Chapter 156

Jeff and Jeremy were sitting in the living room as Jeff tried to explain what an Alpha was. Jeremy didn't understand how Jeff could possibly know that he (Jeremy) was an Alpha, but Jeff's explanation didn't convince Jeremy at all. Shaking his head, "No disrespect, but I don't think I'm one of those, whoever or whatever they are. There's nothing particularly different about me, at least not that I've noticed. I've had enough martial arts training to defend myself. I made decent grades in high school, and I've made better ones in college, but I'm a long way from being a genius. I had a girlfriend dump me for my so-called best friend. I never got much past first base with her, but he got in her pants easily enough. In no time, she had moved in with him. She surely didn't act as if I were anything special."

Jeff, not dissuaded at all, grinned over at the young man next to him as they sat near each other. "And Denise and Connie?"

"Uh, well, they're different..."

"They look like women to me," Jeff teased. "Darned good-looking ones, I might add."

"Yeah, but ... I mean; we're just living together because of our finances. Well ... we have made out a little..." he said, winding down as he remembered how both women had kissed him and pressed their braless breasts against him. He had sucked their nipples and they had both had orgasms. He thought that either of them would have slept with him if he had pushed — well, maybe they would have. But I don't want to hurt them. If I choose one, I'll hurt the other one, won't I?

"Why don't you three spend the night with us? It's obvious we have plenty of room." And I'll come visit with Little One. By morning, you'll feel better than you ever have in your life, Jeff concluded to himself.

Jeremy sat stunned for a moment. Spend the night with these rich people? Why would he want us to do that? But I can't afford to piss him off. We've got to do everything we can to get either him or Mr. Henson to buy our company. I know the Hensons have a big construction outfit, and his job offer has cut way back on the stress, but I want to keep doing what I'm doing, and Connie would surely have to take a pay cut unless Mr. Henson has a crane operator's job open. But then again, we know he hasn't because he said the jobs would be entry level. It isn't fair for Connie to start over again. Surely the Henson's have the money to buy our outfit, or could borrow it through their company. Our company is certain to be a money maker. They've got to see it would be a good investment. From the looks of this ... place, Mr. Matthews surely has the money, but now he's talking about Alphas. I'm not an Alpha, whatever that really is. How could he possibly sense something like that, anyway? Maybe he's somehow testing me. But I'm not going to pretend to be something that I'm not.

"Jeff?" Diana called from the doorway. As the Prime turned to look at her, she motioned to him. Her face was flushed with only partially concealed anger.

"Be back in a sec, Jeremy. Diana wants something," the Prime said, getting up.

Jeremy nodded absently, his mind locked on his own worries.

When Jeff got to her, the Queen grabbed his hand and hurried him down the hall far enough to be out of earshot. "This block thing has got to go," she hissed out. "Oh, I had Connie pour some warm salt water through her eye. She was skeptical at first, but she tried it. She said her eye felt better afterward..."

"Did she say what happened about the eye?"

"Yes, but I don't have the whole story yet. But that isn't what I want to talk to you about," she said, determined to get back on topic. "I was explaining to Denise and Connie what an Alpha is, and I must have tried to say something that was prohibited. I got a little pissed and pushed it. I darn near had to run to the bathroom to throw up. They probably think I'm pregnant and having morning sickness or something. That, or else they think I'm a total fruitcake because of the way I acted. That thing shut me down in mid-word," she muttered. "You had Little One get rid of your block; I need mine removed as well."

"Di, I can't have Little One do that without the General's permission. I gave my word," he quietly answered.

Diana bit back a response, took a breath and continued, "Okay. I understand, but ... I want you to ask him, and I want you to make an honest effort when you do. It's not as if I'm going to tell anyone our secrets. You say that Jeremy is an Alpha. Well, his mates need to know what an Alpha is, right? Why do I have to wait until Little One enhances them and we use the block on them?"

"Mates? What have they told you? Jeremy indicated that they haven't had sex."

"Told me? They didn't have to tell me anything. It's obvious they're head over heels in love with him. But yes, they've also told me they haven't done anything. But they're a little older than he is and they're all upset that they will hold him back, whatever that means? But they're also willing to be his women until he finds someone his own age. And, yeah, I know how ridiculous that sounds, but they love him enough to do just that, I think."

"Okay, Baby, I'll ask the General, but no promises. I don't think he was too pleased when I told him I had circumvented my blocks, but he trusts me and also knows I have every reason to keep things secret."

" ... and you're a Prime and there's not a whole lot he can do about it," Diana finished for him. Before Jeff could object, she went on, "I'm your Queen. Sometimes I need to say a little more than I can with this crappy block in place. That's all I ask, just enough to allow me a little leeway."

"I'll talk to him and see what he says. Changing the subject, I've also asked Jeremy to spend the night. Uh, Jeremy and his women, of course."

Diana kissed his cheek. "So you can use the Healer on them? Good. I'll mention the overnight to the women. We should be able to find something for them to do this afternoon to pass the time. Oh, and we'll have lunch ready in thirty minutes." A quick, hard kiss, a swish of her sexy ass, and she turned back toward the kitchen.

Jeff had just regained his seat in the living room when Dave and Evie walked back in and sat. "We have a budding Alpha," Jeff said as he nodded to Jeremy.

Dave grinned over at Jeremy. "Well, congratulations. Evie and I thought you were special."

