Summer is the start of the busy season for Neptune's Pool Service, owned by Pete Crawford. A new client, Corey Brennerman, captures Pete’s interest, if only because he seems attached to his cell phone 24/7. Corey is a serious workaholic. Pete remembers when he used to be like that, and he wishes he could do something about it.<br><br>Pete comes to Corey’s aid in a grocery store parking lot one evening and helps him catch the punk who tries to steal his cell phone. As a result, their relationship moves from that of client/hired help to cautious friends. When a Fourth of July party leads to a tryst, Pete is running scared because he thinks Corey is too stressed and vulnerable to handle anything serious right now. But Corey confronts him, and they work things out -- in the pool, naturally.<br><br>A death in the family brings them even closer together. Can Corey make some positive changes in his life? Could the relationship they’ve begun to build become something that might last forever?

Wading in Neptune's Pool

“That Corey guy is a hottie,” Jimmy said to me when he came back to the office one afternoon.


“And?” I asked as I worked in QuickBooks, checking on overdue accounts receivable.


“He asked if you were on another job or something.”


I looked up at him. “What did you say?”


“I told him you were busy with the books.” Jimmy set down the pool brush and net he carried and sat behind his desk.


“He just looked at me, kind of sardonic-like, and gave me this half-smile. Then he went back to what he was doing. Oh, and he asked for the key back to the side door.”


I took it out of my pocket to hand it to Jimmy, but he declined.


“Sorry, boss man, but you have to do that cleaning next week. I gotta go out of town for a gig.” Jimmy was a member of a moderately successful bluegrass band.


So I’d have to face Corey myself. Great.


Chapter 9