First Loser
Cubs for Rent #1
Charity Parkerson
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
About the Author
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--Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18.
Copyright © 2019 Charity Parkerson
Editor: Vicky Reese
ISBN: 978-1-946099-58-7
All rights reserved.
Created with Vellum
Introduction
Same situation. Different man. It’s a beautiful mess.
After falling for a male escort, and losing him through his own stupidity, Henry meets Tanner. Tanner is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s also young, wealthy, and doesn’t need Henry at all. But Henry is right back in the same boat he’s been in for years, paying someone half his age to spend time with him. Even though Tanner keeps refunding his money, Henry can’t let himself believe Tanner wants him for real. His mistrust is making him miserable, but Henry doesn’t know how to stop.
As one owner of Cubs for Rent—a company that rents men for dates, repairmen, or simply for company, Tanner doesn’t need anyone to take care of him. When he met Henry, Tanner’s only intention had been to get the man out of his friend’s hair. Then, Henry kept calling and booking time with Tanner. Tanner kept accepting and feelings he didn’t want grew. Henry is sweet and insecure. He’s gentle and awkward. Henry is everything that Tanner finds irresistible. It’s too bad Henry is also too blind to see Tanner’s interest as real, because Tanner is tired of trying to convince him.
When Tanner pulls away and meets someone his age, Henry will have to come out of his shell and step up his game. Hopefully, he’s not too late.
One
The ballroom was as bright as daylight and Tanner was equally well lit. It was the opening night of Cubs for Rent—the company Tanner had started with his brothers, Toby and Tucker. They had thrown this opening ball in their home in hopes of one day becoming the largest provider of men for rent. In the meantime, Tanner was tired of being swarmed by vultures. He had smiled and flirted for hours, hoping to tempt as many men as possible into checking out their list of services. Now, he really wanted some peace and quiet. This wasn’t his scene. He wasn’t the carefree guy he had been forced to portray all night. In truth, Tanner enjoyed silence. All he wanted out of life was peace.
The band played a slow song that had men searching for partners. It had Tanner hunting an escape from the overheated ballroom and even more heated glances being tossed his way. He couldn’t charm another soul. His gaze landed on Legend. Legend was the opposite of Tanner in every way. He fit in at every gathering, gave back the flirting as hard as it came his way, and he simply looked the part of the perfect escort. Blond, tall, tan, and blue-eyed, Legend was fucking perfect. Of course, tonight, the man they had hired to launch their new company looked uncomfortable as hell with some dude crowding his space. Tanner knew Legend could hold his own, but the guy trying to talk to him definitely needed saving. Legend would eat his heart for breakfast.
Henry Krill was obviously enthralled. Even if Tanner couldn’t see it written all over the guy’s face, Tanner had heard the story of Henry’s recently botched marriage proposal to Legend. Henry cornering Legend tonight could only end one way—with Henry getting his feelings crushed with a room full of witnesses looking on. In truth he looked too tiny to handle such a huge blow.
Without a real plan, Tanner swooped in. He snagged Henry’s waist and swept him onto the dance floor without missing a step. “Let’s dance.”
Sweet brown eyes flashed with irritation as they locked on Tanner. Tanner’s heart twisted at the sight. Henry looked way too nice for anyone at this party. “I don’t want to dance.”
Tanner fought a smile at Henry’s petulant tone. “You’re in for a real treat, then,” Tanner said, pulling him closer. “I don’t either.”
“I was in the middle of an important discussion,” Henry said, half-heartedly trying to break Tanner’s hold.
Tanner tightened his grip and sailed with Henry out a side door and into the night air. Still, once they were out of the view of prying eyes, Tanner didn’t release his hold. He lightly stroked the small of Henry’s back. Henry looked sad. Tanner couldn’t stop himself. “Trust me. I just saved you from getting your heart publicly demolished. Legend is in love with someone else.” Tanner hated to be the bearer of bad news, but he also couldn’t stand to see anyone humiliated with hundreds of witnesses. He knew all about feeling helpless with no one to save him.
Tanner felt the fight drain from Henry. His gaze slid away. His defeat punched Tanner in the chest.
“Oh.” He stepped out of Tanner’s hold. Tanner let him go. “I suppose part of me knew that. I definitely had it coming.” Henry cleared his throat. He still wasn’t meeting Tanner’s stare. In a nervous motion, Henry tugged at his jacket. “Um. Thank you, I guess.”
“I’m sorry it was necessary.”
A sad smile touched Henry’s lips. He visibly fought to keep it from slipping away. Tanner couldn’t help but notice how handsome Henry was. He was distinguished. It was obvious he had been raised with money. There was no real way to guess his age. If Legend hadn’t already been in love with someone else, Tanner could see them as a beautiful couple. Everyone would be jealous, including Tanner.
“You’re one of the hosts tonight, right?”
