Free Learning to Soar by Bebe Balocca Page A

door.
    “Perfect, huh?” Chloe muttered as she buttoned her blouse. “I think you need a dose of your own medicine, Mr Walters.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    Chloe blotted her lips and squinted at her reflection. She hadn’t agonised this much over an outfit since her junior prom. She wanted to look professional, yet approachable—attractive, yet not distractingly so—fashionable, while not girlishly trendy. Dressing like a proper sex therapist was hard .
    She’d finally settled on her lightweight, three-quarter-sleeved, navy blazer over a tailored tangerine skirt, cinched with a skinny silver belt. Chunky turquoise jewellery accented her neck and slim wrist, and dangling silver discs flashed from her earlobes. Tailored, but creative! Smart, but fun! That’s the idea, anyway, Chloe thought. She sighed and grabbed her purse.
    Damien waited for her in his office to brief her about Gene and Danielle’s session. He wore a version of his usual outfit—tailored flat-front khakis, a soft, moss green Oxford and a sky blue tie printed with swallows in flight. Chloe was nervous about her performance. She tried to remember how anxious she’d been when she’d had her own session with Damien. It was unsettling to talk about one’s intimate problems, especially with a complete stranger. Damien had done a good job of setting her at ease, though. A really good job. Chloe blushed and sat in the armchair next to him.
    “Gene and Danielle will be here in about five minutes,” he told her. “I’ll do most of the talking, and you can just chime in when you feel like you have something to add. My plan might change, but right now I’m guessing that a little role playing might help rekindle Gene’s fire.”
    “Role playing? Like, some old school Dungeons and Dragons? Can I be an elven thief?” Chloe quipped.
    “Role playing is serious business, and no, you can’t be an elven thief. At least not today, Chloe,” Damien answered, with a little quirk of his mouth. “Role playing might help us get to the root of Gene and Danielle’s problems. I’m hopeful that we’ll make a lot of headway today, and I might give them some homework and ask them to check back next week.” Chloe made a face at the word ‘homework.’ “Don’t worry,” he assured her, “the homework I assign is nothing but fun.” His blue eyes crinkled mischievously.
    Chloe felt a tremor in her belly. “Damien, we need to talk about what’s going on between us.” She bit her lower lip. “Like, what’s going on between us?” she asked in a hoarse whisper. “I loved what happened yesterday, but what does that mean? And do you do that with, you know, everybody who works here?”
    Damien shook his head. “Not at all, Chloe,” he said. “You are the first person I’ve…touched since my divorce, years ago. I’ve got my own scars, Chloe.” He shook his head and searched for words. “There are things I can’t bring myself to allow, and I hope you can accept that. I can’t be a partner. I’m not good at give and take.” He lifted one of her hands and bit her knuckle softly. “I’m awfully good at giving, though.” He flicked the tip of his tongue between her fingers. “I can tell you, though,” he promised, “that I’d never, ever pressure you. If you don’t want me to touch you, you just need to say the word. Your job will definitely still be in place. You are an incredibly valuable addition to Volare.”
    Chloe cleared her throat. Why was it that being around Damien made the cups of her bra start to chafe and her internal temperature go up a few degrees? And why was he willing to give endlessly without being willing to receive at all?
    A tentative knock on the door stifled her response. Damien admitted Gene and Danielle and made introductions all around. Gene was fairly short and solidly built. He wore nondescript blue jeans and a polo shirt. Beneath a deeply receding hairline, Gene’s eyes were shrewd and alert. He described himself