Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

"Hey, sis! Ugh, traffic was insane-I'm not late, right? ...Wait, Tina? You're here too?"

Sandy blinked in surprise, her wide dark eyes landing on her daughter-then, inevitably, on Shane, her ex-husband.

He stood by the hospital window, tall and broad in a sharp silver suit, his presence somehow making the whole room feel smaller and hotter.

Sandy's breath hitched, her calm, delicate features suddenly flushing. She couldn't help remembering two nights ago, when he'd cornered her in the hallway, angry and desperate, his hand braced against the wall...

She bit her lip, color rising in her cheeks, and gripped the strap of her purse a little tighter.

Shane definitely noticed her tense up, saw her slender arm draw in protectively, her whole body subtly bracing itself against him. She dropped her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

He pressed his lips together, jaw tight.

For a second, the air between them pulsed with awkwardness. He smoothed his brow, trying to sound casual. "Didn't expect to see you here. What brings you in?"

Whitney, standing off to the side, rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her brain. God, men and their fake calm. Born actors, the lot of them.

her own ex, Whitney chewed

show the signs. Shane's eyes flickered with something unreadable. Trying to break the tension, he nudged Whitney's arm, "Whit, you invite

withering look but played along. "Yup. Sandy, we

Shane, her focus already on her daughter. She nodded, distracted, then set her purse down and greeted her

bottle," Danny

her

that sweet smile, and felt a weird tug

gentle, so easy. Maybe she was like that with everyone-everyone except him. With him, she was all

he really that

his daughter's hand. "Tina, say hi to

shot her mom a dramatic wink and spread her

help shooting Shane a glare. "Didn't

Cóntent

on coming to hang out with Sammy," Shane replied smoothly,

shot up.

her daughter's forehead