Expedition of Love Read Online Free PDF

images and sounds he could not erase from his mind.
    A brass bell sounded, calling the passengers to dinner.
    He turned from his ruminations and went to the salon. His steps faltered as he entered the room. Elegance abounded from the polished paneled walls to the brass and crystal fixtures. The table set with linens, fine china, and silver. Whoever their benefactor was, he did not believe in leaving any comforts behind.
    The other gentlemen greeted him as he approached.
    "Good evening, Doctor,” Geoffrey Walters said, the oldest of the three graduate students and at the top of his class.
    They all had been under his tutorage for the last two years, and he felt he knew them quite well, yet he wasn't sure how they would receive the news of their fourth team member being a woman.
    "We've yet to meet Applegate, sir,” Geoffrey said. “We couldn't help but overhear your conversation with the professor that he had indeed boarded."
    "Yes, I imagine Professor Peterson will bring our photographer along directly. I hope you found your cabins to be satisfactory."
    "Beyond our greatest hopes. This is more than a pleasant surprise,” Richard Anderson said, motioning around the room.
    "For me also, but I assure you, expeditions rarely have such luxuries. And it won't be nearly as pleasant once we reach Argentina."
    They all nodded in agreement.
    "You might be surprised by Argentina, Doctor Baxter. I've found it to be quite magnificent."
    Stephen jerked around at the sweet sound of her voice. A vision stood in the doorway, her hair coifed with tiny pearls running amid the ginger braids, her cheeks rosy from the wind off the sea.
    Magnificent .
    Her father escorted her into the salon. All gazes fixed on her and all mouths hung somewhat agape.
    The delicate lace caressing her swanlike neck, parting in an hourglass design across the top of her breasts then dipping dangerously low, stole the very breath from Stephen's lungs. His mouth hungered for the taste of the pale mounds rising above her dress, to sample the heady flavor of the sweet and spicy mixture that was Kristina Peterson.
    Swallowing the growing lump of desire in his throat, he forced himself to turn his attention to Edwin's introductions.
    "Gentlemen, may I present my daughter, Kristina Peterson. My dear, this is Geoffrey Walters, Scott Thomas, and Richard Anderson."
    "How do you do, gentlemen?” She gave a dainty nod.
    A moment passed before the young men were able to return her greeting, but once accomplished they each attempted with great vigor to have her sit next to them at the table. Stephen caught the shade of mirth on Edwin's face as he eased to the bar for a drink, leaving his daughter to handle the overzealous suitors.
    This did not bode well for their expedition. Was he going to have assistants battling for her attention the entire trip? They would never get any work done! No, this would not do.
    "Gentlemen,” Stephen called, silencing their solicitations, steadily increasing in volume. He extended his arm to her. “May I escort you to the table, Miss Peterson?"
    She smiled up at him and for a moment and he thought he caught a glimmer of thanks in her eyes, but quickly dismissed it. Without a doubt, she would be able to deal with his assistants. A woman such as she would be accustomed to the attention.
    He nearly grinned at how she might handle these eager youths after experiencing her fiery temper first hand, but he couldn't bear the advances of his students any longer, and Edwin was no help whatsoever. His friend seemed to be enjoying the entire scene immensely.
    She placed her gloved hand on his arm. “I'd be delighted,” she said, and he led her to her seat.
    The memory of her warm, soft fingers in his sent a fleeting wish darting through his mind that she were touching his bare skin instead of his jacket.
    He pulled out her chair, and she turned her smiling face up to his. “Thank you, Doctor."
    He consciously worked on slowing the sudden galloping of his