Free Taught by the Tycoon by Shelli Stevens

Rolls Royce, and being whisked back toward her apartment in Brooklyn.
    She turned her head slightly, to glance at him through lowered lashes. His profile displayed a brooding demeanor. Lips pursed and eyes narrowed, as if he were deep in thought. Did he regret tonight and all that had occurred?
    He must’ve felt her gaze on him. “What I was trying to say earlier is the damage is done, but maybe we can use it to both of our advantage.”
    “I couldn’t possibly see how.”
    “Look, I wasn’t completely honestly with you, Rachel.” He sighed. “When I invited you tonight, my motives weren’t all together altruistic. Yes, I intended to give you a glimpse into what it would be like on the arm of someone like me, but I had an ulterior purpose.”
    “And that purpose would be?” The hairs on the back of her neck lifted.
    “I wanted us to be photographed together tonight entering the gala. And I intended to inform my mother that you were no longer just my assistant, but my inamorata .”

 
     
     
Chapter 11
     
     
    Rachel’s pulse was pounding just about as hard as her head now. Disbelief ran rampant through her.
    “What does your mother have to do with this? And why on earth would you want her to believe I’m your girlfriend?”
    “I made a promise, somewhat carelessly, that if I was not seriously involved with someone by my next visit, I would agree to take out a woman my mother has been trying to convince me to marry.”
    “Now that is unfortunate,” she murmured, ignoring the sudden heaviness in her chest. “Because you don’t do serious.”
    He gave a slow shake of his head. “No, I don’t.”
    “And you’re going to Italy on Monday.” It all clicked in place. She’d scheduled his trip, which was a mix of business and pleasure. “And by taking me to the gala you realized it could work in your favor. You just tell your mother we’re together, and then you can back out of the promise to take out this other gal?”
    “Something of the sorts.”
    “Well she must be quite the troll.”
    His mouth tightened into a grim slash. “You’ve no idea.”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised if you only kissed me because you had a photographer ready to snap an image,” she muttered thickly.
    When he didn’t immediately deny it, as she’d expected, she gave a small gasp.
    “Okay, maybe I would be surprised.”
    He grunted. “A photo of an intimate moment between us is evidence even my mother wouldn’t dispute.”
    She flinched and looked away. In the past she’d appreciated his candidness, but right now she wanted to tell him where he could shove it
    For a moment, she’d been convinced he’d actually wanted to kiss her tonight. That maybe he’d been driven past control by the same need she felt. But that had been incredibly naïve of her. Damiano never lost control. Every move he made was carefully calculated. Motivated. And right now, she was just a pawn in his world.
    “If you want to tell your mother we’re a couple so you can avoid going on a date, then fine. No harm to me,” she said bitterly. The car came to a stop outside her apartment building and she reached for the door handle. “I think I’m done.”
    “Done? How so? You’re not quitting, are you?” Visibly panicked, he caught her arm.
    “Done for the night.” She shot him a loathing glance. “I’m sure you’d find it quite convenient if I quit my job, though, wouldn’t you?”
    “I can’t lose you, Rachel.”
    As his assistant, of course. When was it that she’d begun hoping for more? That night in Paris. It had to be it.
    “Look, I only want to change out of this dress, wash my face, and go lie in bed and think about all the craziness of this evening.”
    “Rachel, wait.”
    Reluctantly, she released her hold on the door and glanced back at him.
    “Come to Italy with me.”
    It was more of a command than a request, but it would’ve shocked her either way.
    “Why? To pretend to be your lover?”
    “Yes. Just one week.