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.

ex, Whitney chewed her

show the signs. Shane's eyes flickered with something unreadable. Trying to break the tension, he

played along.

then set her purse down and greeted her niece and nephew, ruffling their hair. "I'm here

great! Just finished her bottle,"

smiled, her

smile, and

she was so gentle, so easy. Maybe she was like that with everyone-everyone except him. With him, she was all bristling nerves and sharp edges, never meeting his eyes for

really that

cleared his throat and reached for his daughter's hand.

Tina shot her mom a

shooting Shane a glare. "Didn't she have a fever? What were you thinking,

Cóntent

on coming to hang out with Sammy," Shane

eyebrows shot up. Seriously,

forehead again. "She's not