Tanner dipped his chin. “That’s right.”
“I guess I should let you get back to your guests.”
That was the last thing Tanner wanted. “It’s fine. I don’t care for crowds or dancing. Everything about this event has me mentally exhausted.”
Henry finally focused on him. Tanner felt the power of Henry’s attention all the way to his core. “Apologies. I don’t recall your name.”
“Tanner Kodiak.”
Henry’s eyebrows rose. “Are you any relation to Teddy Kodiak?”
A smile that felt bitter even to him touched Tanner’s lips. “He’s my father.”
Henry’s eyebrows rose. “Didn’t he…”
Yeah. Tanner knew what Henry realized too late. His dad had been nuts. Pretty famously completely batshit and he had taken his kids along for the ride. After a massively successful career in baseball, and years of drug abuse, Tanner’s mom passed, and Teddy snapped. He grabbed his three small children and headed for the hills. They went from lavish lifestyles to living off the land as unwilling survivalists. No one but Toby, Tanner, and Tucker knew what went down in those woods. They had endured over ten years of hell before their father took his own life. Thankfully, all his money had been in trust and they had outlived him. But they weren’t normal. Not a single one of them came out of those woods untouched. They were hard on the inside—survivalist to the core. Nothing Henry chose to say could touch the truth, and as l
ong as the triplets lived, no one would ever know the real story.
Tanner didn’t force Henry to keep searching for a way to recover the conversation. “He passed when I was eighteen.”
Open relief poured through Henry’s features at the rescue. “I thought I’d heard that.” He glanced around, visibly uncomfortable. Tanner almost left him alone to spare him. Then, Henry focused on him again. Resolve etched his face. “Since you don’t like dancing or crowds, you should stay out here… with me.”
There was a hint of fear in Henry’s eyes. He had put himself out there with the offer. Tanner could practically feel Henry bracing for Tanner’s refusal—as if everyone rejected him. Unexpected hunger washed over him. Something about weakness drove Tanner wild. He thought—maybe—it was the surge of power that went through him when he realized he could fill the emptiness. He could be the person Henry wasn’t expecting to meet tonight. “Or you could come upstairs with me instead.”
For what felt like forever, Henry stared at him with shock keeping his features blanked. He visibly swallowed. “Okay.”
Although that was the last answer Tanner expected, he wasn’t taking his offer back. He likely wouldn’t see Henry again after tonight. Tanner tried not to look at things too closely. He was in a bad headspace tonight. Henry looked like a man who didn’t want to be alone. Tanner didn’t either. Sometimes, the company of one person who understood was all anyone needed.
As Tanner weaved his way through the crowd, Henry stuck close to his back. Several men stopped Tanner along the way, openly flirting. The first few times, Henry stood silently waiting with his mind trapped in an internal freak out. He was fully aware he had agreed to go upstairs with a stranger because he didn’t want to be alone. In a detached sort of way, he recognized Tanner was gorgeous. It wasn’t until he stopped for the fifth time, so some guy could spend a second basking in Tanner’s attention, that Henry really took a minute to stare at Tanner. He was big—wide shouldered and tall. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and deep dimples showed every time he flashed his perfect smile. Tanner’s forest green eyes looked kind as he focused his full attention on each person who stopped him. A hint of pride worked its way into Henry’s chest. Tanner had invited him upstairs. Soon, that focus would be completely on him.
Without warning, a smile tugged at the corners of Henry’s mouth. Maybe life didn’t suck as much as he thought. It was possible he would survive losing Legend. Another person stopped Tanner. Tanner’s gaze slid his way for half a heartbeat before focusing on the latest interruption. In that brief moment, Henry felt his desperation. He hadn’t been exaggerating outside. This was sucking the life from him. Henry had been raised to be cold and cutting. Being rich enough to be rude was his superpower.
Henry set his hand on the small of Tanner’s back and cut in. “Excuse us. Tanner and I need to discuss some business.”
There was no one who didn’t know Henry and his reach. The man who had been speaking to Tanner, immediately backed up a step. “Of course. I’ll be around,” he said, directing his words Tanner’s way.
Tanner smiled, nodded, and promised to find him soon.
Henry steered Tanner toward the stairs, silently admonishing anyone who tried stepping into their path. In no time, they were ascending the steps in peace. The moment they were alone in the upstairs hallway, Tanner glanced his way.
“Thank you for the rescue. I realize it’s ridiculous, considering the line of work I’m entering, but I’ve been extremely uncomfortable tonight.”
Henry met his gaze. “You don’t have to explain. If you feel uncomfortable, even if it’s your job, you need to walk away. Your soul isn’t for sale. Only your time and only on your terms.”
Tanner didn’t respond until they reached a closed door. When he finally spoke, he didn’t look Henry’s way. “I can see why Legend cared for you.”
