Almost Forever by Linda Howard

morning?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her cheek before seating her. His gesture was smooth and casual. He probably kissed every woman he met, Claire told herself painfully, but that didn’t stop the surge of warmth that suffused her body.
    â€œIt’s a typical Monday. Everything was in perfect order when I left Friday afternoon, but over the weekend it somehow turned into chaos.”
    A waitress appeared with the menus, and they were silent while they made their selections. They ordered, and Max turned his attention back to her. “I moved into the apartment this morning.”
    â€œThat was fast!”
    â€œAll I had to relocate was my clothing,” Max pointed out, amused. “I’ve stocked the pantry and bought new sheets and towels—”
    The waitress whisked up with their coffee, sliding the cups and saucers in front of them with practiced ease. Riley’s was famous for fast service, and today the waitress was outdoing herself. They tried several times to begin a conversation, but each time they were interrupted as their coffee cups or water glasses were refilled. The restaurant was crowded and noisy, and the clatter of plates and glasses was incessant, forcing them to raise their voices in an attempt to be heard.
    â€œClaire! And Mr. Benedict! I’m so glad to run into you here!”
    Max politely got to his feet, and Claire turned to see who had addressed them. The pretty brunette beaming at them was Leigh Adkinson, a member of the Houston social stratosphere to which Claire had belonged when she’d been Mrs. Halsey. Leigh was cheerful and lacking in malice, but they hadbeen acquaintances rather than friends, and after Claire’s divorce she’d almost completely lost contact with all of the old crowd. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d talked with Leigh in the years since her divorce, but there Leigh was, smiling at her as if they were the best of friends. And how did Leigh know Max? she wondered.
    â€œDo you remember me, Mr. Benedict? We met at Virginia’s party Friday night,” Leigh chattered.
    â€œOf course I remember. Won’t you join us?” He indicated an empty chair, but Leigh shook her head.
    â€œThank you, but I have to run. I know it’s short notice, but I wanted to invite you to a dinner party I’m giving Saturday night. Actually, it begins as a dinner party at my house then we’re moving it to the Wiltshire Hotel for dancing in the ballroom. Tony’s kicking off his candidacy for the governorship. Please say you’ll come, both of you. I noticed at Virginia’s party how well you dance together!”
    Max glanced at Claire, his eyebrows uplifted. “Claire?”
    She didn’t know what to say. Leigh had somehow assumed that they were a couple, but that wasn’t the situation at all. Perhaps Max would prefer taking someone else to the dinner party, if he wanted to attend at all.
    â€œIt isn’t a fund-raising dinner,” Leigh said, laughing. “It’s a party for friends. You’ve been hiding yourself away for far too long, Claire.”
    Claire hated it when anyone made it sound as if she’d buried herself in deep mourning after her divorce, which wasn’t what had happened at all. She stiffened, withdrawing from them, and a refusal began forming on her lips.
    Max put his hand on hers, stalling her. “Thank you, we’d love to attend.”
    â€œOh, good. We’re having an early dinner, at seven. Claire knows where we live. I’ll see you Saturday, then. Bye!”
    Max resumed his seat, and silence fell briefly between them. “Are you angry that I accepted for both of us?” he asked, forcing her to look at him.
    â€œI’m embarrassed. Leigh assumed that we’re an item, and you were too polite to tell her the truth.”
    His eyebrows arched, and suddenly the languid, cosmopolitan gentleman was gone, and in his place