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Tangible Memories

by Bill Davis

300 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0033; ISBN 1-55369-220-9; US$26.50, C$30.45, EUR22.00, £15.50

Tangible Memories whisks you up in an emotional adventure of love and deceit. Weaving through various lives, chance and fate are intertwined to capture your heart and move your soul. An innocently seductive and intense story that will leave you yearning for true love.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book     A young man 'Lewis Williams' who becomes an accidental medal of honor hero, arrives back in the states to keep a promise he made to his best friend who was mortally wounded in the war. He finds peace and contentment among his best friend's family who take him in as one of their own. The story begins on the Cape Cod Bay where Lewis finds true passion, and pure love with Jackie, the daughter of the rich Italian multimillionaire, Mr. Augustine Giovanni.     When someone they both love deceives them with lies, they are torn oceans, miles and years apart, while left with only memories. Thirteen years later Jackie discovers the truth that has been hidden away to keep them apart. She searches for years to find Lewis, to make things right and to share with him, a secret that she should have shared with him years ago, a secret that he now desperately needs to know.     Lewis, now married, with children, and world famous, creates works of art that rival the Masters. The works of Angelo, Van Gogh, and Picasso, cannot compare to the work of the greatest artist of all generations and time. The world gasps as it marvels at his mysterious creations, of beauty, of pain, of the unexplainable...Art that seems to come alive, bringing a message, speaking to the entire world...or is his work simply crying out to a lost love of times passed? A love so true...a love so pure...a forbidden love.     Tragedy strikes again as Jackie conceals a deadly secret, and Lewis is stricken with an irreversible illness. Medical science rushed to his aid. Will fate finally step in and settle its debt? Can destiny overcome deceit? Or is true love just a myth, a fairy tale?

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About the Author

Bill Davis, a gifted storyteller, believes that adventure and romance can be found all around us. He is a writer, actor, and painter living near the grand Redwood forests of northern California.

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Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

