Michael went after Eve, but Shane lingered as she stuffed the computer and power cord into the laptop bag. “Hey,” he said. His fingers touched her hair lightly, then her shoulder. “I’m not—look, it’s not like I’m in love with her. I’m not. It’s just—”

“You slept with her once. Yeah, I heard.” She snapped the catches closed on the bag and slung it over her shoulder. “She makes a hell of an impression.”

Shane got in her way, and despite everything, all her best intentions, she looked up into his eyes, and the light in them took her breath away. His fingertips touched her face, and then he bent down and kissed her. “No,” he murmured into her mouth. “She doesn’t. You do.”

Before she could think of anything to say, he turned and left to grab the camera from the closet. In the other room, Claire saw Michael talking to Eve—well, Eve’s rigid back. He turned when he saw her and Shane coming.

Eve opened the front door and slammed it back, charging down the stairs and leaving them all far, far behind. By the time they caught up, she was already in the passenger seat up front, face turned toward the tinted window. If she was crying, Claire couldn’t tell. She’d put on a gigantic pair of mirrored sunglasses that she absolutely did not need inside a vampire’s car.

“Right,” Michael said, and climbed behind the wheel. “Where to?”

“Take me home,” Claire said. “I’ll work on the technical stuff.”

“Drop me off at Common Grounds,” Eve said. “I need to talk to some people.”

Michael cleared his throat. “Want company?”

“No.” Her voice was flat and cool, and Claire winced and looked at Shane. In the dimness, she could only see the broad strokes of his expression, but it looked like a yikes. “You’ve got things to do, right?”

She must have been right, because Michael didn’t exactly deny it.

Shane said, “So—I’ll stay home and watch TV. Critical job, too. Not everybody can do that under pressure.”

“You should come with me,” Eve said. “I could use some help.” Even though she’d just flatly turned down Michael’s offer. Ouch.

Shane must have thought that, too; he flashed a look at Michael, clearly apologizing, and Michael nodded slightly.

“Okay, sure,” Shane said. “Outstanding.” Shane held out a fist, and Eve tapped it. “Claire? You’ll be okay alone?”

“Sure,” she said, and hugged the laptop bag closer. “What could go wrong?”

Michael’s eyes flashed to meet hers in the rearview mirror.

“Besides everything, I mean,” she said.

Chapter 11

11