Taught by the Tycoon by Shelli Stevens

his mother a pointed glance. “You are not happy about Rachel.”
    With Rachel upstairs, they spoke their native Italian.
    His mom lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “She is a nice enough person. And I had no problem with her when she was your employee.”
    “But you do as my lover?”
    “I am not convinced she is a good match for you. Maria is so much better suited.” His mother’s lower lip protruded into a pout that had made her past three husbands jump through hoops to please her.
    Damiano had never been swayed by the trick. “Why, mama?” Because Maria is Italian and Rachel is not? Surely such a thing is trivial, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.”
    Though he doubted any woman would ever be good enough for him in his mother’s eyes.
    “And does she have your heart?”
    His mother was just as masterful at calling a bluff as he was. While he didn’t intend to answer that question directly, he settled with, “I want no one but Rachel.”
    Which at the moment was completely true if they were discussing her being in his bed. Just now, he thought about her upstairs, maybe taking a shower, or maybe just crawling into the oversized bed with exhaustion.
     
    Dio , but it took everything in his power not to race up the marbled stairs to be with her. To make good on that promise he’d made to himself to prove her wrong about it being just sex .
    “I find it quite convenient that you reveal a serious lover to the world, just days before you return to Milan.” His mother stood from the sofa and walked to the sleek mini bar in the corner. “Can I get you a drink?”
    “Thank you, no.”
    “What are your plans for tomorrow?” She mixed herself a drink and then took a sip.
    “A business lunch and then nothing particular.”
    “Good. You will bring Rachel to dinner to meet the family tomorrow night.”
    Merda . The amused glint in her eyes warned him she was up to something.
    He loved his mother, but sometimes he wondered if it was due to the biological connection mostly. An instinct that he was supposed to follow.
    But she was sharp, conniving, and often didn’t care who she had to step on or hurt to get what she wanted out of life. His chest tightened and anger brewed in his belly as he remembered being on the receiving end of that manipulation at one point. At the time he’d wanted to hate her, and still, sometimes, that long-buried rage bubbled to the surface.
    Christina Mantovani could’ve been a fierce businesswoman and put Damiano’s father to shame. Only she’d never had interest in the business side of money, only in spending said cash. She was happy being a beautiful Italian wife and arm candy to whoever her current husband might be.
    “Dinner will be lovely.” He walked to his mother, placed his hands on her shoulders, and kissed each cheek. “I must retire to bed, mama. It has been a long day.”
    The pout returned. “She controls you so much that you cannot leave her alone for even an hour?”
    “No woman will ever control me,” he murmured coolly. “As I have said, I’m tired.”
    Dio, why had he told his mother they would stay here? If Rachel succeeded in shifting his meetings, he would consider taking her to his house on the lake for the remainder of the week.
    The idea held appeal and had played in the back of his mind all day. Now he warmed to the idea even more. His intent to seduce Rachel would be a bit more awkward under his mother’s roof, but if he took her to the lake house it would be the perfect setting.
    “Go then.” His mother waved a hand of dismissal. “Dinner will be at seven tomorrow.”
    She was already halfway through her drink as he made his way back upstairs to Rachel.
    Would she be asleep? It was nearly eleven, and he wasn’t sure what to expect.
    When he quietly opened the door to their bedroom, his gaze slid to the bed and found it empty. Movement in the corner of the room had him glancing to the right.
    She stood beside the couch,