Two Against the Odds (17 page)
Read Two Against the Odds Online
Authors: Joan Kilby
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L
EXIE HAD
just closed the front door behind her when the phone began to ring inside the house.
“Leave it,” Rafe said. “We'll miss the sunset.”
A week had passed since the Archibald Prize luncheon. Rafe was doing everything he could to make it up to her for the disappointments she'd hadâfirst the baby, then losing the prize. This evening they were going out on the boat for a romantic cruise, just the two of them. And of course, Murphy, the first mate.
The phone continued to ring.
Lexie hesitated, looked over her shoulder. “I feel strange. Kind of prickly all over. I want to answer that.”
“Get it then,” Rafe said. “Murphy and I will be in the car.”
She went back inside.
Rafe held the back door open and whistled. Murphy hopped in. Rafe got into the driver's seat and rolled down the window. He was tuning the radio to a classical station when Lexie stepped onto the porch.
With her graceful figure in cotton fisherman pants and a fitted top, she was quite a picture. The thought flashed through him,
I am a lucky man.
“Rafe. Guess what?” She was grinning like a fool.
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“That was Samuel. The National Gallery of Victoria wants to buy my portrait of Sienna.”
“That's good.” He turned the key in the ignition.
“Good? You don't understand. It's fantastic.” She got into the car and threw her arms around his neck. “It's better than the Archibald Prize. Sixty-five thou sand dollars!”
“Not bad for a few months' work.” He was teasing her, making her think he didn't understand what a huge deal this was. “Does this mean we'll be able to afford chicken with our two-minute noodles?”
“Hell, we'll be able to eat filet mignon.” She went quiet as she fastened her seat belt. Then she glanced at him. “Maybe we'll stick to rump steak for a while.”
He gave up the pretense and hugged her enthusiastically. “Rump steak, chickenâwho cares? Congratulations, Lexie! I always knew you were the best. And now the whole country will, too.”
Rafe backed out of the driveway and set off down the quiet residential street toward the glassy bay where the setting sun was already turning the water to molten gold.
He reached for Lexie's hand and felt her fingers squeeze his. Some people might say the odds were against them as a coupleâ¦.
But he thought they just might be on a winning streak.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8847-2
TWO AGAINST THE ODDS
Copyright © 2011 by Joan Kilby
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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