The Vampire Next Door (2 page)

“Are you okay?”

“I will be. Morgaine ith taking care of me. I had an accthident to my gumth.”

Konrad chuckled. “I guess you can’t see a dentist for obvious reasons.”

“Yup. Thank goodneth for Morgaine. Theeth a magical healer. How are you feeling, Merry? Ith the baby letting you keep your food down?”

“Yes, thank goodness. No more morning sickness. Now I’m getting kicked every once in a while.”

“Good! I’m thorry, I meant ith a good thing that the babyth healthy. I can’t wait to be a grandfather.”

She giggled. “I knew what you meant.”

Sly turned to his good friends. “Konrad, Roth, good luck with the move tomorrow.”

Roz shook his hand and said, “Thanks. We’ll miss everyone, but you have an open invitation to our place in Newton.”

“I’d come, but I know your pack friendth don’t take kindly to vampireth.”

Konrad set down the box he’d been holding. “A few of them are stuck in the old ways. But if you’re uncomfortable, I’m sure we’ll come back here to visit once in a while. We’ll look you up when we do.” He extended his hairy arm and they shook hands.

“Can I help you carry thumthing?”

“Almost done, buddy. I had about a hundred boxes of books, but you can help me carry down the couch if you want to.”

“Thure.”

As the guys retreated to Konrad’s apartment, Merry grabbed Roz by the arm and pulled her to the other side of the hall.

She whispered, “What did you think of Sly’s reaction to the new Morgaine? I thought I saw some chemistry there.”

“I did too.”

They waited while the guys carried the couch out of the apartment and down the stairs before continuing.

“I’ll never get over how strong those two are,” Merry said. “They looked like they were carrying a two-by-four, not a whole couch.”

Roz watched them. Then she turned back to her friend and said, “I sense you want to see someone else in the building hook up.”

“I hadn’t really thought about it until you said something, but Sly… He’s been so lonely since my mother died and that was the day I was born—twenty-six years ago.”

Roz shrugged. “Just get him to move into my old apartment and let it work its magic.”

Merry snapped her fingers. “That’s it! The love shack. When I lived there, I hooked up with Jason. Then you moved in and hooked up with Konrad. Now that you’re moving out…”

“The love shack is available,” Roz finished for her.

“But he doesn’t have a job. How would he pay for it?”

“Does he have to? I mean, he’s your father. Jason let his aunt and uncle stay in 2B rent-free for a while.”

“You’re right.” Merry grinned and hugged Roz. “You’re a genius. What will I ever do without you?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll learn to be devious on your own one of these days. When you want something badly enough, you’ll figure out how easily men can be manipulated.”

“You mean like on
Desperate Housewives
?”

“Hell, no. Don’t go to those extremes. Just cook his favorite meal and tell him how much you want this. Then if he says yes, give him a blow job.”

Merry laughed. “It’s that easy, huh?”

The guys exited Roz’s apartment and ambled up the stairs.

“You haven’t seen me carrying anything heavy yet, have you?” Roz raised her eyebrows and Merry laughed, then sneezed.

“You know what? I think your moving is kicking up some dust—not that Konrad isn’t a good housekeeper, but I might need my inhaler.”

“Of course. And you’re right about the dust. With all of Konrad’s dusty old books, I wouldn’t be surprised if your allergies flare up.”

“I’d better go upstairs. I’ll see you tomorrow before you go, right?”

“Absitively. Posiloutly.”

Merry hugged her again. “Thanks for understanding. Besides, I can’t wait to put this devious plan into action.”

“Let me know how it goes.”

“I might leave out the details of his thank-you, but I’ll tell you the rest.”

*   *   *   *

Chad had the advantage of being the only spirit to haunt the building. Well, in some instances it was an advantage, but on the other hand, it could be lonely. Fortunately, he had Morgaine. Some of the other residents knew he was there but rarely thought about him.
Out of sight, out of mind.
And he honestly thought some of them
were
out of their minds.

Not Morgaine though. The two of them had the kind of friendship in which they could rib each other, but they always knew the sharp jabs were said in jest. That seemed to be the only fun Morgaine ever had though.

He’d like to see her happy.

Chad’s time had come and gone, and what did he have to show for it? Nothing. And no one.

But it wasn’t too late for Morgaine. He had noticed the affection growing between Sly and the gifted witch he thought of as his friend. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t match her up with a vampire, but she had limited her options by staying inside all the time. Hell, he wouldn’t do something as girly as play matchmaker, but maybe if he just gave them a little push…

He forced his way through the door to her apartment and found her in the kitchen putting away the groceries her cousin Gwyneth had dropped off earlier.

Morgaine turned toward him and smiled. “Hi, Chad. What are you up to?”

“Not much. I just thought I’d drop by and see how you’re doing.”

“In other words, you’re bored.” She placed a head of lettuce in the crisper and returned to the bag on the counter.

“Are you saying I only visit you when I’m bored?”

“No. You’re always bored.”

Chad chuckled and situated himself on the other side of the tiny kitchen so she wouldn’t have to pass through him and shiver.

“I’m not terribly bored right now. I actually thought I’d tell you something about Sly.”

Her eyebrows raised and she turned toward him. “Sly? Is he okay?”

“Ah ha, I knew you liked him.”

“Well, of course I like him. Why wouldn’t I? He’s a kind, decent per… uh, vampire.”

“Yes, I know. His kindness and decency are even more impressive because he’s a vampire. And I’ve noticed he likes you too.”

“Oh.” She turned back to her groceries. “Really?” The color in her pink cheeks was deepening.

“Oh, yeah. He’s into you. But I’m worried about something.”

“Like what?”

“I think both of you are so used to being alone, you’ve forgotten how to begin a new relationship.”

She snorted. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? How would you go about it?”

