Loser Takes All(2)

His host gave another of those damn dashing smiles. "You want one of your buddies to come inside, too? For moral support?"

Tad stiffened at the thought then glanced over his shoulder. The trio stood attentively, as if waiting for an invite to watch. Tad grimaced, turned back around and shook his head. "Ah, no. No, thanks. But … " Geez, how did he ask what he needed to know so his feet would get with the program?

Door man sobered. "You want a guarantee you won't end up in some gutter."

Tad shrugged awkwardly.

He nodded. "Understandable." A big hand came up to rub his stubbly chin. "Hmm," he pondered briefly. "How about this: Pull out your cell phone." When Tad shot him a look, he chuckled. "For a text message. Enter Chad over there's license plate number. Surely some people saw you with them tonight." Tad reluctantly nodded. Smiles gestured to the house number by his door. "Put in my address, too. Then send it to a trusted friend, saying if they don't hear from you in the morning to come looking for you here." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "Technically, that's info they could pass along to the cops."

Tad contemplated his suggestion and figured it made enough sense. "Yeah, okay. Fine." He tugged out his cell, thumbed it all in, then sent it along with a Tad-style cryptic message to his best bud. If Jay read it right, he'd think Tad was off getting lucky, too. Because over Tad's dead body did he want anyone finding out anything about tonight's debacle.

Door man's smile returned, but was only half its initial size. "I'm not gonna kill you. But I am gonna work you over." His big brown eyes glittered. "In a good way, of course."



       
         
       
        

A shiver raced up Tad's spine. Glancing one last time at his newest enemies-who shot him a thumbs-up with some brow wags to boot-Tad ambled through the door. It clicked shut behind him, the sound of a bolt locking swiftly following suit. The hair on his nape stood on end. Fucking hell, did he just seal his doom?

Door man chuckled softly, passing Tad in the foyer to lead the way down a darkened hallway. "Relax, would ya? You're making me feel like a criminal."

"So sorry," Tad deadpanned, eyeing his surroundings. "Never been in a situation like this before."

"Well, it's not that big a deal, so stop being a pussy." He flashed Tad a big teasing smile. They came to a door beneath a set of stairs. "I'm Scott, by the way." He shoved a key into the knob, looking at Tad as he unlocked it. "And you are?" His full lips curved into a smirk. "All they gave me was Loser Boy."

"They" being the bastards outside making noise. Tad could hear their obnoxious catcalls even from inside the house.

He grunted irritably. "Tad. My name's Tad."

Scott clapped him on the shoulder then tugged open the door. "Nice to meet you, Tad." He motioned for him to get moving. "Age before dexterity."

Tad eyed the opening. Oh, God. The guy was taking him down to his basement. A really dark basement. His whole body tensed.

Scott waited for a second, then reached in and flipped on the stairwell light. "You're a timid one," he murmured. "How old are you again?"

Tad shifted his weight and rubbed his nape. "Uh …  Twenty-four?"

Scott chuckled. "Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Twenty-four." Tad scowled. "I'm twenty-four."

Scott nodded. "Alright, cool. Just checking." His chocolate gaze roamed over Tad's body for a second time. "What with how skittish you are."

Tad stiffened indignantly. "I'm not skittish. I'm cautious."

Scott inclined his head, lips twitching. "If you say so." Again, he gestured for Tad to head on down. Tad frowned, then steeled his shoulders and reluctantly began the descent. Twenty-some steps later and they arrived at a small, enclosed landing with two doors straight ahead. Scott's warm body bumped into Tad's back as he maneuvered to get around. Tad tensed at the contact and moved out of the way, catching a faint whiff of the guy's cologne. Subtle, yet masculine through and through. Scott's nose had good taste.

Opening the door to the left, Scott turned and looked at him expectantly. Tad peered inside. The room was still dark, so he couldn't see much. He could, however, smell some stuff. Like lemon cleaner, leather …  and faint, musky sweat. "So," he drawled. "Does this place have lights or-" 

Scott flicked on a ceiling fixture.

"-are we doing this in the … " His words trailed off as he took in the huge open space. Split into two parts, the retracted wall divider made the place seem downright massive. The right half was obviously used as a gym. Housing everything from punching bags and pull-up bars to free weights and a treadmill, the back wall-which it shared with the adjoining room to its left-was one big floor-to-ceiling mirror.