Chapter Three

    Lewis returns to the hut, puts on his trunks, flip-flops, and heads to the pool and dives in. Theresa hears the splash. She watches from the window as he swims. She runs her tongue over the top of her teeth as she watches the beads of water flow down his rippled stomach, as he pulls himself up onto the side of the pool. He dives in again. She decides to bring him a cold drink. He watches as her sexy body sways toward him. It has been a long time since he has been with a woman. Taunting, she sits down on the edge of the pool, kicks her shoes off and splashes her feet in the water.
    "I brought you a cold drink." She holds it in front of her as she brushes it across her left nipple, which becomes very hard and transparent through her tight uniform.
    "Thanks Theresa." Lewis takes a sip, "that nice." She smiles at him.
    "Come on in. The water's nice."
    "I mustn't," she whispers seductively.
    "Come on! There's no one around, it will be okay".
    "Do you like me, Lewis?"
    "What's not to like?" he questions, as if he doesn't know what she means.
    "No! I mean do you really like me?"
    "You are a good-looking woman Theresa."
    "How old are you, Lewis?"
    "I'll be twenty in a few days."
    "I'm twenty-seven. Have you ever had sex with an older woman?"
    "Well..."
    She interrupts, "I can show you things you don't know. I can do things to you that no one's done before."
    It was getting hot in the pool.
    "Theresa, I might be a fool for saying this, but I'm just not ready for a relationship."
    "Are you sure?" She takes his hand and puts it on her breasts. "No one's in the house, Lewis. We can have a bedroom all to ourselves for as long as you like."
    He rubs her tight, rock-hard nipples. He fights to maintain his position as the blood rushes from his brain. She kisses him on the nose, and then bites his lower lip.
    He pulls away, trying to think, "That's nice, real nice Theresa."
    She kisses him on the lips.
    "Um, that's sweet," he almost loses himself to her advances, but retreats. "I'm sorry," he breathes heavily, "My mind's made up. The next woman I sleep with will be the woman I'm going to marry."
    "Fine" she yells, as she splashes him, tipping his drink over from the splash. "Just see how long you can continue to have sex with yourself." She jumps up, yells, and turns to walk away.
    "Wait!" he laughs. "Come here. I'm sorry. Forgive me I'm sorry. I don't want to make you mad." She stops, hoping he has changed his mind. She walks over and bends down towards him.
    "Come here," he whispers. She comes closer; he pulls her into the water, uniform and all.
    She screams. He laughs.
    "You're... you're..." she fumes.
    "Yes?"
    "You're a mad man!" She exits the water, cursing in her native tongue.
    "You're awful cute when you're mad," he teases. She looks back at him as she enters the house and screams.
    "Women," he thinks to himself, "who can really understand them?"
    The next day Lewis goes to the hardware store and buys the things he needs to finish the project. On Tuesday he finishes the project just before noon. The guards and a few of the workers, along with Orlando, are there to christen his work. Manny brings out champagne for everyone. They look over the finished work and congratulate Lewis on a job well done. Lewis thanks Orlando for teaching him and being such a good mentor. Everyone finishes their drinks and heads back to work. Manny goes back into the control booth and starts sipping his coffee and reading the paper. Lewis cleans up his mess and starts to heads back to the greenhouse shop. Just then a truck stops and honks. Manny lowers his paper and looks out the window.
    Lewis looks over at the person, smiles and walks over to him.
    "I see you got a hair cut."
    "Hello," replies Lewis. "Good to see you."
    The two shake hands.
    "Still hauling cranberry juice?"
    "Oh yes."
    "Sorry about the load. That was a lot of juice that got dropped."
    "You saw that?" asks the cranberry juice driver.
    "Yeah I did."
    "So did you get a job here?"
    "Yes," replies Lewis.
    "So what's Mr. Giovanni like?" asks the driver.
    "He's not too bad."
    "Well good. I've driven by here several times. You've been working hard. I've watched you build this from the start."
    "You have?" asks Lewis.
    "Yes and it looks great! The Giovannis must be happy." Lewis nods. "I hope so."
    "Well, it's been good talking to you again."
    "Same here," says Lewis who waves as the cranberry juice man drives off.
    "Who that's snooper?" asks Manny.
    "He's no snooper, Manny. He's the cranberry juice man."
    "Oh." Manny sits back into his seat.
    A few days later Lewis is working close to the main house just a little ways down the driveway. The sun is hot. He is in his cutoffs working without a shirt, trying to tan his body. His slim, tight muscles flex and ripple as he cuts the dead blooms off the rose bushes. He hears a car coming up the driveway. He catches a glimpse of it. He looks again. It's the limo.
