Read Online Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) by Christi Snow - Free Book Online
Authors: Christi Snow
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the pressure of having to analyze it. I know it’s been a long time since you had the chance to just read a book for fun.”
“But I don’t think—”
Penelope could hear the stress in Hannah’s voice, which she had a feeling had nothing to do with a missing book. “What’s this really about? Did something else happen last night?”
She heard a sudden intake of air and what sounded like a sob come across the phone.
“Hannah, is someone hurting you?”
Hannah’s voice croaked. “No. No, I’m fine. I have to go,” The line went dead.
Penelope frowned as she shut off her phone.
“Is something wrong?” Damon asked her.
“I think one of my employees is in a bad relationship. She’s acting odd and I’m starting to worry about her.”
“Is there anything I can do?” The sincerity in his voice pulled her from her worry.
“Oh no. Thanks though and I’m sorry I let the phone call interrupt our dinner.” She smiled at him apologetically. “I think you were just about to tell me how your meeting went at the University.”
He gave a sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m really not sure. Your mother runs a strong department, but I’m just not sure that we’re going to be able to find an accord so we can work together.” He grimaced. “I’m just not sure they can deal with my restrictions and I know I don’t want to deal with theirs.”
“But doesn’t bringing in a University help both of you?”
“Absolutely it does, both in funding and trained labor but,” his eyes took on a distant look as he thought about his project, “El Regalo has secrets to reveal and I’m just not sure I want to share them with anyone else.” He gave her a slight grin. “That sounds very egotistical of me, doesn’t it?”
“No, not at all. This is your life’s work. I can completely understand you want to be in control of it. Knowing my mother the way I do, I think you have a good reason for your concerns.”
He looked at her speculatively. “Okay, I have to ask, but try not to take offense.”
“Uh oh, should I be concerned?”
He smiled at her. “No, but I just don’t get it. I’ve met both your parents and you’re nothing like them. Where did you come from?”
Penelope gasped and then laughed out loud. “Honestly, I think they wonder that same thing all the time.” She smiled at him. “They had me late in their lives. Mom was 42 and Dad was 45 when I was born. I think they thought they were going to create a miniature version of themselves so they were pretty shocked by me, too. I spent the first years of my life trying to conform to their ideals, but I just couldn’t fit into that mold and it was really painful to try. Finally, I decided I just had to be me.”
“How old were you?”
Her smile was self-deprecating as she said, “Thirteen. The typical age when every girl decides she doesn’t want to live in the shadow of her parents’ ideals. It’s all rather cliché, isn’t it?”
“Maybe, but I like that you’re your own person.” He reached across and took hold of her hand and caressed it softly.
Penelope looked at his strong hands and willed herself to have some reaction to what he was doing, but there was nothing. This is how she imagined it would be to try to be romantic with her brother if she had any brothers. No chemistry. She looked up at Damon who watched her thoughtfully. He was such a nice guy and incredible looking, so why in the world didn’t she feel any chemistry with him? Could it have something to do with her way-too-sexy new roommate?
He gave a soft smile then said, “This isn’t working is it?”
She looked down at their joined hands. “No, but I don’t understand why. You’re a good-looking guy and we get along great. God, I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry. Actually, I’m relieved. I hoped it wasn’t just me. But I have a good time with you, so can we stay friends? I’m still in town for another week and I’d like to spend
“But I don’t think—”
Penelope could hear the stress in Hannah’s voice, which she had a feeling had nothing to do with a missing book. “What’s this really about? Did something else happen last night?”
She heard a sudden intake of air and what sounded like a sob come across the phone.
“Hannah, is someone hurting you?”
Hannah’s voice croaked. “No. No, I’m fine. I have to go,” The line went dead.
Penelope frowned as she shut off her phone.
“Is something wrong?” Damon asked her.
“I think one of my employees is in a bad relationship. She’s acting odd and I’m starting to worry about her.”
“Is there anything I can do?” The sincerity in his voice pulled her from her worry.
“Oh no. Thanks though and I’m sorry I let the phone call interrupt our dinner.” She smiled at him apologetically. “I think you were just about to tell me how your meeting went at the University.”
He gave a sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m really not sure. Your mother runs a strong department, but I’m just not sure that we’re going to be able to find an accord so we can work together.” He grimaced. “I’m just not sure they can deal with my restrictions and I know I don’t want to deal with theirs.”
“But doesn’t bringing in a University help both of you?”
“Absolutely it does, both in funding and trained labor but,” his eyes took on a distant look as he thought about his project, “El Regalo has secrets to reveal and I’m just not sure I want to share them with anyone else.” He gave her a slight grin. “That sounds very egotistical of me, doesn’t it?”
“No, not at all. This is your life’s work. I can completely understand you want to be in control of it. Knowing my mother the way I do, I think you have a good reason for your concerns.”
He looked at her speculatively. “Okay, I have to ask, but try not to take offense.”
“Uh oh, should I be concerned?”
He smiled at her. “No, but I just don’t get it. I’ve met both your parents and you’re nothing like them. Where did you come from?”
Penelope gasped and then laughed out loud. “Honestly, I think they wonder that same thing all the time.” She smiled at him. “They had me late in their lives. Mom was 42 and Dad was 45 when I was born. I think they thought they were going to create a miniature version of themselves so they were pretty shocked by me, too. I spent the first years of my life trying to conform to their ideals, but I just couldn’t fit into that mold and it was really painful to try. Finally, I decided I just had to be me.”
“How old were you?”
Her smile was self-deprecating as she said, “Thirteen. The typical age when every girl decides she doesn’t want to live in the shadow of her parents’ ideals. It’s all rather cliché, isn’t it?”
“Maybe, but I like that you’re your own person.” He reached across and took hold of her hand and caressed it softly.
Penelope looked at his strong hands and willed herself to have some reaction to what he was doing, but there was nothing. This is how she imagined it would be to try to be romantic with her brother if she had any brothers. No chemistry. She looked up at Damon who watched her thoughtfully. He was such a nice guy and incredible looking, so why in the world didn’t she feel any chemistry with him? Could it have something to do with her way-too-sexy new roommate?
He gave a soft smile then said, “This isn’t working is it?”
She looked down at their joined hands. “No, but I don’t understand why. You’re a good-looking guy and we get along great. God, I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry. Actually, I’m relieved. I hoped it wasn’t just me. But I have a good time with you, so can we stay friends? I’m still in town for another week and I’d like to spend
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