Henry couldn’t look away. The flirt from downstairs was gone. This serious version of Tanner was real. Better. “You look exhausted.”
A smile popped to Tanner’s lips, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he led Henry inside what had to be his bedroom. It was cozy. Big bed. Large, cushy chair in the corner. A door led to a bathroom. He could see a huge tub through the open doorway. It was a large room with lots of furniture, including a desk. Henry got the feeling Tanner stayed in his bedroom quite a bit. This was a gorgeous house. Even shared by three men, it had to be insanely expensive. The location, right on the edge of Lake Travis was a prime spot. Henry’s curiosity spiked.
“What made you decide to start Cubs for Rent? You don’t look as if you need the money.”
“We don’t,” Tanner said, peeling off his jacket and toeing off his shoes. “The last ten years of Dad’s life, he never spent a dime, and everything he had grew in investments. When he died, and everything came to us, we were set for life. Considering we haven’t gone crazy spending and we’ve lived together for the past ten years, everything has continued growing.” Tanner kept talking while unbuttoning his shirt. Henry couldn’t look away. Tanner had every ounce of his focus. “In the scene here, we’ve met a lot of men who sell their time, for whatever reason. All legal and above reproach, of course. But we’ve also heard the same horror stories a million times—men stalking them, threatening them, blackmail, and every horror in between. It’s really not safe. The problem is, it’s all a lot of these guys know, and one of the biggest reasons they fall victim to these things is because there’s no one backing them—physically or financially. They have no out. Toby, Tucker, and I sat down one day and started coming up with this plan to help while also giving ourselves something to do. We called up Legend to get his expert advice and he was pretty honest with us. No one would split their fees with us for something we weren’t willing to do ourselves.” Tanner shrugged. “Here we are, starting from the bottom.”
Henry perched on the edge of the chair and watched Tanner with fascination. He wanted to help people. That was sweet, especially since Tanner looked miserable being the center of attention. “I’d like to be your first customer. May I hire you for the rest of the night?”
Tanner froze in the middle of taking off his belt. “I don’t have sex for money.”
“That’s not my intention,” Henry rushed to explain before he ruined things, which—honestly—he was damned good at doing. “No sex. I want you to get some sleep. Maybe eat a proper meal first, because I doubt you got one today with all this going on.”
“You want to hire me to take care of me.” Tanner sounded confused as he summed up Henry’s offer.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Henry snorted at Tanner’s question. “Did Legend not tell you that you should never question why someone hires you?”
The corner of Tanner’s mouth lifted in a smirk. “Possibly.” Tanner shook his head and sighed. “You can hire me if you agree to eat with me and you have to cuddle with me while we sleep.”
“Deal.”
It was odd. Henry had lost the man he had shown up to win, but he knew he would survive. Tanner thought Henry wanted to take care of him, but really this was self-care. He was saving himself. When Tanner fell asleep, Henry would sneak away and leave him to rest. Then, they would be even. A night of peace for the unexpected friendship Tanner had given him in his moment of need. Maybe tonight would be the first of many.
Two
Henry: May I hire you for the weekend?
Tanner: I’ll always be free for you.
Henry: Great. I think you need to be spoiled with a nice dinner and lots of peace.
Tanner: You want to hire me to take care of me again?
Henry: You returned my last fee. I feel moved to do a better job of bringing you comfort this time.
Tanner: I refunded your money because I didn’t do anything to earn it.
Henry: It made me happy to watch the stress bleed from your shoulders. I’d pay a lot to watch it happen again.
Tanner: Then I guess I will see you on Friday.
Henry: Yes. Friday.
Henry: An email from my bank informs me I just received a refund from you. What’s that about?
Tanner: I don’t have sex for money.
Henry: Yeah, well. I didn’t plan that.
Tanner: I know.
Henry: You should still keep part of the money. We didn’t have sex the whole time.
Tanner: Shame. I’ll try harder next time.
Henry: So, weird thought. If I plan to see you often, and I do, I think I might buy a place there. I don’t like hotels and there’s a cozy cabin for sale not that far from you. What do you think?
Tanner: The walls in hotels are regrettably thin.
Henry: Seriously, I swear I’m not out to seduce you. I don’t know how it keeps going there.
Tanner: LOL! I’m trying to seduce you. There. Do you feel better now? Buy the cabin.
Henry: Let me hire you for this weekend then. Go check out the place with me.
Tanner: Like I’ve said, I’m always free for you.
Henry: Meet me at the cabin at seven? Fee has already been paid.
Tanner: I’m on my way.
Henry: I think I pulled a muscle in my back and you still refunded my money.
Tanner: Poor angel. All the more reason for you to get a refund. You did most the work.
Henry: See me this weekend. I’ll pay you double if you work this kink out of my back.
Tanner: Just let me know what time you’ll be here and I’m your man.
First Loser Page 1
