. She didn’t know what to do. It was a bit far to hail her mother, and a tad embarrassing.
    Climbing out of the seat, she tugged down her top and shored up her courage. Strolling to the kitchen, she leaned against the wall, projecting a calmness she didn’t quite feel. Declan was focused on embellishing plates with chicken drumsticks and salad. It was picnic food, but not a picnic place. ‘Declan, what is going on? I mean, it’s late. How will we get home in time?’
    He glanced her way. ‘In time for what?’
    Grace swallowed, not quite sure how to answer because it would reveal that she was insecure being alone with him, or worse, affected by