Blurred Lies (The Blurred Series Book 1) by Elle Ellerton Read Free Book Online

laughter at that. This is the most ludicrous conversation I’ve ever had. If I believe what he just said, he’s basically telling me he’s attracted to me...in pajamas and a messy bun...and let’s not forget the slippers that I’ll never be able to look at in the same way again. This is ridiculous; guys like him aren’t attracted to girls like me.
    Ryan laughs a little, too, and flashes me a megawatt smile. I can’t stay mad at this guy.
    No change there.
    “I’m not offended. I mean, you are basically telling me I’m a-attractive, and you’re the only guy who’s ever put it in so many words, so...I can’t really be mad at the word choice, I guess.” I shrug and go back to fiddling nervously with the drawstring of my shorts, which are apparently too short for Ryan’s liking, or not too short...his little rant has me a bit confused, if I’m honest.
    “I can’t believe that, Natty,” he says, his face turning more serious now.
    “Can’t believe what?” I ask, moving my focus from the string in my fingers to his strikingly handsome face.
    “That a guy has never told you you’re attractive.”
    “Well...not one who’s actually met me, anyway.”
    He looks slightly pained by my last statement, which is odd. I don’t think I can take much more of this conversation. I need to make my escape.
    “W-well I better go get dressed for the day and start looking for jobs. Thank you for breakfast, Ryan.” And with that, I turn on my heel and walk as fast as I can (resisting the urge to run) back to my bedroom, where I close the door and collapse face-first onto my bed, mumbling, “ WTF ” into my pillow, where my tears from the night before have now dried.

Chapter 5
    After taking a long shower, drying and straightening my hair, and applying light makeup to mask my tiredness, I dress in skinny jeans and an old Aerosmith T-shirt. I eye my comfy mukluk slippers, but opt to go barefoot for reasons I’m not willing to analyze right now.
    I spend the next four hours poring over online writing jobs, selecting the most simple, given the fact that my mind was boggled soon after waking up this morning. They pay the least, but my mind can’t focus on much right now and they are quick and easy to complete.
    I’ve only made about twenty bucks by lunch time, but I can’t even concentrate long enough to complete a one-hundred word blurb right now. Unable to stare at the screen (where potential jobs taunt me) any longer, I close the laptop and plop down on the bed with a sigh. I briefly consider going to find something to eat, since I could barely swallow breakfast this morning, but a light knock sounds at the door, startling me.
    “Come in,” I say once I find my voice. The door swings open, but Ryan doesn’t enter. He puts his hands on the door frame above his head, leaning against it in a pose that makes his defined biceps bulge. My only saving grace is that he’s fully clothed now, in worn blue jeans and a tight black T-shirt, but then I notice that the positioning of his hands makes the shirt ride up just enough to spy a strip of tight abs and that hip tattoo.
    Gawd!
    A throat clears and my eyes snap up to his. When I realize Ryan just caught me eyeing his exposed skin, my cheeks heat to what feels like the temperature of the sun.
    “Hi,” he says with a pantie-melting grin.
    “Hi,” I whisper back. I don’t even have anything else in my brain to say. Not a thing. I just stare at him from my horizontal position on the bed.
    “So, I was wondering if you had some time free right now. I was going to work on that project I told you about this morning.”
    Finally coming to my senses, I sit up on the bed and smooth my hair to make sure it hasn’t returned to ‘nest’ status - it hasn’t - phew. “Um...sure. I just got done with the online jobs, so...sure.” I shake my head imperceptibly, wondering when I became such a fan of the word ‘sure’.
    “Awesome. Come on, I’ve already got it set up on the