Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

There's a terrible racket going on down there. All kinds of hooting and hollering. Even screaming. I want you to talk to them."
       He stood slowly and put both hands in his pockets. "Why don't you talk to them, if it's bothering you? I can't even hear them."
       Dottie jammed her hands on her hips. "I already did. They obviously don't care if they're disturbing me."
       "How about Uncle Ralph? Is he upset by it?"
       She rolled her eyes. "Your uncle isn't upset in the least. In fact he thinks it sounds like they're having sex and he seems to be enjoying it."
       Jason chuckled. "I'll see if they can keep it down— when they're finished."
       "Please do." His aunt spun on her heel and left, slamming the door behind her.
       Jason sighed, then looked down at Merry and smiled. "I'm sorry about that."
       "Don't worry. It was probably a good thing we were interrupted or who knows what…" She flushed as she realized what she had just revealed about herself, then checked her watch. "Oh, look. It's getting late. We should probably call it a night."
       Jason looked disappointed, then said, "Okay. I'll walk you to your front door. Do you mind stopping one flight down? It might be a little less embarrassing for me to talk to Gwyneth and Morgaine if you're there."
       "If they're really having sex, do you honestly think anything will make it less embarrassing?"
       He winced. "I doubt it, but will you come anyway? As a friend supporting a friend?"
       She shot him a teasing grin. "Sure, I wouldn't miss it."
       "Oh, so you're that kind of friend, are you?"
       "Don't tell me you can't take a little innocent teasing?" She elbowed him in the ribs.
       "Of course I can, as long as you can take it as well as dish it out."
       "Bring it on, pal."
    ***
    Before Jason walked her to the elevator, Merry had offered to talk to the noisemakers in 3B for him. She really did want a relationship based on friendship and it seemed like a small thing she could do for him. So she kissed him good night at his door and took the elevator alone.
       Now she stood at the door to 3B, listening to obvious moans of passion, wondering what to say. "Hey… I'm glad you two have such a great sex life, and I hate to put a damper on it, but…" No. Too direct. Maybe, "Hi, it's just little ol' me, dropping off a message…" At last, she decided to try letting them in on something she'd overheard the big, bad manager say. Okay—so she took the cowardly way out and stretched the truth a bit, but that seemed like the only option she could handle. So she knocked.
       A long silence followed. She wondered whether to knock again or forget it when, a moment later, the door opened. Gwyneth, the younger one, greeted her with a cheery smile. "Howdy, Merry. What brings you all the way up here?" She wore a long, bohemian-looking, embroidered black skirt and a black crushed-velvet top. Her long red hair looked pretty yet unsophisticated pulled back on the sides with the rest of it hanging in curling tendrils around her shoulders and down her back.
       "I wanted to tell you something kind of important. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
       "Oh, no. Not at all. Come on in!"
       Merry stepped through the door and Morgaine rounded
    the corner. "What a nice surprise. How are you feeling, Merry?" Morgaine seemed to be in her thirties with the same bohemian style, but her hair hung loose and straight. A shiny eagle feather tucked behind her ear gave her the atypical appearance of a gothic Native American.
       "I'm feeling much better, thanks. It was just sort of unnerving, especially since I'd only moved in the day before. What an introduction to city life!"
       "Yeah, you must have felt like you were caught with your pants down." She gasped. "Lordy, I shouldn't let my mouth overload my tail. What I meant was, you musta thought about turnin' around and movin' right out, huh?" Gwyneth's fair complexion turned bright