The Sweet Life

by Sharon Struth

  Julian imagined his passengers gossiping over everything they learned this morning. The same way any group of people would if they’d been lied to.

  Frank Bruno had called it, a fact Julian had no doubt he’d remind the others. Mamie knew more about his past than anybody, though he trusted she wouldn’t tell more than was already out there. Gary could have a field day about his life and Julian didn’t trust him at all.

  The tall grasses behind him rustled and he braced himself. If it was Gary, he couldn’t be responsible for—

  “Julian?”

  Mamie. Relief rushed through him. He didn’t want to kick Gary’s ass, but left alone with him, he just might. He glanced back over his shoulder.

  She frowned. “You okay? I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  He turned back to the view, crisscrossing his legs to get more comfortable. “I needed to be alone.”

  She lowered herself to the grass, slipped her flip-flops off her feet, and adjusted the straps of a pair of denim bib overalls so they sat properly on her shoulders.

  On any other woman, he wouldn’t have looked twice at such an outfit. But on Mamie, her hair twirled into bun and her long legs stretched out before her, the word cute popped into his mind.

  “How’d you find me?”

  “Beppe suggested I look here. He said it was your favorite place.”

  “My friend, the traitor.”

  “You’re lucky to have such a good friend.”

  He turned to her. She’d been watching him. “I know.”

  She put a hand on his knee. “You okay?”

  “Not really.” He rubbed his cheeks with his palms. “What kind of scene did I create back there?”

  “Not so bad. Mostly they’re worried about you and”—she drew in a breath—“curious. They’re wondering how they could’ve been in the presence of a TV celebrity and not known it. Although several times Frank Bruno reminded them he’d called it.”

  Julian laughed. “I figured.”

  Mamie took his hand and drew it to her lap. “Bernie said he saw me leaving your place this morning.”

  “He told me while I was getting my coffee.” Her soft hand in his gave him the comfort he’d been looking for on this hillside, but hadn’t yet found. “Guess the ol’ cat’s out of the bag.”

  She shrugged. “It’s a matter of time before the others figure it out. Plus, I’m not sure those who know will do a good job of keeping it a secret. Not to hurt us or anything. They just seem to not mind us being together, even if it’s not allowed by your boss.”

  “I don’t care if they all know about us.”

  “No? What about your boss?”

  “If Claudia finds out, I’ll deal with it.” He squeezed her hand. “I can only imagine what they think knowing about Eddie, the show, Carlos dying on my watch.” Self-hatred tore at his inside. “Even about me getting fired.”

  She frowned. “First, I’m not sure they know all those details. Second, why do you blame yourself? Through my eyes, Gary is to blame.”

  He turned back to the view. Blame. It came easily to him. Logically, he understood the ease of owning blame came from a deep-rooted place. He contemplated the risk of saying it aloud, struggling for a long moment but when Mamie squeezed his hand, he took the leap. “For years, I wished I could’ve saved my parents the day they died. I just stood there. Helpless. The moment Carlos slammed into that damn bridge, the old feeling I had watching that hot air balloon go up in flames returned. I couldn’t do a damn thing and he was up there because of me.”

  She drew her legs to her side and faced him. “I know how that feels. There are days I still replay the car accident, if only I’d seen the car veer into our lane, if only I’d suggested a different route, left the house earlier or later...” Her eyes watered then she sighed. “Problem is when fate drops a bomb in our path, we’re powerless to stop it.” She lifted a hand and touched his cheek gently. “All we can do is move forward. You’re helping me move forward, you know?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” she said softly. Her eyes glistened, but they seemed like happy tears. “I’ll always be thankful to you for that.”

  He kissed her. She’d handed him a gift, in believing he was capable of good. He leaned back, happy to see her tears gone. “Now maybe you can help me figure out how to deal with Gary.”

  “What happened that you’re no longer on the show? I mean, did you quit after the accident?”

  “Didn’t you read it on the internet?”

  “It didn’t say.”

  He drew in a deep breath and stared out at the hills. “We were in Lanai, the Hawaiian Island. The Kaunolu cliff jump. An eighty-two-foot drop into the ocean.”

  “Sounds terrifying.”

  “Normally, I wouldn’t have blinked. But this was three weeks after Carlos died. Gary wanted to film at a popular local site for cliff diving. I didn’t think anything of it. At least until I stood on the edge, staring down in the choppy water. Hell, it wasn’t even a bad day to dive. The old me would’ve talked to a few locals, listened to their advice, and gone for it.”

  “But not that day?”

  He shook his head and his throat grew thick with the pain owning him that day. “I was something I’ve never let myself be.”

  “What’s that?”

  He turned to her. “Scared.” His stomach trembled, the confession never before uttered aloud. “The fourteen-year-old boy in me who missed his parents terribly never allowed himself to be afraid. I grew up to be a man who had to prove to the world nothing scared me. But that day in Hawaii, all I could hear while waiting to make that jump was the sound of Carlos hitting that bridge. The cliff edge seemed as daunting as stepping off the edge of the world.” He sighed and looked up at her. “Gary threatened to fire me if I didn’t do it, so I walked off and told him to do it.”

