Read Online Learning to Soar by Bebe Balocca - Free Book Online Page A

bare feet in their steamy, almost-too-hot folds. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small, blue glass bottle.
    “Hey, that reminds me of something I’ve seen before,” Chloe quipped as he poured a generous dollop onto his hands.
    “Mm-hmm,” Damien answered. “Same company, different product. Organic and mild—edible, even. It’s infused with peppermint oil and raw sugar.” He warmed the lotion between his palms and took one of her feet between them. Chloe rolled her eyes back in pleasure as he squeezed and kneaded her foot, finding her pressure points with his deft fingers. She felt twinges of mild pain as he probed—they swiftly melted into pockets of sheer bliss. “Don’t forget your Veuve Cliquot,” he reminded her. “It goes well with a nice foot rub.”
    Indeed. Chloe sipped the cold bubbly and let her eyelids fall to half-mast. It was perfection—Damien’s hands on her feet and the taste of fine champagne in her mouth. Only one thing might possibly make it better, but she squelched that greedy thought immediately. It was like asking for Publishers Clearing House to knock on the door after you’d won the Powerball lottery. Ridiculous.
    “Oh, I almost forgot,” Damien said suddenly. He slipped a hand inside his blazer and pulled out a smooth brown box tied with a sky blue ribbon.
    “You have got to be kidding me,” Chloe whispered when she read the ‘Godiva’ name in gold print. Apparently, one really could win a sweepstake and a lottery in the same day. Who knew?
    “May I suggest the roasted almond truffle?” Damien said as he took her foot back between his hands. “I’m guessing it would be magnificent with the champagne.”
    “Mm-hm”—Chloe nodded—“I’m guessing you’d be right, boss.” She slipped the blue ribbon from the box and opened it. Eight succulent orbs of truffled perfection smiled out at her. Consulting the key, she selected the almond truffle, elegantly swirled with milk chocolate scrollwork, and took a nibble.
    Heaven.
    Chloe alternated sips of chilled champagne—silently refilled by Damien—with decadent bites of chocolate. She moved on to a delectable coconut truffle next—the rich, vibrant flavour of the confection made her curl her toes. When Damien began to bend her instep over his hardened knuckles, she groaned.
    “Not that I’m complaining,” Chloe said thickly, “but this is quite an unusual working relationship we seem to be developing. I’ve never had a boss even look at my feet, let alone offer to rub them for me.”
    “Well, Volare is a pretty unusual working environment,” Damien replied, “and besides, I find it impossible to believe that your previous employers failed to notice feet as lovely as yours.” He lifted her scented, slippery foot to his lips and placed a tender kiss on her pinky toe.
    “Eeeep!” Chloe squeaked. Her foot shot out reflexively and kicked Damien in the nose, hard. He bent over with a grunt and cupped his nose between his hands.
    “Oh my gosh!” Chloe sputtered. “I am so sorry! I’m a little bit ticklish, and I just didn’t expect…” Damien sat up and held his nose between his fingers. She could see his eyes crinkle with merriment behind his hands. “You know. I didn’t expect that,” she concluded .
    He took his hands from his affronted nose and gave her a quizzical look. “All in one piece?” he asked.
    Chloe nodded. She refreshed his champagne flute and offered it to him. “Here,” she said meekly. “Maybe a little bubbly will help.” Damien downed half of the glass and replaced it on the table.
     “Now,” Damien said. “I want you to be prepared. No more kicking, okay?”
    He took her foot in his hands again. “I’m going to kiss your toes now, if that’s all right with you. Do you think you’d like that? Do you approve?”
    Chloe nodded, feeling her cheeks flame with embarrassment and eagerness.
    She leant back in her chair and sighed. Damien’s soft lips parted and took