    "Yes," he thinks to himself, "they're back."
    The limo pulls up next to him. The dark tinted windows start to come down.
    "Good day," exclaims a happy Augustine.
    "Hello to you all," Lewis looks inside.Two young ladies look at him, then each other and giggle.
    The younger one looks at Lewis as if she remembers him from somewhere. The two curious young ladies are happy to see that their dad has let such a cute, sexy, scruffy looking guy take a job on their property.
    "He's really cute," whispers Jackie.
    "He's too old for you. He's at least my age," Viviana whispers back.
    "Yeah, but you're ugly," taunts Jackie.
    "Girls!" cries Philamenia. "Not in front of our guest. You will behave like ladies."
    "Yes mom," the two young women reply at the same time. Jackie leans over to Viviana and whispers, "besides you already have a boyfriend."
    "It's good to have you all back," says Lewis. They all smile. "Why don't you meet us up at the house, Lewis?"
    "Okay! I'll be right up Augustine."
    The limo drives on. Lewis clips some long stem roses, and then heads up the driveway. As he walks, he thinks about the two young women he has just seen, feeling as if he already knew them. Viviana is a beautiful woman with light brown hair. She has fair skin and blue eyes. She cannot be out in the sun for long periods of time or she easily burns. Not at all like Jackie who can cook in the sun for hours. When Viviana was in school she and her girl friends bleached her hair to lighten it up. You can still see the dark roots. She was trying to find her color scheme she would say. She hates her lips. She thinks they are too small. She thickens them with makeup. Viviana has a secret boyfriend that she met a couple of summers ago when she was home from school. They manage to sneak around and meet several times. They even snuck out once and went to a carnival. His name is Johnny Anzilotti. When she had expressed interest in him she was forbidden to see him. The Giovannis and the Anzilottis had a business deal go bad and their relationship had soured.
    Jackie on the other hand is turning seventeen, and today is her birthday. Her hair, a dark brown, is medium length. She wears pink lipstick and paints her toes much to the dislike of her mother who tells her that she is not permitted to look like a painted lady of the evening. Her lips are full. Her eyes are a special kind of blue. The deep blue of a perfect summer's sky doesn't even come closeto their beauty. Lewis thinks that a guy could get lost looking into them. Her smile is brilliant, her voice seductively thrilling. Her young body is nicely curved and firm. Her nipples always look aroused and ripe for the picking. She has only kissed a few boys before and is curious. She is ready to experience the charms and kiss of a man. She irritates her sister by teasing and flirting with anyone in which Viviana shows interest.
    The limo pulls up in front of the house.
    Philamenia reminds the girls, "Remember Lewis is a guest. He was your brother's best friend. Treat him with respect and behave yourselves. We do not want him to think ill of you both."
    The servants scurry out to help unload all the bags and suitcases. Everyone exchanges greetings and hugs. Michael helps unload the vehicle. "Be careful with that bag," announces Jackie, "there's private stuff in there."
    "Yes maam."
    Lewis arrives. He walks up to Philamenia, kisses her on the cheek and gives her a yellow rose. She blushes in front of the girls. Lewis has not yet put on his shirt.
    "I'm really glad you guys are back," he smiles. He turns to Augustine and shakes his hand.
    "The gate! Lewis, the planters are perfect! I am very pleased. I see you have the water irrigation system already working."
    "Yeah. It was a fun project."
    "It looks wonderful," adds Philamenia as she pinches his dimples. "Allow me to introduce you to my daughters."
    Lewis turns to greet them.
    Jackie steps in front of Viviana.
    "This is Viviana, my oldest," Philamenia grabs her wrist and pulls her in front of Jackie.
    Lewis shakes her hand and gives her a red rose.
    She beams, "Thank you kind gentleman. That's so nice."
    He nods, "You're welcome," as he turns to Jackie. She is smiling seductively. It catches him off guard. He can't help but to stare into her big blue eyes. "So this is your ball of fire?" he teases.
    "Mother...did you tell him that?" She looks at Lewis, continuing to tease him with her eyes.     Philamenia is speechless.
    Jackie puts out her hand.
    Lewis shakes it and hands her a pink rose.
    "How sweet," she purrs, "Pink. My favorite color. How did you know?"
    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jackie."
    "Oh you're so sweet...let me thank you properly." She reaches out and hugs up against his sweaty, scared, sexy body giving him a big, long, tight hug.
    "Jackie!" yells her mother, "that will be enough of that!" Lewis blushes.
    "That's no way for a lady to act. Did you not learn anything in Europe?" asks Philamenia.
