Alphas on Top(153)

Jack clears his throat. “Nice to meet you, November.” He sticks out his hand and I place mine in his.

“Nice to meet you, Jack,” I say then take a step back. “Sorry about scaring you. I’m just so excited,” I mumble, slightly embarrassed by my outburst.

Asher pulls me back into him and his arms wrap around me, his chin resting on top of my head. I feel his body shaking with silent laughter behind me. “I think he got that, baby.”

“Whatever,” I say quietly, wondering if it would be rude to elbow him in his ribs in front of a guest. I give Jack a big smile after I see him shaking his head.

“So, do you guys know the type of set up you want?” Jack asks, looking between us.

“Um, it has to be childproof,” I say, remembering Asher’s pool requirement.

Jack’s eyebrows shoot up. “You havin’ a baby, man?” he asks and I wonder if it’s normal in Tennessee to ask a stranger that you’re going to be working for such a personal question. In New York, that question would surely get you fired, maybe even shot.

Asher must feel me go still, because he starts talking. “Me and Jack have been friends since high school, baby. He used to spend every summer with my family up at the cabin. Now he owns the pool and spa company with his old man and does jobs for us when we have a client who wants a pool put in on their property.”

I nod my head, thinking someone should shoot me. Asher’s friend, and not some stranger, saw me jumping up and down and being a total dork.

“So, are you havin’ a baby?” Jack asks again.

“Not yet,” Asher says, squeezing me. I don’t know if his words or the lack of oxygen is responsible for the dizziness I'm feeling.

Jack nods his head. “Alright, so the only request you have is child safety?” he asks, looking at me.

“Um…” I know nothing about pools except how to swim in one. This isn’t as fun as I thought it would be.

“You want a Jacuzzi, a grotto, a deep end?” he asks, looking at me expectantly.

“Um...” I repeat, feeling like an idiot.

“You got any books or pictures of work you’ve done that we can look at for ideas?” Asher asks and I'm thankful that he’s smart. I sag into him with relief and he kisses the top of my head.

“Yeah, of course. Let’s go to the table.”

“Would you like something to drink?” I ask as we make our way into the kitchen.

“Coffee would be good, if you’ve got it.”

“Of course.”

I pour him a cup of coffee and get one for me and Asher as well. I set out sugar and cream on the counter and then take a seat between Asher and Jack.

“So these are some of the pool designs we did last year.” He pulls out three pictures. The first one looks like a tropical paradise. It has tons of flowers and plants around it. The pool is bright blue with sand colored cement surrounding it. The second is a plain, bean shaped pool with an area for chairs and a table. The third is large and has two areas for sunbathing. It had a Jacuzzi that you could get to from inside the pool by walking up a set of stairs or you could get to it from outside the pool. It also had a shallow end that you could lay in and the water would only be about five inches deep. If you had kids, you could stay with them in that area.

“I love this.” I point to the third picture.

“I like this,” Asher says, indicating the first picture.

“Well, we can incorporate what you both like into your pool.”

“Awesome,” I whisper.

“So, when can you start?” Asher asks, and I turn my head so fast that I'm surprised it doesn’t fly across the kitchen.

“Don’t you think we should discuss price?” I ask.

“You like it?”

“Uh yeah,” I say in a duh tone.

“So we’re getting it.”

“I like the pool, babe, but I also like diamonds. I still wouldn’t buy one without knowing the price,” I say quietly.

“I would,” Asher says with a completely straight face, causing me to do a double take.

“I guarantee the price is competitive,” Jack cuts in. “And you’re getting the family discount.”

“Oh.” It’s all I can say.

“So, when can you start?” Asher asks again and I shake my head. I don’t think that it’s normal to make this kind of decision in less than twenty minutes. The prices of pool installations that I saw in my research online were twenty thousand or more. That seems like a lot of money to spend just by looking at three pictures.

“It should take a week or so to get the permit then. We can break ground. After we start to dig, it should take about six-to-eight weeks to finish. You guys should be swimming by the time the weather really changes.”