  She watched him carefully and nodded. “So why does he want you back now?”

  “The show’s executive producer wants me back. Is offering to double my salary.”

  “Did you like doing the show?”

  “I loved certain things about it.”

  “Like what?”

  “Seeing new places, meeting new people. I’ve always loved that and it’s been an important part of my life.”

  “And what didn’t you like?”

  “Sometimes those dramatic stunts didn’t sit right.” Speaking so truthfully carried a great sense of relief. “Gary thought they were a ratings grabber. After Carlos died, I realized I only did them to prove I could.”

  “Prove to who?”

  He met her serious gaze. “Myself I guess.” Then the real answer hit him. “No…ever since losing my parents, I almost wonder if I’ve been trying to prove to the world I’m like them. Someone who isn’t afraid to try new things, explore places others wouldn’t dare visit.” The reality of his current fears took a swing. “I’m not, though.”

  “Julian, you’ve risked your life, multiple times. God, you’re about the bravest person I know.” She gathered his hands in hers. “You let me on the bus without authorization.” She grinned. “And took me on some dates, and into your villa. A rule breaker if there ever was one.”

  He drew in the warmth of her pretty smile, but it disappeared as fast. “That wasn’t bravery.” He put his arm around her shoulders and they sat quietly for a moment.

  Mamie broke the silence, quietly asking, “So feeling brave really matters to you?”

  “Sure. I may not want the same level of risk going forward, but being adventurous is part of who I am.”

  After a few minutes, she looked up. “I have this great idea for you, a new kind of adventure.”

  “What?”

  “I want it to be a surprise.”

  “Haven’t I had enough of those this trip?”

  “Please?
I trusted you...” She raised her full dark brows.

  “True, you did.” Her persistence left him curious. “Then run with it.”

  “You won’t be sorry.”

  He couldn’t imagine anything she could do would make him sorry.

  She stood and wiped some dried grass off her thighs. “How about we go see if Gary has left yet?”

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  She extended a hand to him. He took it, and as he stood, pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

  Julian tried pinpointing the exact moment this smart, pretty woman came out of nowhere and swept him off his feet. She’d worked her way into both his heart and his head, despite many problems of her own.

  Hell, yeah. He trusted her.

  Chapter 18

  Mamie pulled herself across the pool’s length with long strokes, but her mind rested on the activity outside of the water.

  Earlier, while she and Julian enjoyed a swim, Frank Bruno came poolside and told them he’d invited Gary to stay at the villa for a couple of days, using the spare bed in his room. Julian had started to say something about his tour instructor’s strict rules, then stopped talking, dove deep, and swam like an angry shark chasing prey.

  So Gary was here to stay. Like it or not.

  Julian now stretched out in a lounge chair on the opposite side from his former boss, a clear message if Mamie had ever seen one.

  She kicked off the pool wall for a new lap. Gary staying might not be such a bad thing. His arrival served as a catalyst to what ailed Julian. Which was why before dinner last night, she’d brainstormed with Beppe on ways to help Julian get through his personal crisis. Together, they’d hatched a plan and today Beppe talked to his cousin, who said he could help them with it toward the end of their villa stay.

  Mamie popped her head from beneath the water, surprised to hear singing. On the far side of the pool, beneath the shade of a curtained cabana, several tour members and Gary rocked out about the summer of ’69. A version that would’ve made Bryan Adams cringe.

  Mamie climbed up the pool ladder and settled quietly into the lounge chair near Julian. Water glistened on his tanned arms and chest. With his sunglasses on, she couldn’t see his eyes, but he appeared to be sleeping. Her gaze drifted to the Aztec Warrior tattoo near his shoulder. He deserved to wear the emblem, even though he didn’t see himself as a warrior. Warriors came in all forms. Especially when facing the battle of their lives. Exactly what he’d been doing the past year.

  Just as she tipped her head back and shut her eyes, Julian mumbled, “Look at him. He waltzes in and takes over. Hell, he didn’t even go to Woodstock.”

  She turned her head sideways and found him wide-awake, his sunglasses pushed up into his damp curls. “Neither did you, and you sing along with them.”

  “Are you always so reasonable?” His gaze softened and slid along her body. “And sexy?”

  She laughed. “Oh yes, my one-piece Speedo is the stuff men’s dreams are made of.”

  His voice grew husky. “Then maybe it’s you?” He ran his index finger along her shoulder and her skin tingled. “Oh, while you were in the pool three more from our group came up and told me know they knew about us.” He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “So how about we call it safe to openly enjoy ourselves?”

  “I vote yes.”

  “Yo, Julian,” yelled Bob over the chorus. “Come join us!”

  He waved. “Thanks. Maybe in a bit.”

  Beppe’s van appeared at the crest of the winding stone driveway.

  “Good. Lunch is here.” Mamie let go of his hand and reached for her tunic cover-up. She stood and slipped it over her head. “Let’s help Beppe get food set up in the common room. I’m starving.”

  “Sure.” He stood, slipped an arm around her waist, and drew her close. In the space of a heartbeat, he dipped his head and swept his lips against hers. He leaned back and grinned. “Let’s give ’em something to talk about. And while we’re on the topic, why don’t you move your bags into my place? Let’s make the most of this time together.”

