Almost Forever by Linda Howard

away from her, as if he hadn’t noticed anything, but a primal rage burned in his gut. Damn her, someday soon he’d make her see him as a man!
    â€œI’ll call tomorrow,” he said again. “I have to investigate a few details, so I’ll be busy until early afternoon, but I’ll call you before you leave work.” Without waiting for her agreement, he let himself out and walked away.

Chapter 5
    â€œC laire, dear, I don’t see why you’re being so stubborn about this,” Alma argued gently. “It’s just a small party to repay some social favors, and I’d like for you to come. Your father and I would both like you to come. We don’t see enough of you. Martine and Steve will be there.”
    Knowing it was useless, because when Alma used that gentle voice it meant that she’d dug in her heels and wasn’t budging an inch, Claire tried again. “Mother, I don’t like going to parties.”
    â€œWell, I don’t like giving them. They’re too much trouble, but I do it because it’s expected and helps your father.”
    Which meant that Alma was doing her duty, Martine and Steve were doing their duty by showing up as the supporting cast, and Claire, as usual, was failing to come up to par, by refusing to do her part. Claire winced inside.
    â€œYou can leave early, I know you have to work tomorrow,” Alma soothed, reading her victory in Claire’s silence.“And bring Max Benedict with you—from the rumor flying around town, Harmon and I think we should be better acquainted with him.”
    â€œWhat rumor?” Claire asked, horrified.
    â€œThat things look pretty serious between you. Really, you could at least have warned me, so I wouldn’t have to act as if I knew what everyone was talking about.”
    â€œBut we aren’t serious! We’re just friends.” Claire had repeated that statement so often that she was beginning to feel like a parrot who knew only one phrase.
    â€œYou haven’t been seeing him regularly?”
    Only every day, but how could she tell Alma that without it sounding as if there was a passionate romance going, when it wasn’t a romance? It was…well, it was almost like a partnership. They provided each other with companionship, simple, undemanding companionship. “I’ve seen him, yes.”
    â€œLeigh Adkinson saw you having lunch with him on Monday, Bev Michaels saw you having dinner with him on Tuesday, Charlie Tuttle saw you with him last night in a mall, shopping. Every day! That’s pretty regular, dear. Now, I’m not pushing you—let the relationship develop at its own pace. But, really, it would be so much more comfortable if Harmon and I were better acquainted with him.”
    â€œI’ll be at the party,” Claire said quietly. She might as well capitulate and get it over with, because Alma wasn’t about to give up.
    â€œWith Max.”
    â€œI don’t know. I haven’t talked to him about today. He may have a date.”
    â€œOh, I don’t think so,” Alma chuckled. “Thank you, dear. We’ll see you both tonight.”
    Claire hung up, biting her lip in consternation. What a way to begin the morning! Alma’s call had come mere secondsbefore Claire’s alarm clock had gone off. Well, her mother might be certain that Max didn’t have a date, but Claire wasn’t. Max was too much of a man not to have a love life, and since he didn’t have that sort of relationship with Claire, nor did he seem interested in developing one, it followed that he would be seeing other women. If not tonight, then soon. A rest from strenuous pursuit was one thing, but a healthy man wouldn’t let it go on too long. Max had a man’s needs, and Claire had seen how women followed him with their eyes.
    He couldn’t have made it more obvious that he wasn’t physically attracted to her. He hadn’t kissed her