Jeremy couldn't think of anything intelligent to say, and rather than make a fool of himself, just smiled back — albeit, the smile was a bit tenuous.

Evie let out her sexy little giggle. "Those two you brought with you are a strong argument that says you might be an Alpha. Both are even a little older than you, yet you have attracted them."

Jeremy's face flushed red. "We're just good friends."

Jeff, Dave and Evie all smiled knowingly at each other, then Dave turned to Jeff. "Lee gave us Mr. Jackson's number and we called. His wife wouldn't let me talk to him until I told her that we were interested in buying the construction company. Even then, she stayed on the line. I set up a meeting with him — well, them — Monday at nine o'clock. His wife made it very clear that the discussion would be low key and her husband was not to be stressed in any way or she would end the meeting permanently."

"Man, that doesn't sound like Jackson," Jeremy said. "He had his hands into everything, and he worked twelve hours a day, six days a week. At least that's what Lee told me, and often Mr. Jackson would still be at the office when we came in late from a jobsite."

Jeff's face became serious. "Our legal people are going to have to inspect his books at some point, if this is going to fly."

"Ahead of you. Evie and I have already talked to the attorney and the accountant. They're set to go as soon as we talk with Jackson."

"But it's Saturday..." Jeremy started before his mind caught up and he figured it out. These two got in touch with an attorney and an accountant on a Saturday morning. I had to wait a week to get an appointment with an attorney. I guess money does talk.

Jeff basically knew what Jeremy was thinking and fought back a grin. I wonder what he would think of Frank's version of having an attorney and accountant to hand is? He just takes a couple of each with him when he thinks they might be needed. You can bet he has at least one of each waiting in Midville for him right now.

"Come and get it before we throw it out," Arlene announced over the PA.

Jeff came to his feet. "Let's wash up and see what the women have prepared for us."

A couple of minutes later, they had finished washing their hands. As they walked down the hall, "We usually just eat in the kitchen at the big table, unless there are too many of us, or the women decide to use one of the dining rooms."

"Sounds good to me," Jeremy replied as Jeff pushed the door open for him.

Inside the kitchen, Denise and Connie smiled almost timidly at Jeremy, then came over and stood by him. He put his arms around them and pulled them against his sides, all of them facing Jeff. The faces of the two women were flushed, but they held their heads high and smiled.

Diana's touch, Jeff thought as he noticed the change, but Connie's cheek looks a little more swollen and it's starting to discolor more. She's going to have a shiner before the day is out. "You guys ready to eat?" he asked.

"You bet," Jeremy answered for all of them. It's hard to not like these people, he thought as Jennie and Melissa ushered the three to the steam table. As they were loading their plates a few minutes later, Jennie reached past Jeremy to add more creamed potatoes to his plate. "Alphas eat a lot, that's the reason the plate is so big. Don't be bashful. Our husband will eat three times as much as you have on your plate."

When they sat, they all joined hands while Jeff said a short prayer of thanks. Mom would like these people, Jeremy thought.

MIDVILLE, WYOMING

At the small, mostly-deserted airport a few miles from town, the helicopter slowly sank to the pad near a decrepit-looking concrete block building. Jill called out, pointing through one of the copter's windows to a couple standing near an older car, "There! There they are."

Three new-looking SUVs were parked side-by-side a little farther away.

As soon as the blades came to a stop, Jill was out the door and running toward the preacher and his wife. She slammed into the two with tears of joy already streaming down her face. "When I left here, I never thought I would live to see you two again," she choked out as she struggled to hug both of them at the same time. Soon, even the preacher's eyes were moist.

She turned partially toward the helicopter, pointing, "That's my husband in the pilot's seat. He'll be here in a minute. How have you been? Is everything okay?" Without giving them time to answer, she motioned to Kathy, who was nearing them.

"This is my ... sister-wife, Kathy."

Jill had, of course, told them on the phone about Kathy, but Jill was still a little worried. She need not have been. Megan (the preacher's wife) didn't seem to even bat an eye, being a pastor's wife for many years and having become accustomed to the peculiarities of families, but Luther got a hand out before she could. "Welcome, Kathy. I'm Luther Cambridge, and this is my wife Megan."

Two of the men from the group near the SUVs, jogged over to the helicopter to help with the luggage as Bill and Clarence Reed put it on the pavement by the copter.

The men took the luggage, putting three cases into one SUV while the rest of the luggage went into another of the SUVs. Bill, the copter secured and the luggage taken care of, walked over.

"And this great looking guy is our husband, Bill."

Bill stuck out his hand to grasp the preacher's, tightly. "We've talked on the phone, and I've thanked you for what the two of you did, but Sir, and Ma'am, again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Jill would not have made it without the help the two of you gave her. What's mine is yours and always will be."

"We're so glad we could help in our small way," Megan said, "and goodness, but you surely do look in the best of health now," she finished, the last directed to Jill.

"Frank, you guys come on over," Bill called out, waving to Wainwright, Margaret and Tina who had remained standing near the helicopter to give Jill and her family time alone with the pastor and his wife.

Ray Tingle, Wainwright's second in command is Chief Executive Officer now that Margaret and Frank were spending so much time away from the business, stood by one of the SUVs. Others stood waiting for Frank and Margaret, but somehow they didn't seem interested in looking directly at them, but rather seemed to very subtly scan the area, instead. The driver of the last SUV got out to help with the luggage, then stood by his vehicle.