  She forced a smile. This would end soon, but she’d enjoy every minute while she could. “I’d like that.”

  He winked and turned, heading toward the patio, where Beppe had just dropped off a box. Julian turned to her, holding out his hand. “Andiamo, mia bellezza. I thought you were hungry.”

  “I am.” She hurried to catch up with him, knowing the others looked on. Glancing to her side, she found only smiling faces watching them. Any background worries she had about him being reported to his boss vanished.

  * * * *

  Laughter and conversation filled the patio air. Julian couldn’t wait to sample this feast of Italian delights. Olives marinated in spices. Thick sliced tomatoes nestled near mozzarella, both glazed with fresh, fruity olive oil. Tangy cheeses accompanied by sliced ham, salami, and prosciutto, waiting to be enjoyed on slices of fresh bread baked by Beppe’s brother-in-law.

  He glanced to his side and studied Mamie. She sipped her second glass of Chianti, not seeming to mind one bit the way he slowly massaged her thigh beneath the table.

  Loud laughter from the far end of the long table rose above the other sounds.

  “Is it true, Julian?” Bernie raised his voice above the noise. “Gary here is telling us about the time you visited a tribe and they wanted you to marry the chief’s daughter?”

  “Yup. One of our earlier shows. Let’s just say I wasn’t ready to commit.” A voice inside his head reminded him he never had been.

  Gary chuckled. “I never thought we’d get out of that one. Thank God she didn’t like you.”

  “I’ll admit it now. My ego was a little bruised. Hell, nobody likes to be turned down. But that was a blessing in disguise.”

  “I remember that show.” Tim, a short man with dark glass frames who seemed to be opening up at the villa, looked toward Julian. “Wasn’t there one where you went in a river filled with piranhas?”

  “Yeah. In the Amazon. Funny, but those damn fish scared me more than a lot of things I’ve done for the show.”

  Memories of the good times he’d had doing the show ambushed him. Moments he’d erased like they’d never happened a year ago, but now brought back with some fondness.

  Gary reached to a platter in the table’s center and took a rolled piece of salami. “That guide told you they were more scared of you than you were them, but you didn’t believe him.”

  “Hell no.” Julian smiled. These types of encounters always bonded the show staff. “Remember when he started talking to his buddy in some Amazonian language our translator didn’t understand? I was pretty sure he was making fun of me.”

  Mamie laughed, giving him a burst of unexpected joy. It felt nice to share this part of himself with her, too.

  Bernie leaned forward. “What other crazy things happened on the show?”

  Gary looked at Julian. “Enough that we talked about doing an episode devoted only to some of our craziest moments, right, Jules?”

  “Yeah, we had some great stuff planned.” Nostalgia for good times wrapped him like a snake, leaving old memories to choke him with regret for his actions. For years, the people on the show were friends, almost like a surrogate family. “Remember the tape you have of a rhino charging at me?”

  Several people seated at the table gasped.

  Gary scrunched his face, in deep thought. “Oh yeah. Nepal, right?”

  Julian nodded, then panned the attentive audience and dove right in. “The rhino stood about fifty meters away. I was trying to back off slowly and this one”—he motioned with his thumb to Gary—“he’s saying, ‘Puff out your chest. Let him know you’re not afraid.’ The rhino decided to call my bluff and as he attacked, Gary was yelling ‘Don’t move until the last minute.’”

  “Hey, we had a great shot.” Gary shrugge
d, not looking one bit apologetic.

  “Great shot of what? The host about to have a heart attack?” Julian shook his head.

  He waved his hand. “You’d have been fine.”

  The vineyard bus pulled in, stopping the conversation.

  Julian stood. “I hate to end the party. Those going to the vineyard have to catch this bus and I have to get ready for the excursion to the Etruscan site. For those who want to join me, Beppe will be ready to drive us in an hour.” He picked up two empty platters. “Feel free stay at the villa. If you’re joining me, let’s take a minute to clear dirty dishes and load the dishwasher. Give our help a little hand.”

  The table emptied and everyone participated with clean up. When all was done, Julian took Mamie by the hand and led her outside the kitchen door.

  He twirled her around and pressed her to the building’s stone wall. Pushing aside the shoulder of her sleeve, he kissed her exposed skin. “How about we get your bags now? Are you going with me this afternoon?”

  “I am.” She pressed her lips to his, a soft sweep. “I loved those stories about your show.”

  “It was fun talking about it.” Gary’s arrival had pissed him off at first, but right now he had a taste of his former self and it felt damn good. Besides, the way Mamie looked at him at this moment, having Gary blow his cover this morning was worth it. “We have an hour before the bus leaves. I can think of one way to put this time to use.”

  “And they say men can’t multi-task.” Mamie grinned. “Let’s go.”

  They returned to her villa to grab the luggage then headed toward his place. For once, his soul felt in harmony with the world. A kind of lightness Julian wanted to grab tight and hold on to forever. A tranquil sensation that had escaped him for a long time, perhaps his entire life.

  She glanced his way. “You loved your old job, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah. After what happened, I forgot how much.”