Shane held up two fingers pinched almost together. “That much, maybe. And only because he’s got that rock-star thing going on. You girls get into that.”

“Shut up!”

“Seriously, you throw panties and stuff. I’ve heard.”

She turned in the circle of his arms to face him, staring up into his face. No words. He was drawn down to her like gravity, lips warm against hers, lazy at first, then getting hotter, breath coming faster. Her brain exploded in a thousand thoughts and memories . . . the soft skin at the back of his neck, the way he said her name in that sweet, hushed whisper, the sheer heat of him against her.

“Hey.” Eve’s voice, mostly amused, made Claire jump. “I know, mad love, et cetera, but could you please not make out in the living room? I really want to be able to tell your parents I’ve never seen anything going on when they bring the Inquisition over for lunch.”

Shane kissed her one more time, lightly and softly, and fluffed her hair back from her face. “To be continued,” he said.

“I hate cliff-hangers.”

“Blame Eve.”

Claire stepped back from him, and the world came back to life around her—funny how it all seemed to disappear when she was with him. Eve was sitting on the couch, flipping channels on the TV. Kim was cross-legged on the floor reading the backs of game cases. “Hey,” Kim said. “Who plays the zombie game?”

“Ugh,” Eve said. “No.”

“I have, a little,” Claire admitted.

“So that’s a no, a maybe—come on, somebody must be game master around here?”

Shane finally held up his hand. Kim smiled.

“Rock on, Collins,” she said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Claire’s lips still tingled from the kisses, and her whole body from anticipation, but the gleam in Kim’s eyes made her tense up. She could tell Shane was reluctant, but also, Shane wasn’t really in the habit of passing up a challenge, either.

Except that this time, he did. “Can’t,” he said. “Got to check on Michael.”

“I already did,” Eve said, “which you’d have known if you weren’t on Planet Wonderful, the two of you. And he’s fine. He’s on the phone with Amelie. I wouldn’t go there.”

“Oh.” Shane’s excuse had just vanished, and Claire could tell he wasn’t quite up to outright telling Kim no. He went to the couch; Eve scooted over and handed him a game controller. Kim snagged the other one from the side table. “Lock and load, I guess.”