Ashlyn Chase - The Werewolf Upstairs

Copyright 2010 by Ashlyn Chase

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To my family of origin. You made me who I am today. Sort of. Dont worry; Im not blaming you for the warped parts. You may not be able to see what Ive done with my lifeor maybe you can, I dont knowbut I cant let a little thing like death stop me from appreciating you the best way I know how. Mom, Dad, Dexthis ones for you.

Here are your keys, dear. Thanks for coming upstairs to get them. Now dont let your neighbor across the hall scare you.

Roz Wells took the key from Dottie, the apartment manager, and froze. Scare me? Why would he or she scare me?

Hes Nathan Nourie. She stepped closer to Roz and whispered, I call him Nasty Nathan, and I assumed he might scare you because he scares me . Im told hes harmless, butoh, well, I dont want to influence your opinion by relating my own harrowing experiences.

Harrowing? Oh my freakin God. Whats wrong with Nathan?

Thats what Id like to know. All I can tell you is he works in a morgue and has an odd sense of humor. Downright morbid, if you ask me.

Maybe shes just easily freaked out. Okay, that doesnt sound so bad.

Dottie folded her arms and humphed. You havent met him yet. If I told you everythingbut I wont. I wouldnt want to prejudice you.

No, of course not. Roz rolled her eyes.

In fact, most of the tenants here may take some getting used to. If I were you, Id stay away from the women in 3B, too.

Why? What wrong with them?

Well, they seem to have gotten better lately, but they used to scream and holler all the time. Oh, and dont get me started on my neighbor right across the hall here, Konrad Wolfensen, unless you like nudists. But youre on the first floor, so you shouldnt have to see what Ive seen. I swear to God, my eyes can never un-see that.

Roz wondered if leaving her comfortable apartment in Allston and moving to Boston proper had been a good idea, but she wanted to keep an eye on her best friend Merry, having learned her new husbands secret.

Shed confided in her last winter. Merry said she was marrying a shapeshifter, and as crazy as it sounded, Merry was the most down-to-earth and stable person Roz had ever known. There had to be something to it, and Roz needed to know that her best friend in the world hadnt made a horrible mistake.

Well, thanks for the warning. I think. Oh! I almost forgot to tell youyou know that Im Merrys friend, right?

Which is why you were standing next to her at her wedding and why you knew her apartment was available before I advertised it. Yes, I remember.

Please dont tell her I moved in. I want it to be a surprise.

Dottie shrugged. Suit yourself. Shell be in Florida with my nephew while hes in spring training. You know her husband, star pitcher for the Boston Bullets, is my nephew, right?

Roz gave her a sardonic smile. I may have heard about that. Like each time Ive heard you talking.

The door across the hall clicked open and a familiar-looking, gorgeous blond hunk stepped out of his apartment. A short-sleeved black T-shirt exposed luscious biceps and stretched across massive, taut pectoral muscles. When he turned around to lock his door, Roz noticed his tight butt and hair so long it almost reached his waist.

Dont drool, dont stare, dont drool

Oh, hello, Konrad, Dottie said with syrupy sweetness. I was just welcoming our new resident.

Some welcome.

This is Rosalyn Wells. Rosalyn, this is Konrad.

I wish I could shed thirty pounds twenty seconds ago. A hottie like him would never be interested in a lump like me.

Oh, youre Merrys friend. He nodded at the key in her hand. Are you moving into 1B, her old apartment?

Yes, I am. Why, oh why did I wear my oldest, rattiest sweatpants today?

I remember meeting you at the burger restaurant a few months ago, and then I saw you again when you were Merrys maid of honor. You looked ravishing in that blue dress, by the way.

Roz was taken aback. Oh, no, he isnt gay, is he? Good-looking, sensitive, notices and remembers details; sheesh. Its always the good looking ones. But Ill take a compliment wherever I can get it.

Merry was usually the one who attracted male attention. Roz had never considered herself memorable in the least. Her figure was less than svelte, and her dark brown hair was too straight to hold a style. She usually just swept it back into a bun for work. At least she liked her eyes. They were big and blue, but her eyeglasses hid them. Wearing glasses gave her an authoritative appearance, good for the courtroom, but lousy for dating. You remember me?

Of course I remember you. Welcome to our humble abode, Rosalyn.

He extended his hand, and she grasped it. His big warm paw held hers in a surprisingly gentle clasp. Some kind of energy passed between them, something shed never felt when shaking the hand of a colleague.

Call me Roz.

Id hardly call this building humble, Dottie said. That chandelier in the foyer must have cost my nephew a fortune.

That chandelier has been there since my hair was short. Your nephew just bought the building when? Last summer?

Suddenly the crystals in the chandelier downstairs tinkled and clanged together.

Dottie jammed her hands on her hips. For Gods sake, Chad, havent you gone into the light yet?

Konrad elbowed Rozs arm. Chad is our resident ghost.

Dottie rolled her eyes. Yes, God forbid I leave him out when telling you about the other residents.

Theres a g-ghost haunting the building? What kind of fresh hell did I just get myself into?

Yes, but he wont bother you if he likes you, Konrad said. I didnt even know he was here until the sance. Konrad looked at the chandelier. You leave the new woman alone, all right, Chad? Shes a friend of Merrys.

Nice of him to intervene for me, but The back of Rozs neck prickled. You held a sance?

Sure, didnt Merry tell you?

No. I think I would have remembered that.

Dottie shook her head. She was the only resident who couldnt make it, besides my husband. She said she had to work. My husband said he had to keep an eye on the building. I dont know where he thought it was going. Well, I have work to do now, but before I leave you, Roz, you should know that Im not happy with loud parties or tenants who cause trouble. And I live right above you.

Konrad leaned toward Dottie. Is that some kind of threat? I dont recall her saying shes a party animal.

Wow, is Konrad this protective of all the tenants, or is it just me? Nah, he and Dottie probably have some kind of history. Oh, you dont have to worry about me, Roz said quickly. I live a quiet life. Not by choice