Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) Read Online Free PDF

experience, both anthropologists and archaeologists tended to be elderly, kind gentlemen who weren’t exactly thrilled with her flamboyant style. In short, they were all a lot like her parents. This just didn’t make any sense.
    Her mother looked at her guiltily, so Penelope honed in on a single phrase. “You said escort.” She felt a sinking all the way to her toes. She knew her mother didn’t respect her, but surely it didn’t go this far. The shock reverberated through her system. She lowered her voice to a whisper, both from the hurt and in a play for a bit of privacy in the quiet dining room. “You’re not actually pimping me out, are you?”
    “Penelope, no!” Her mother shrieked in outrage.
    Okay, thank goodness she’d read that one wrong. “Well, then I don’t understand.”              
    “I’m sorry. I’m not explaining this very well. Dr. Lopez is brilliant, but he’s also a bit avant-garde. His methods are unusual.” Her mother pursed her lips. “He’s a lot like you, in that he does his own thing, his own way. He’s also around your age, so I thought it might be amenable to both of you. The department doesn’t have many on staff who are his age and demeanor. We want him to be comfortable here.” At Penelope’s smirk, she watched her mother’s color rise. “You know I don’t want you to make him that comfortable, although I have to admit some grandchildren would be nice.”
    Penelope felt her mouth drop open. Her mother had never mentioned grandchildren before. Seriously, what had gotten into her this morning?
    “If you don’t want to do it, I completely understand, but I hope you’ll at least consider it. As a favor to me. From what I understand, Dr. Lopez is very attractive.”
    Penelope looked at her mother and debated internally. “You realize, if I agree to this, you’re not allowed to say a thing about what I wear, what I say, or how I act.”
    “But…”
    “Not a single word, Mother. I know how to behave. I promise I won’t embarrass you, but neither will you embarrass me by questioning any of my actions. Agreed?”
    Her mother gave a short nod of acquiescence.
    “Fine, then I’ll accompany your Dr. Lopez. You said Saturday night, right?”
    Her mother nodded again, looking relieved. “I’ll have my assistant send you all the pertinent information and the University will provide you with a car and driver for the night.”
    “That’s not necessary. I can pick him up in the Bus.”
    Her mother visibly shuddered. “No, that’s not the kind of impression the University wants to give him.”
    “Mother,” Penelope said in a warning voice, “there’s no reason that we can’t use my Bus.”
    “Please, Penelope, this is the only other thing I ask. Please use the driver service.”
    Penelope looked hard at her mother, but finally relented. Besides by using the University driver, she could make use of the bar at the reception if she needed to, and knowing University receptions like this one…she was definitely going to need it.
     

Cha pter 5
    By the time Penelope made it into the bookstore, she was over an hour and a half late. She rushed in the door to find things quiet and her Aunt Alix drinking coffee and reading at the front desk.
    She looked up from the book she was reading as Penelope walked into the store. “Good morning, dear. How was breakfast with your mother?”
    Her mother and Aunt Alix were sisters, but they were nothing alike. In fact, it had been at least six years since they’d even spoken to one another. Alix was fourteen years younger than Penelope’s mother, Anna, and decades apart in attitude especially when it came to Penelope. Growing up, Aunt Alix had been Penelope’s refuge, friend, and support system when faced with the overwhelmingly strict edicts by her parents. Unfortunately it was Aunt Alix’s strong support of Penelope which also caused the sisters’ rift six years earlier.
    College was a particularly stressful time