Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"What do you mean, 'I can only see her in my dreams'? Does Shane really dream about her that much?"

The words made no sense. Sandy froze in place, feeling too anxious to come any closer.

"Uh, are you okay?" she called out, her voice small, her slim frame rigid with

nerves.

Shane stared at her at that almost unreal, ethereal figure. He was burning up, every sense fogged over, his mind hijacked by a feverish need. All he could think about was pulling that pure, untouchable girl closer, quenching the longing that had tormented him for years. "I don't know what's wrong with me... I'm really out of it... can't move..."

"Sandy, come here. Let me see you."

Sandy.

She just stood there, thunderstruck.

How could this man-basically a stranger-call her by her name like that?

Her mind spun, tangled up in confusion and questions she couldn't voice. Sandy stared hard at his handsome face, flushed unnaturally red. "Shane, why did you call me Sandy? Do you even know me? And tonight-you followed me, you keep acting so weird. You used to be so different! Back when you were chasing after Whitney, you were all polite, so out of reach. What changed?"

Shane struggled to keep it together, her chilly questions somehow piercing the haze in his head.

desire, fixed on the girl he'd tried so hard to bury in his heart. He gave a bitter, thin smile. "Sandy... do you even know why

skipping a beat. The darkness in his gaze made her suddenly afraid

broken laugh. "It was just a way to get close to you. To keep an eye

you want to

was six

chill roll through

to watch her. What

up, Sandy shook her

holding a little

tracks, her conversation

He's talking crazy. hum, I don't dare take care of him anymore. You know what to do,

caught a bit of their conversation. Her sharp gaze flickered-this was a good thing. Eventually, Sandy would have to face the truth. Tonight was as good a time as

all a bit sudden, and maybe a little

holding the little girl, her

me

drenched, twisted feet

pretense. She handed the little girl to Sandy. "Here, can you hold

a small,

and a pink princess