Page 19 of Tour Wars
What had she gotten herself into?
CHAPTEREIGHT
If there was one thing TJ had learned from years of playing cards with his family, it was how to read people’s tells. Right now, he could read Emilia like a book. Even if she was smiling at Luca, her spine was rigid, her hands clenched.
He knew damn well she didn’t want to spend ten days leading a bunch of tourists across Italy. She’d only volunteered because she was desperate for money. But she hadn’t known Luca would be joining the tour.
TJ couldn’t sit back and let her suffer. Even if she could barely tolerate him, he didn’t want her thrown to the wolves. Or one wolf in particular. She might have been able to handle Luca during a four-hour tour of Pompeii. But for ten days? On a trip involving overnight hotel stays? The risk was too great.
“Actually,” TJ said. “I’d like a chance to lead the tour as well.”
Emilia nailed him with an icy glare. “What about Greece?”
“I’d rather lead the tour.”
“Than go to Greece?”
He was going to have to sell it. Hard. He flashed his smarmiest, most kiss-ass smile at the Roberti brothers. “As you can probably tell from the reviews I’ve gotten, I excel at giving tours. It’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this Pompeii job. If academia doesn’t pan out for me, I was thinking of getting into the tourism industry. It doesn’t hurt that I speak three languages and have an undeniable knack for engaging people.”
“What the fuck?” Emilia hissed under her breath.
He refused to back down. “In fact, my reviews have been better than Emilia’s. Giada’s not here right now, but if you ask her, I’m sure she’d confirm it.”
The Roberti brothers were nodding, as though taking it all in, but Luca frowned. “That may be the case, but I observed Emilia closely last weekend. She has a ‘way’ with tourists, especially those of the male persuasion. Don’t you, bellissima?”
Even if she was cringing inside, Emilia’s smile never faltered. “I do indeed, Luca. I’ve been called, ‘charming,’ ‘winsome,’ and ‘lovely’ in my reviews.”
“As is only right,” he said. “Naturally, I was looking forward to spending time with you on this tour.”
“Then it’s settled,” Angelo said. “My nephew is an excellent judge of people. If he feels Emilia is the best candidate for the job, then I’ll—”
“Wait.” TJ spoke quickly, his pulse racing. “This tour is a huge responsibility. Ten days, multiple cities, and a large group of Americans. It’s a lot. What if Emilia and I took it on as a team? We could split the pay and share the experience.”
“We’ve never had two tour leaders,” Angelo said. “Though Mateo did admit he was run ragged last month with some very demanding groups.”
“Exactly,” TJ said. “Given your company’s tremendous reputation, their expectations are sky-high. Neither I nor Emilia have ever handled three dozen tourists on our own. At Pompeii, our groups are limited to twenty-five people each. If we co-lead the tour, we can easily accommodate the guests if they choose to split up or if some of them opt for an alternate excursion. It’ll make the trip that much more enjoyable.”
As Emilia huffed out an angry breath, TJ wondered if he was making a huge mistake. Maybe she’d be fine dealing with Luca on her own. But she hadn’t acted that way last Saturday when she’d mentioned feeling uneasy around him.
“All right,” Angelo said. “We’ll give it a go.”
Luca’s frown deepened, but he merely nodded.
“Stop by my office tomorrow morning to sign the paperwork,” Dr. Roberti said. “You can also pick up the pouch you’ll need for travel expenses. It contains a company credit card, along with extra euros for tips, incidentals, and any meals taken on your own.” He gave them a stern look. “Don’t abuse the privilege. No ordering room service.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Emilia said.
TJ nodded. “Same here. I’m a frugal traveler.”
“That’s the attitude I like to see,” Dr. Roberti said. “But I must warn you—if you mess up this tour, you’ll be off the guide circuit permanently. If you succeed—and get us the five-star reviews that Buon Viaggio needs—then you might earn a spot on next year’s team at Pompeii.”
Next year’s team?In all the talks Dr. Roberti had given about the Via Stabiana Project, he’d never hinted it might extend beyond the six-month time frame.
“I thought the project was only funded through the middle of December,” TJ said.
Dr. Roberti placed a finger against his lips. “Shh. For now, it’ll be our secret. Don’t tell the other archaeologists, but it looks as though we might receive another round of funding. If all goes well, we should be able to start up again in January and continue until next June. Rather than keep everyone in place, we only want team members who’ve pulled their weight. Anyone who goes the extra mile will rank more highly.”
TJ was tempted to pump his fist in enthusiasm but didn’t want to appear too eager, especially with Emilia glowering beside him. She probably resented him even more now, knowing they’d both be competing for a chance to extend their stay. He gave the Robertis a dazzling smile. “I promise I’ll keep it quiet, but I’d love to stay at Pompeii for another six months. In the meantime, I’m grateful for the opportunity to co-lead this tour with Emilia.”
