Read Online Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase - Free Book Online Page A

yourself?"
       "Yup."
       "And Europe? Where did you go in Europe?"
       "All over."
       "Really? How?"
       He shrugged. "Frequent flyer miles." If she only knew.
       "Wow. I don't think I'd have the guts."
       "Then I'll have to take you with me and show you the world."
       She grinned and her perfect, white smile lit up the night. Jason really did want to show her the world—his world. And he wanted her in it from now on.
    ***
    "Yes, you can come over and see it any time tomorrow. I'm the manager and I should be home all day." Dottie twisted the telephone cord in her hand as she spoke to a prospective renter.
       Chad was leaning against the wall, in an incorporeal sort of way, listening in with great interest. Oh, great. She wasn't kidding. Some poor shlub will rent the place, move in, and I'll have to scare him off. Or maybe I can discourage whoever wants to live there before that. I hope the new landlord will catch on eventually and leave my apartment alone. The old owner finally gave up trying to rent it.
       "It's been empty for quite some time, so I'll just do a little vacuuming and dusting before you get here."
       I like my dust right where it is, woman. You leave my dust alone.
       "Yes, I manage the place and my husband takes care of any maintenance needed, but I do a little light housekeeping outside the units too."
       Naturally. It's so much easier to eavesdrop that way.
       "Oh, it's no bother. It keeps me out of trouble." She chuckled.
       That's debatable. Wasn't it enough that I let her store a few things in my living room? Now she wants to take away the only place I can go for complete peace and quiet. I can't go to the attic anymore. It's now a penthouse. I can't go to the basement. It's a laundry room and vampire lair. Just where am I supposed to have my hip pad? I refuse to haunt a cardboard box in the alley.
       "I'll see you at two o'clock, then. I know you're a professor and probably very trustworthy, but please bring references and paystubs as proof of employment, anyway. Oh, and you know the security deposit is one month's rent, right?"
       She ought to make it two and a half. After I get through with him, the place might not look the same.
    ***
    "It was so nice of you to offer to visit my patients and cheer them up. I'm sure they'll love getting your autograph!" In the hospital elevator, Merry stood on tiptoes and kissed Jason's cheek. "Not to mention I'll probably rise in popularity among the staff."
       "Just don't tell them where I live. That's all I ask." He draped an arm around her. "If all goes well, I might come back another evening."
       "Hey, if all goes really well, I might get on the day shift!"
       "Is that what you want to do?"
       "God, yes. I'd love to have my evenings free like normal people." And come home in daylight… especially after the incident in the alley.
       The elevator doors whooshed open and they stepped out onto the corridor that led to the hospital's pediatric orthopedics floor.
       "I'll have to go in to report first, but one of the day shift nurses can tell you which patients are well enough to receive visitors. Report only takes about half an hour."
       He stopped walking. "Oh. I thought I'd get a chance to go into your patients' rooms with you."
       She tipped her head and asked, "You aren't shy, are you? I haven't been here for a couple of days, so I'm not sure which patients would be up for a visit. Of course, if you don't mind waiting until after report…"
       "Whatever works for you is okay with me. You go do what you have to do. I'm sure I'll find some casts to sign."
       She grinned. "I'm sure you will, too. And a lot of parents will be visiting, so you'll have plenty of people to keep you occupied." She winked. "Don't worry. I won't desert you for long."
       They rounded the corner, arriving at the nurse's station. Merry spotted two of the day shift nurses finishing their