Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"Ms. Turner, is that really how you feel?" Gary's sharp gaze softened just a little.

Whitney frowned deeply, noticing the way Shane looked at Sandy-like he could crush her with a glance.

But Sandy, oblivious or simply stubborn, stood her ground. She cast a brief, startled look at furious Shane, then dropped her eyes and spoke softly, "Yes. I don't want to marry Mr. Nelson.

Finding out I'm Tina's mother so suddenly has thrown my whole world upside down. The memories I've lost make Mr. Nelson feel like a stranger to me. You can't force love-it doesn't work that way.

Mr. Nelson, I don't remember the past four years. You're asking if I still have feelings for you?

I'm sorry, but I just don't know anymore."

She'd answered him honestly-her heart was cold as ice.

Shane let out a bitter laugh, his jaw clenched as he stared at her pale, determined face. "You say you can't force love? So who is it you'd rather marry? Silas? Are you blind, Sandy? With that attitude, I doubt you're much of a mother to Tina either. If you don't want to marry me, then don't even bother coming to see your daughter!"

was stunned by his angry

intimidating tone. "Shane, that's not fair— these are

hearing her daddy say her mommy couldn't visit anymore, burst into

she won't marry you, but honestly, what did you expect? You just dropped this bombshell on her this morning and

stop talking, you're only making it worse. If you keep this up, you'll push her so far away she'll never come back-and

his dark eyes

either. You practically

have a child together, and she's accepted that. What are you

blunt as they were, finally seemed to get through to

Sandy, his eyes

face. Seeing her so hurt made his chest ache. Maybe he shouldn't

was too proud to

turned to look at