    Augustine sighs, shaking his head. "I guess I will have to ask for my money back."
    Lewis quickly changes the subject. "So how was Tahiti?"
    Everyone answers at the same time, with a mixture of wonderful words "warm, sunny, sandy, beautiful."
    "Looks to me like everyone got good and tanned."
    "Yes," they answer.
    "Too much sun Lewis. All that tanning that the girls do can't be good for the skin," states the mothering Philamenia.
    "Oh I don't know Philamenia, it looks pretty good to me." He then glances over at Jackie to make sure she is listening. She shines a sexy smile at him.
    He thinks for a second, "Oh God, that smile is gonna get me into a lot of trouble."
    "Okay ladies," orders Philamenia, "let's retire to the house where you can go to your rooms and put your things away and get some rest before the party." The girls hurry off into the house and up to their rooms.
    "Party?" ask Lewis.
    "Yes Lewis, today is Jackie's birthday and I'm giving her a small party at six o'clock this evening, a buffet out by the pool. It will be just a few friends of ours, and the girls. So no more work today. Matter of fact why, don't you take the next few days off and enjoy yourself with us?"
    "Okay, sounds good. Do I bring my swimming trunks?"
    "Yes, please do. It will be fun for all of us."
    Up in the girl's room they chat. "He's cute," they both agree."Dad must really like him to let him stay here."
    "And be around us," giggles Viviana.
    "Jackie you better stop flirting with him in front of and mom and dad. You're gonna get yourself, and maybe him, into trouble."
    "I know what I'm doing. Mind your own business, Viviana."
    "I'm just trying to look after you, Jackie."
    "Well I can look after myself."
    "You're a little conceited brat, Jackie."
    "Well at least I'm little."
    "What are you saying Jackie? I'm not fat!"
    Lewis arrives about twenty minutes late to the surprise party. People are chatting, munching hors d'oeuvres, splashing and swimming in the pool. There is quite a spread of food. It's starting out to be a perfect evening.
    Lewis walks around the pool area smiling at all the girls and saying hello as he watches them play in their sexy bikinis. The girls are excited to meet him. They are happy to have a desirable young man with which to flirt. Lewis sees Augustine and Philamenia over by the veranda.
    "Hey you two," he waves.
    They motion for him to come over. "Hi. Great party."
    "Yes it is." They both smile. "Are you having a good time Lewis?"
    "Yes, I am. I just got here. Where are Jackie and Viviana?"
    "They will be here shortly. They are trying to decide what new bathing suit to wear."
    "Great! I can't wait to see them. I mean I wish they'd hurry up and get here."
    "Lewis, I have taken the liberty to make you a birthday cake along with Jackie's. The two of you have birthdays just a few days apart in all. I thought it would be fun to throw you both a party."
    "Really? I am honored Philamenia. Thank you both." Augustine smiles. Philamenia pinches Lewis's dimples.
    The two girls, after keeping everyone waiting, finally arrive. Both look stunning in their tiny bikinis. Their friends all crowd around them giggling and pointing, while flaunting themselves in the presence of Lewis. Jackie tells them that he's the one she will marry someday so hands off. They flirt as they watch him swim and climb out of the pool.
    Jackie and Lewis get "Happy Birthday" sung to them together. Lewis thanks Jackie for sharing her party with him. "I'm a sharing person," she teases. "You'll have to learn to share with me someday."
    "I'm at your service," he bows.
    "Ooh! I like that," she flirts.
    With the evening getting late and the party winding down, Lewis thanks his hosts once again and heads down the hill to his hut. He lies under the Maple tree and thinks about the fun time he has had.
    "I wish you were here with us Franklin. You have a great family. I like them. Why didn't you tell me more about your sisters? Oh don't worry; I won't take advantage of them. They're both very charming. Good night, Franklin," he whispers into the night. Falling asleep, he snores loudly, lying out on the grass under the Maple.
    A few hours later he feels something tickling his chest. He flinches as he awakes. "It's alright. It's only me," a sweet, sexy voice murmurs softly.
    "Jackie, what are you doing here?"
    "Tickling you with this feather," she laughs. "It's ok for me to visit you, isn't it? I mean after all you're a big, strong, army man and I'm just a sweet, innocent, little child."
    "Well I guess it's alright. What about your parents, won't they wonder where you are?"
    "Don't worry, they have had too much champagne. They are fast asleep up in their room."
    The two watch as the moon begins to climb up over the trees.
    "It's so beautiful right here, right now. Everything in my life feels so right," Lewis tells her.

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Catalogue Information

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