Free Taught by the Tycoon by Shelli Stevens Page A

Your presence will not only appease my mother, but it’ll be giving you exactly what you need. More training, shall we say, on what you can expect if you are to become serious with someone such as Lionelli.”
    Just looking at him, and the complete lack of humor in his gaze, showed her he was completely serious.
    Go to Italy with him. Pretend to be his girlfriend. All for what? To keep his mother off his back? To win Samuele Lionelli’s affection? She shook her head and looked away.
    “Samuele won’t want me after this.” She wasn’t even sure what she wanted anymore.
    “He will. Because once we return to New York, you’ll be the one to end our relationship, and we’ll make sure everyone knows.” He gave a brief smile. “You’ll be suddenly quite available, and even more desirable.”
    “Or maybe he’ll see me as your hand-me-downs and have no interest whatsoever,” she murmured coolly.
    “Ah, you still have so much to learn, Dolcezza . Lionelli’s words may have been polite this evening, but now more than ever, he will want you. He will try and take you from me.”
    I’m not yours to begin with . The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them.
    “Think about coming to Italy with me. I’ll not accept your answer until the morning.”
    “I can give you my answer now,” she quipped, struggling against irritation.
    “Tomorrow.” He caught her hand again and brushed a kiss against her knuckles. “A week away from the office will be good for us both, especially after tonight.”
    As if she needed that reminder.
    Her door was opened a moment later by the chauffeur, and she quickly made her escape. Even if she was relieved that he didn’t insist on seeing her to her door this time, he still waited until she’d entered the building.
    Once she was back in her apartment and unpinning her hair, she let out a heavy sigh.
    He wanted an answer by tomorrow? Well, it wouldn’t be any different than what it had been tonight. And that was a big fat no.
    “Well, if it isn’t my celebrity roommate.”
    Rachel glanced up just as Lexi sauntered into the room, an iPad under one arm, and her usual cup of tea in the other.
    “Celebrity? What on earth—”
    “Bam, check it out.” Lexi flipped the iPad around, revealing a giant picture of Damiano and Rachel on the red carpet.
    “They have it up this fast?” she asked numbly, recognizing the website as a trendy celebrity gossip site.
    “They sure do. And there’s a call out for any info on who you are.” Lexi grimaced. “Girl, they’ll probably know every little detail about you by morning. Where you went to college, who your kindergarten teacher was…”
    Rachel’s stomach kept sinking lower and lower. “This is a mess.”
    “Yeah it is. A hot mess with your hot boss.” Lexi’s grin slipped into a bit of a sympathy smile. “And this may make your life miserable at the office on Monday.”
    She hadn’t even considered what kind of gossip she’d face back at work. Crap. She didn’t want to go anywhere near the Mantovani building on Monday.
    And just like that Rachel made up her mind.
    She flashed her friend a tight smile and headed to her bedroom, calling over her shoulder, “Fortunately, I’m not going to work. I’m going to Italy.”
     
    An accident on the Brooklyn Bridge slowed Damiano’s trip to pick up Rachel Monday morning. When the car pulled up alongside her apartment building, she was already out front with luggage in hand.
    Damiano watched as Rachel slid into the car beside him. She was all leg, peeking out from her usual pencil skirt, as she settled in.
    “So glad you’ve decided to join me.” His words held a hint of amusement, because he’d never had any doubt that she would.
    Not after that photo had popped up online Saturday night. Rachel was used to being in the shadow of the spotlight, not under its direct glare.
    “Let’s get a few things clear first, shall we?” She settled in beside him, fastening her