Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

She couldn't quite figure out what was wrong with her daughter, but seeing Tina

looking so pale and listless, Sandy wasn't about to take any chances. She gently

took her daughter's hand and didn't let go.

She turned around and found three nosy faces gawking at her-Danny and

Sammy with their jaws practically on the floor, while Shane shot them a secret

thumbs-up behind Sandy's back.

Whitney rolled her eyes and muttered, "Great, teaching the kids all the wrong

things."

Sandy blinked, confused, and walked over. "Sis?"

Whitney shook her head with a wry smile. "Nothing. We're all packed up. The

Lippert family sent four or five SUVs to pick us up. Sandy, let's get going."

She turned to Shane. "You're picking up Ludwik, right? He can't walk yet. Didn't

you say you'd take him home? That brotherly love, huh?"

She teased, and Shane shot her a glare, scratched his nose, and shoved his

hands in his pockets. "Tina, let your mom take care of you."

Sandy couldn't help but feel relieved-she'd much rather spend time with her

daughter than be stuck alone with Shane anyway.

But just as they were leaving the pediatric wing, Sandy's phone buzzed. It was

Shane, and he didn't sound happy: "Whitney, get over to the surgical ward."

grumbled as she loaded

different voice came on the line, sullen and put-upon. "You sent Shane

but won't come yourself? What's that supposed

discharged."

Ludwik...

could've cheerfully whacked him with a

discharged, not a royal parade. What do you want, the

Who spoils

anything fancy. I just want you

so hard it hurt. "I

just get in the car

early."

to

Ludwik was

in peak attention-seeking mode,

with Shane

he was

sitcom.

"Sandy's there, there

I want you

need for ceremony at

ruthless, no-nonsense guy turn into such a clingy mess? Was

with Bryce making him

she hung up and headed for

holding Tina's hand, looked puzzled.

king and insists I pick him up,"

snorted. "Ludwik's

shot her a look. She wanted to say,

you're still laughing?'

raised an eyebrow,

and Shane? You two

lip and shook

ever the little truth-teller,