Page 55 of Tour Wars
“Absolutely, Dr. Flores.”
She addressed the group with a wide smile. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m a huge James Bond fan. Anyone else here share my love for 007?”
While using pop culture references was part of TJ’s routine, he was glad she’d decided to chime in. The tour was always more fun when they worked as a team.
Davis spoke up. “I’ve seen all the movies, and I do meanall. Even the ones with Pierce Brosnan.”
“Quite honestly, the franchise went downhill after Sean Connery left,” Alice said. She clasped her hands together. “I had the biggest crush on him.”
“I was always a Roger Moore fan,” Sylvie said. “So suave and debonair.”
Emilia chuckled. “Too true, though I find Daniel Craig hard to resist. If you caught him inNo Time to Die, which came out in 2021, you would have seen Matera. Part of the movie was filmed here.” She grinned at TJ. “Sorry for the interruption. You can carry on with the history lesson, professor.”
“Thanks. Speaking of movies,The Passion of the Christ—Mel Gibson’s epic recreation of the last days of Jesus’ life—was also filmed here because Matera was so well suited to stand in for biblical-era Jerusalem.”
With that, he led the group down a steep stairway, pausing at the bottom until everyone had caught up. Alice struggled with stairs, so he always made sure she had enough time to deal with them. The Casa Grotta was so confining that he split the group in half to avoid anyone feeling cramped. As he walked through it, he could hardly believe how well equipped it was, filled with tools, kitchen implements, a loom, and actual beds. There was even a penned-in area for the family donkey. Though the cave’s cool air was a welcome relief from the hot sun, he found the space too claustrophobic for his liking. Give him a wide-open desert any day.
After the Casa Grotta, he led the group through the Convicinio di Sant’Antonio, which consisted of four interlinked cave churches, and Santa Maria de Idris, an ancient church perched on a rocky outcrop and decorated with centuries-old frescoes. While most of the group barely gave the wall paintings a passing glance, Sylvie and Emilia lingered by them, even after everyone else had gone back outside.
Since people seemed more intent on taking photos than listening to him talk, TJ gave them a fifteen-minute break. The view was so stunning he wanted to make sure they took advantage. When Emilia came out and wandered over to one of the viewpoints, he joined her.
“You feeling any better?” he asked.
“Yeah. Thanks for letting me sleep on the bus. It helped a lot.”
“No problem. What were you and Sylvie so interested in? Those frescoes were really faded.”
“True, but they made me wish I could restore something with that much historical significance. Like the wall paintings we uncovered in Pompeii at the House of Venus. I hope Dr. Roberti considers me when he puts together the conservation team. I mentioned it when I first got hired on, but he’s probably forgotten by now.”
TJ remembered her talking about it earlier. “Then you need to remind him once we get back. No need to devote your entire career to studying seeds.”
She gave him a cheeky smile. “Mock my seeds all you want, but I’ve learned a lot from them.”
“I know, but you’ll never convince me they’re more exciting than Bronze Age weaponry.”
In the past, his comment might have riled her up. Now, she just laughed and shook her head. “I don’t need to convince you, not when I know the truth. Without plant life, humans would be doomed.” She gave a little shrug. “Even so, I wouldn’t mind getting to use my conservation training for a change.”
To anyone else, her casual tone might suggest a mild level of interest, but TJ knew better. This was something she really wanted. Unlike him, she wasn’t the type to boast about her abilities or her chances, which meant he’d have to encourage her as much as he could.
“The House of Venus could be the perfect opportunity,” he said. “Now that those wall paintings have been exposed, they’ll need to be properly cared for. If you get chosen to stay on at Pompeii until June, tell Dr. Roberti you’d like to use that time to help with the conservation process.”
“That’s a great idea. Wouldyoustay longer? If you were asked to be part of next year’s team?”
The thought of extending his stay—and getting to do it with Emilia—lit a fire inside of him. Now, he wanted it more than ever. “Hell, yes. Another six months would be perfect. I’d still need to look for academic jobs, but I could do that online. A full year at Pompeii would add even more cachet to my resume.” He placed his hand on her arm—just the briefest of touches. “I’ll stay if you will.”
The smile she gave him could have lit up the entire ravine. “Then I’m holding you to it. Pompeii wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Though she kept her voice light, there was no mistaking what she was implying. That her feelings for him were more than just a physical reaction to their closeness on the tour. That she wanted more than one night of passion. If they could both stay in Pompeii until next spring, they could have all that. They might even have a shot at a real relationship.
All of a sudden, the future seemed wide-open.
* * *
After lunchat a cave restaurant in Matera, they got back on the bus and headed for the Castel del Monte. While the octagonal castle was considered a medieval masterpiece, TJ sensed a drop in the group’s attention level. He kept the tour short, allowing them an extra half hour at the wine tasting, which was held in a nearby vineyard. By the time everyone boarded the bus again, they were drowsy and content, making for a quiet ride.
TJ was half-asleep when his phone buzzed with a text from his sister.
Romily: You doing okay? I know this week is always rough for you.
