The Italian's Passionate Return by Elizabeth Lennox Page B

Williams said I could start multiplation,” he announced, slaughtering the word.
    “Multiplication?” Jemma clarified, taking his hand and walking with him back down the driveway.
    “Yeah. Whatever. It’s an easier way to count numbers,” he explained. “I can do it in groups.”
    “You’re right! It is easier.”
    Dylan took out a paper which had the multiplication tables listed. “I’ve already memorized everything through fives,” he announced. “It’s fun.”
    Jemma glanced at Damien over Dylan’s head, seeing the pride in his eyes. “I thought so as well,” Damien said.
    Dylan looked up at the tall man, impressed. “Do you know all of your multiplication tables?” he asked, slowing down to pronounce the word correctly.
    “Yes. And I can even show you how it can be used in real life.”
    Dylan’s eyes widened. “Cool!” He looked up at his mom with a huge grin on his face. “Did you feed the puppies?” he asked.
    Jemma felt bad, having forgotten to feed the small animals after lunch. She’d been too caught up in a sexual encounter with a dark eyed devil. She looked at Damien again, blushing. “Um, nope. I know how much you like to feed them so I waited.”
    Damien raised one eyebrow, letting her know that he knew her statement was a complete fabrication. But Dylan was thrilled. They’d reached the end of the driveway by that point and he dumped his book bag onto the ground and raced into the barn, excited to have an excuse to play with the puppies before he started his homework. “I’ll be in to do my chores soon,” he called out.
    Damien and Jemma followed him inside the barn, laughing at how all the puppies had pounced on Dylan as soon as he’d stepped into their stall with the bag of food. Dylan was giggling and trying to push them off of his head and legs, but he loved all the attention and the puppy-kisses. The puppies ate their food, then tussled with one another, but after several minutes, their full bellies lulled them to sleep. Almost as a unit, the puppies sort of plopped down, falling asleep even if one of them happened to be on top of another.
    “So what did you do today?” he asked his mom as he hefted one sleeping puppy onto his lap. He looked up, feeling secure now that he was touching a puppy.
    “You’re not getting out of your chores,” she admonished, trying to keep the laughter out of her voice. “Finish up your chores then come inside. We need to talk to you.”
    Dylan sighed and peeled the puppy away, carefully placing the animal with the others to stay warm. He gave Momma Dog a scratch behind her ears and stood up.
    “We can go inside now,” she said. “He has to clean out three empty stalls and put out new hay for the horses.”
    Damien looked over his shoulder at the little guy who was picking up a long, rake-like tool and heading into one of the stalls. He seemed to know what he was doing and didn’t really mind. Which was yet another testament to how good of a mother Jemma was. The boy understood responsibility and teamwork and Jemma wasn’t afraid to give him work to do.
    He wondered if Adriana had any chores. Probably not, he suddenly realized. The child was surrounded by servants who were paid to anticipate her needs. What chores would she possibly be allowed to do? Granted, the girl was only three years old, but it looked like Dylan was well used to accomplishing his chores. He supposed it was time for him to shift his parenting style in regards to Adriana. Jemma would help, he thought with admiration and respect. He watched her walking in front of him, admired the gentle sway of her hips and her sexy figure. She was the complete package, he realized. And he wanted it all!
    “I’ll start dinner,” she said.
    Damien stepped into the kitchen as well. “What can I do to help?”
    Jemma was surprised that he would even offer and more than a little disconcerted that he was so close. “You could chop up the onions,” she offered as a way to get him