Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Back then, Sandy was nothing like the cool, tough-as-nails woman she is now.

Back then, she was more like a naïve little bunny—on the surface, she put up with

Florence's bullying, but underneath, there was a streak of rebellion in her. Shane

could never forget that look of defiance in her pitch-black eyes, that flash of

stubborn light. It was sharp enough to pierce right through him, haunting him for

years to come.

She was a little troublemaker...

He turned and stood by the big bay window.

His tall frame cast a shadow that seemed to swallow her whole, and Sandy,

cowering by the edge of the bed, couldn't escape the pressure he exuded.

Her mind was still reeling from everything that had happened last night. The

passion between them had crashed over her like a wild tide, drowning out all

reason.

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips tender and swollen, and her hands gripped the

edge of the down comforter, trembling ever so slightly.

She couldn't wrap her head around it—how could she ever have had any real

history with someone like him, a man who seemed out of reach for ordinary

people?

But no matter how hard she tried to deny it, the truth was that last night, these two

supposed strangers had tangled in a way that was anything but innocent.

She wished he would just tell her what really happened in the past. The suspense

was killing her.

hesitating?" She looked up at

this silent, intimidating man

his chiseled features thrown

and stormy, suddenly softened for a fleeting

at the corners of

explain those messy, complicated feelings we had back

hurt I was—how you used me and tossed me

nothing?"

shock on her

have treated you like

a dry

were a nineteen-year-old exchange

You might've looked

little bunny, but

your hometown, you

rebellious hawk

didn't just use

were bold as hell."

heart thudded in her chest. Was he messing with

years studying abroad was being the quiet,

finished her degree and came home as soon as she

scrape by.

she'd completely lost her mind, there

involved with Shane, right?

looked down, voice small.

going to

with Florence.

like she

for a

honestly, I knew

wanted me to tag along

Florence's babysitter. Florence was

sickly, and I was

look after her."

you'd already graduated by then. Why were you in

back against the window ledge, his long legs