Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) by Christi Snow Page A

she’d stay home from work like I suggested, she’d be feeling much better.”
    Penelope stuck her tongue out at him. Arrogant man.
    He just gave her a slow smile. “And then she’d be able to act her age and not have to give into the fact that she knows I’m right.”
    Damon watched their by-play with interest, before he turned back to Penelope. “You need to take care of yourself. I’m holding you to your promise of taking me to that party Saturday night.”
    “Aw, that’s right. I did promise to introduce you to some hot single ladies didn’t I?”
    “That you did, so I need you to be at 100%, because you know if some hot young thing wants to take me home, I’ll look like a cad if you aren’t feeling better.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
    “Well, in that case, I promise not to get out of bed until Saturday night. We can’t have my infirmity interfering with your ability to get laid now, can we?”
    Damon smiled at her, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “As long as your priorities are intact.” He glanced down at his watch and frowned. “I better go. I have an important call coming in about thirty minutes.”
    He reached over and brushed the hair off Penelope’s forehead once again. “Get better, Penelope…oh, and stay away from crazy robbers wanting to throw you down the stairs.”
    She grabbed his hand. “I will. I promise.” He started to pull away, but she didn’t let go.
    Damon looked back at her questioningly and she could still see the shadows in his eyes so she gently asked, “Are you okay?” She didn’t like to see one of her friends hurting and she definitely had the feeling that Damon was hurting.
    He gave a quick nod and headed toward the door. “Just perfect. As always.” He started to open the knob but had a second thought and turned back toward Colton. “Keep her safe,” Damon said, and then he left the apartment.
    Colton locked the door behind Damon before turning back to Penelope. He looked at her curiously. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that you two were dating.”
    She gave a weary smile. “I know, right? He’s like my perfect guy. Oh my God, did you see that tat?” She gave Colton’s hard body a once-over. “You don’t have any tats hidden under there, do you, Colt?”
    He frowned at her and rolled his eyes, ignoring her question. “Penelope, focus. We were talking about you and Damon.”
    She waved a hand dismissively. “Oh yeah. There isn’t going to be any Damon and me. No chemistry.”
    She was still looking at Colton, trying to imagine him with tattoos. It just didn’t fit his persona. She shook her head to clear it and then wished she hadn’t when a stab of pain shot out from her temple.
    “Have you taken any pain pills lately?” Colton was already headed into the kitchen and picking up the bottle off the counter, which he brought to her with a bottle of water.
    She reached up and took them from him, with a murmured, “Thanks.” As her fingertips brushed his, a tremor snaked up her arm. Yep, there was that chemistry she didn’t have with Damon. She glanced at Colton’s lips. Would kissing him elicit more of a response than Damon’s kiss had? This jittering, this moment of connection, this chemistry told her yes. As she watched his eyes darken, she knew he felt it too. Chemistry. Just why the hell did she have it with Colton, one of the most domineering, controlling, serious men she knew?
     

Ch apter 13
    He growled into the phone. “What the fuck happened? How did she get hurt?”
    “I’m sorry. She showed up and I panicked. No one was supposed to be there that early. You said it would be clear.”
    “So you decided to hurt her? You could have ruined everything.”
    “I didn’t mean for her to fall down the stairs. I was just trying to push her aside so I could get out of the building before she called the cops. She wasn’t supposed to fall, but I called an ambulance right away.”
    “You