Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) by Christi Snow Read Free Book Online

smiled at him and offered her hand. “Hi, you must be Dr. Lopez.”
    He flashed a bright smile at her, but instead of shaking her hand, he lifted it slowly to his lips. He murmured, “Please call me Damon. You’re even more beautiful than your mother described, Penelope.” Then he brushed his lips lightly over the back of her hand. She got caught up in the depths of his chocolate eyes before Colton cleared his throat.
    He frowned at her as he said, “So you two are headed to the campus?”
    Damon grimaced. “Unfortunately. This is not my idea of an ideal first date when I want to impress a beauty like this.” He looked over at Penelope. “It’s a University function where a lot of stuffed shirts are going to schmooze me so they can intrude upon my archeological dig.”
    “Hey, those stuffed shirts are my parents.” She appeared contemplative for a moment. “Oh never mind, you’re completely correct. Maybe we can hit a jazz bar afterwards for some real fun.” She looked at him speculatively.
    He gave her another easy smile. “I think that sounds like a plan, but we probably should be off so that we can get the boring part of the evening out of the way.”
    “No worries. They can’t schmooze without you there, so they can’t possibly complain about you being late.” She looked over at Colton. “Don’t have too much fun unpacking.”
    Colton groaned. “Don’t remind me. Although I’m not sure which is worse…the unpacking I need to deal with or the stuffed shirts you’ll have to deal with. Maybe I’ll just settle into the couch with one of your books.” He looked speculatively toward her erotica shelf and a shiver of awareness skated through her body. Yep, way too much testosterone in this room.
    “Goodnight Colton.” She dragged Damon out the front door. She needed to get away from her way-too-sexy new roommate.
     

Chapter 7
    Penelope watched Damon as they rode in the luxurious chauffeured town car. He really was very good looking. He had a casual sense about him and an easy smile which was especially appealing. “The University must think really highly of you to offer this kind of service.” She gestured toward their driver.
    He shrugged. “I have something they want, so they plan to keep me happy however they can. I have to admit I’m surprised by you, though. This is the first time I’ve had such an interesting and beautiful date provided.”
    She gave a self-deprecating little laugh. “That sounds like flattery, but unfortunately I know what the typical anthropologist looks like.” She paused to examine him. He was so different from Colton, but she wasn’t going to start comparing her dates to her new roommate. He was a roommate. Only a roommate. “I’m the one who should be surprised. You’re neither old nor crusty.” She winked at him. “How did you get into archaeology and anthropology?”
    “Through my uncle, who does happen to be old and crusty. I grew up going on digs with him and fell in love with the life and mystery of it all. I was fortunate to make some good contacts early in life. That and a little bit of luck thrown in and now I find myself working for National Explorer on one of the most prestigious digs happening this decade.”
    “What’s so special about this dig?”
    “El Regalo.”
    “The Gift?”
    He looked at her in surprise. “You speak Spanish?”
    “I’ve picked up a little over the years, but I’m nowhere close to fluent. And that still doesn’t explain what makes this dig so important.”
    “First, let me tell you a story. There’s a legend in the Mayan culture about the God of Rain, Chac. It’s said he was a benevolent God who fell in love with a human woman. She didn’t return his love and instead she fell in love with a farmer. She bore that farmer two sons. When Chac found out, he was enraged and sent a flood which killed her sons while they were working in the fields. Immediately, Chac regretted his actions and sent the woman a gift to