“How’re the cats?” he asked, smiling a little. He did miss Angel Marie. Hell, he missed them all.“Feral,” Benny sniffed. “And horny. Every time one of us walks in, they all start humping our shoes.”“They’re fixed,” Shane mumbled, but the conversation was oddly reassuring. It sounded normal, and like home.“Tell that to the big fuzzy brown one….”“Orlando Bloom?”“Yeah, whatever. Last time I was there that damned animal violated my knitting.”Shane lost a battle with a laugh and then whined because it hurt his ribs. “Violated?”[...]“Let’s just say that wool is no longer virgin,” she quipped dryly, and Shane’s chest shook.”

“You okay?""Fine.""Your heart's beating really fast.""Gee, thanks. That's very comforting that you can hear it."He smiled, and it was the old Michael, the one she'd first met before all the vamp stuff."Yeah, I know it is. Sorry. Just stay behind me if there's trouble.""You sound like Shane.""Well, he did say he'd kill me if I got you hurt. I'm just looking after my own neck.""Liar.”

“Is everyone looking for me?"She shook her head, pulling the robe closer. Suddenly she wanted to be covered up in front of him, in front of all that familiarity and beauty and that lovely predatory smile that said he was willing to do whatever with her, to her, no matter who was waiting in the hall.“ I was hoping they„d put up flyers like they do for lost cats",he said. “Missing, one stunningly attractive teenage boy. Answers to „Jace,‟ or „Hot Stuff.‟”“ You did not just say that.”

“And then it was between Shane and Claire on who retreated first. "Uou go," he said."Why?"Shane and Pete exchangedblooks. "Seriously?" Pete asked."Yeah, she's like that," Shane said, and turned to her. "Because you're my girlfriend, and I'm not going unti; I know you're safe. How's that?”

“She was staring at you.''What can I say? Irresistible.' 'Shane, it’s not funny. I just—you should be careful.'Always am.' Which was an absolute lie. Shane’s eyes fixed on hers, and she felt a burst of heat inside that crept up to burn in her cheeks. He smiled slowly. 'Jealous?''Maybe.''No reason. I like my ladies with a pulse.”

“When she set Shane’s glass of Coke down in front of him, she did it with probably a little too much emphasis; he glanced up at her with a question-mark expression.[...] ‘‘What?’’ Shane asked her, and took a drink. ‘‘Did I forget to say thanks? Because, thanks. Best Coke ever. Did you make it yourself? Special recipe?”