Read Online Blurred Lines by M. Lynne Cunning - Free Book Online

what she said while also taking note of Dean’s remarks and his mannerisms. She may be able to use them later when she sat down at her computer to continue writing her novel.
    Lauren shrugged, her bare hands clutching the small coffee in front of her. “That piece was different, unlike anything I’d written previously. Call me crazy, but I guess you could say I knew there was something different about it, something personal, stripped, and overwhelming. You and I both were unable to ignore the urgency of it as we tried to perfect it. I was confident that Anthony would have that same inability.” Her lips were pressed in a firm grin as she raised her cup to her lips, never taking her eyes off Dean as she stared at him over the rim of it.
    “Well said,” Dean remarked, taking a sip of his own. “You surprise me, Sarah.”
    Lauren arched an eyebrow. “Oh? And why is that?”
    He put his cup down. “It’s like I can’t quite figure you out. I mean, you’re obviously extremely talented in the craft of writing, I’ll give you that. There isn’t a person in that class that could argue with that. However, the part I don’t get is that sometimes you’re so sure of yourself, to the point where you can almost be intimidating. Then again, it seems like there are moments when that foundation of confidence wavers, and an uncertainty comes shining through the cracks in that foundation that make me question what it is that is really driving you, who you really are.”
    “Who I really am?” Lauren’s voice came out weaker and more fearful than she intended. The mask she’d been attempting to wear refused to stay on. She evidently had yet to master the art of staying in character.
    Dean offered a small smile. “I’m sorry, Sarah, I don’t mean to be asking personal questions or putting you in an awkward position. I’m one of those people who kind of calls it like I see it. With you, I like what I see even though I’m not actually sure what I’m seeing, if that makes sense.” He leaned in closer and his smile grew bigger. In a lowered voice, he said, “Who is Sarah? That’s what I want to find out.”
    With that, he leaned back, giving Lauren her space again. Unfortunately, it seemed that an inability to make her own voice audible had overcome her. Any answer and statement she made now would seem like a cover up, no matter how she phrased it. She wasn’t prepared to tell him who Sarah was, mostly because she hadn’t quite figured that out herself. However, their eyes were fixed on each other and Dean was obviously awaiting a rebuttal.
    “Am I interrupting?”
    Lauren broke eye contact with Dean and looked up to see Libby standing in front of their table, a glint in her eye as she switched her gaze between them. Lauren fought the immediate urge to defend herself, wanting to say it was nothing, just coffee with a friend. Without looking in Dean’s direction, she leaned back slightly and waved her hand to one of the empty tables beside theirs.
    “Not at all, Libby. Pull up a chair,” she managed. She hoped her voice sounded more casual to them than it did to her.
    “You sure you don’t mind?” Libby’s amusement was obvious, and Dean sent a knowing smirk in Lauren’s direction as well. He was fully aware of what Libby was thinking and he didn’t seem to mind.
    “Not at all. You know Dean, right? He and I were partnered up in class.”
    Libby turned to drag a chair toward their table and then held out her hand to Dean. “Good to meet you, Dean. Let me get myself a coffee and I’ll be right back.”
    Lauren nodded with a weak smile and watched Libby head over to the counter. It took Dean only a second to lean forward and whisper, “She thinks there’s something going on between us, I think.”
    Lauren rolled her eyes but knew he was right. She would have to set Libby straight. “I’ll be sure to let her know that’s not the case, don’t worry.”
    “You mean there isn’t?” Dean’s words caught her