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.

his heart. He gave a bitter, thin smile. "Sandy... do you even know why I

Sandy's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. The darkness in his gaze made her suddenly afraid

out a low, broken laugh. "It was just a way to

you want to watch

was six months

felt a chill

Whitney just to watch her. What else was she missing? What else didn't she

Sandy shook her head and

appeared in the doorway, holding

in her tracks, her

stammered, "Sis, Shane's totally wasted. He's talking crazy. hum, I don't dare take care of him anymore. You know what

caught a bit of their conversation. Her sharp gaze flickered-this was a good thing.

all a bit sudden, and maybe a little

the little girl, her eyes lingering on

let me take

drenched, twisted feet

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

was suddenly cradling a small, warm bundle that smelled faintly of

and a pink princess