Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase

two of them slid into the first and second steps perfectly, but when it came to Konrad’s taking a step back and Roz’s stepping forward, his stride was far longer than hers, and he pulled her off balance.
    She stumbled, but he caught her before she fell. “Oomph. Damn heels.”
    The instructor shook his head, slowly.
    “Sorry. It wasn’t you or your shoes, Roz. I know what I did wrong,” Konrad said.
    The instructor crossed his arms. “And what was that?”
    “I extended my back leg too far.”
    The instructor cocked his head and frowned. “You have front legs and back legs? No wonder you have two left feet.”
    Konrad laughed nervously.
    “Your partner has much shorter legs than you do. You must always compensate for that,” the instructor was saying.
    “Okay. Let’s try again. I’ll take smaller steps.”
    Roz and Konrad resumed their starting positions, and the instructor said, “I’ll count.”
    After the initial “one, two, three, go,” he continued to count the beat of the waltz while the couple made the short steps in the shape of a box.
    Are we having fun yet?
    Roz laughed, but the break in concentration caused her to miss a step, and Konrad trampled her toes again.
    “Oww!” She hopped over to the chairs lining the length of the dance hall, sat on one, removed her shoe, and massaged her toes.
    Konrad followed her. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I’ll live.”
    “This isn’t working out, is it?”
    “Let’s not give up yet. Someday we’ll laugh about this.”
    The instructor glanced away and mumbled something under his breath.
    “I think our teacher is ready to quit.”
    Roz chuckled. “Well, I’m not.” She slipped into her shoe again and stood, taking Konrad’s hand. “Come on, let’s do this.”
    They counted and danced, successfully this time, for several turns. The instructor smiled and clapped. That was enough to interrupt their concentration, and the couple went down with a thud, landing in a tangled heap of arms and legs.
    Roz gasped and yelled, “Frig!”
    “Oh, crap.” Konrad rolled off of her quickly. “I hurt you that time, didn’t I?”
    She breathed deeply through gritted teeth.
    Both instructors rushed over. “What happened?”
    Roz managed to compose herself enough to say, “I twisted my ankle.”
    The male instructor extended his hand to help her up. She tried to stand and winced.
    Konrad jumped to his feet and picked her up off the floor. “I’m taking you to the emergency room.”
    “No, I’m sure it’s not that bad. Just give me a couple of minutes to rest.”
    “Your ankle is already swelling.”
    “No, they’re just fat.”
    Konrad gave her the hairy eyeball and said, “No, they’re not. And since one is getting bigger and redder than the other, I’d guess you have a sprain. Now don’t argue. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
    He strode toward the door.
    “We should call an ambulance,” the female instructor said.
    “No need. We’re close to the New England Hospital. I can carry her there, if you’ll get the door.”
    “Wait, my purse.”
    Konrad paused by the chairs they sat in earlier and let her point it out, but he refused to put her down. One of the instructors handed it to her.
    “Are you sure you don’t want us to call an ambulance?”
    “No, I can get her there faster than they can.”
    “Okay.” The male instructor opened the door for them and held it while Konrad carried her down the stairs to the sidewalk.
    “Hang on, hon,” he said, and as soon as she’d locked her arms around his neck, he sprinted down the street.

Chapter 7

    The emergency room doctor delivered the good news as she studied the x-ray. “You’re lucky. Nothing’s broken. It’s just a sprain and should heal in a few days.”
    “I feel like a complete klutz.”
    “Roz, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine,” Konrad said.
    “No, it was mine. I tripped you.”
    Konrad placed his hands on his hips. “Well, clearly dancing isn’t our thing.”
    The