She shrugged and didn’t answer him. She just opened a cabinet and tried to set a box of granola on the top shelf.

“I can’t quite reach the top shelf, Chad. Can you give me a hand?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “Never mind. I’ll stick it on the counter.”

“You can stick it in your ear for all I care, just don’t ignore the question.”

She whirled on him and folded her arms. “I don’t have to answer your stupid question.”

Chad concentrated on the cereal box until it floated up to the top shelf and slid into place among the other boxes and cans up there.
“Okay, fine. Then think about why you don’t want to answer it.”

“Because it’s none of your business.”

“Or because you can’t. You have no idea how to approach an attractive man who’s attracted to you.”

She blew out a deep breath. “Okay, fine. I’ve thought about it. But our friendship is too important to me. What if it doesn’t work out? I don’t have that many friends.”

“You can say that again. Now that Konrad and Roz have moved out, you have exactly one cousin who you’re fighting with half the time and a bored ghost. Your life sucks.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“I call ’em like I see ’em. And when I see you and Sly together, I notice the goofy grins on your faces. Think about it, Morgaine. If you snooze, you might lose. I’ve noticed Gwyneth seems to like him too.”

“Well, then I better not get my hopes up. Any man will take the easy girl over the challenging one.”

“I admit most of us are schmucks, but I don’t think Sly’s into superficial, dumb redheads. His eyes don’t light up when he sees her like they do when he sees you.”

“Whatever you do, never call Gwyneth dumb. She’s super sensitive about it. Besides, she has a good mind. She just hasn’t had the educational advantages a lot of people have had.”

“You’re changing the subject again.”

“And with good reason. Not only is my life none of your business, but there’s nothing you can do about it. He can’t hear you.”

“Yeah, but you can. And I might just decide to follow you around singing show tunes off-key until you go downstairs and make a move on him.”
He laughed maniacally.

“Chad, go away. You’re pissing me off.”

“Make me.”

“Fine. I’ll just ignore you.”

“Aw, screw it. Go ahead and be lonely for the rest of your life. Maybe you can get a few cats or something.”

“For Goddess’s sake, Chad. Will you leave me alone?” Her tone had a chilly edge to it.

“OOOOOklahoma, where the wind—”

Morgaine clapped her hands over her ears and shouted, “Go away! I don’t need your interference. If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll do something about it, okay?”

“There now, was that so hard?”

Morgaine rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

“Honey, can I ask you something?”

Jason sensed an anxious tone to Merry’s question. He folded the newspaper he’d been reading and watched her in the kitchen. “Sure, darling. You can ask me anything.”

“Well, first, before I ask that, can you sample this sauce? I’m making your favorite.”

He jumped up from his chair. “Lasagna? For lunch?”

She grinned. “Yup.”

He strolled behind the granite counter to where she was stirring her famous pasta sauce. Something was up. She didn’t need him to taste the sauce. She definitely wanted something, and he suspected a bribe. Just the same…

She scooped some sauce into a spoon and held it out for him to taste. As always, the aromas themselves were making his mouth water. The tangy tomatoes and sweet cheeses mingled with the garlic and herbs she always added… mmm, perfection.

“That’s fantastic. Now, what did you want to ask me?”

She set down the spoon and placed her arms around his neck. “You know how you let Dottie and Ralph live here rent-free for a while?”

“Yes… but that’s because Ralph was the maintenance man. Now Jules is the super and getting free rent.”
What’s the little tease up to?

She cozied up to him and her baby bump brushed his cock. He suspected that wasn’t accidental, but he wasn’t about to complain.

“Uh-huh. And you know my biological father, Sly, lives around here, but his place is really…” She seemed unsure of herself. Jason wasn’t used to seeing her like this.

“Really what?”

“Substandard. Dark, dank, musty… He deserves better. After all, he’s family, just like your aunt and uncle are.”

Ah, here it comes.
Jason had expected something like this. So, his sweet wife wanted her biological father to live closer to her. He had never found out exactly where the guy lived. At one point, Jason had thought Sly might be homeless, but he was too well dressed and groomed.

“So, I was wondering… Now that Roz and Konrad have moved out, and my old apartment is free… and it’s so tiny. Really only big enough for one person…”

He could see her struggling. Should he help her out and say what he knew she wanted to hear? Or should he just let her squirm a while?

She was laying little kisses along his jaw and neck. Her lips were so soft and warm.
Yeah, I’ll definitely let her convince me.

As she continued her seduction, he glanced over her shoulder at his living and dining rooms in the open, airy penthouse. She had made his sterile place a home. The all-white walls were now a warm neutral tan shade. She had redecorated with more comfortable furniture, fitting his long legs. A beautiful painting of a falcon in flight stood proudly on the mantel over the fireplace. She’d given him the painting for his birthday.

“Well, what do you think? Can I invite Sly to be our next resident in 1B? That’s not saying he’ll accept, but I’d like to—”

Jason put a finger over her lips. “Shhh… You know I can deny you nothing. If you want Sly to move into 1B, go ahead and ask him.”

She squealed and hugged him hard. “Oh, thank you, Jason. I just knew you wouldn’t mind.”

He chuckled. “I never said that, but if it’s important to you, I can live with it.”

She punctuated her thanks with kisses all over his face.

When he stopped laughing, he lowered his voice and said, “Now, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Will that lasagna keep for about forty-five minutes?”

She smiled up at him coquettishly. “You know what I love about you?”

“What?”

“Everything.”

*   *   *   *

Sly strolled over the hardwood floors, taking in the space that Merry wanted to give him rent-free. There were pros and cons to this arrangement. Large bay windows faced the street, and even though it was dark outside at the moment, sunlight would stream in during the day. The place was chilly with the heat turned off but still warmer than the basement.