The Alpha For Her

“Really? I mean, you really mean that? You really think I can be the leader that you want?”

“No. I think that you can be the leader that you want. We can coach you, but you’ll be the one swinging the bat.”

“I don’t know…”

“There,” he said, squeezing her arms gently. “We’ve got you from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I don’t know’. I call that progress.”

“Can I think about it?”

“Does that entail pacing?”

“It does,” she said, nodding.

“Then pace all of the Big Sur. You have such a cute walk.”

She blushed, and wondered if he could see.

“But don’t think too hard,” he added. “Follow your heart, not your gut.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

They stood like that a small while, neither of them moving, Flint’s hands still on her arms, their eyes locked. And for a moment, Jennifer thought that it was a moment. Then something shivered inside of her, and she turned away.

“And,” Flint said, “I’d like to help you think. Have dinner with me tonight?”

Jennifer’s shiver turned into a quiver that made her heart flutter. She took a breath. Her gut wanted to warn her, but she took over and she turned to him and said,

“That would be delightful.”

“That makes me glad.”

The smile that they shared made Jennifer’s gut giggle.

“At dinner,” Flint said, “we can take our time. Unfortunately, this is a work day, and I have more interviews slated.”

“Of course. Thank you for…the coffee.”

He chuckled, then, his arm gently around her waist, he led her to the door.

“What time?” she asked.

“Say, eight.”

“Eight.”

“Formal?”

“Of course.”

Jennifer’s mind instantly raced to what she should wear, and then she had a thought.

“Just one thing,” she said, “before we conclude this interview, may I ask a question?”

“Shoot.”

“What’s with that swag’?”

“Swag?”

“Lingerie?”

Flint laughed long and loud. Then he looked at her, totally bemused and held up his hands.

“I had nothing to do with that,” he said. “Honest. I didn’t even know that it happened until the interviews began.”

“Then who…?”

There, he seemed to hesitate before he said, “Lois – sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“You figure it out,” he said, grinning. “Let it be a challenge.”

“Can I figure it out?”

“Oh, yes.

“Alright,” she said. “See you at eight.”

“Splendid. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m sure that Alaiah will be delighted. See you then.”

“See you then.”

Jennifer floated down the hall. It wasn’t until she felt the air and sunshine that it hit her.

“Alaiah?”