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She sat beside hiray eyes glowing fiercely "Don't you tell ht"

"As your friend," she said softly, "I have every right"

"Today," Blake announced with an off-balance flourish of his ar; she didn't knohat to say to such an obvious announceo down in infaa of Blake Ravenscroft as the day he…as the day I…"

She leaned forward, shocked andsound in his voice "As what day, Blake?" she whispered

"As the day I let a woman die"

She blanched at the pain in his voice "No It wasn't your fault"

"What the hell do you know about it?"

"Ja bastard"

"I'lad he did It tells me so much more about you"

"Why the hell would you want to know more?" he asked caustically

"Because I lo--" Caroline stopped, horrified by what she'd almost said "Because I like you Because you're nize how special friendship is"

"I can't be your friend," he said, his voice unbearably harsh

"Can't you?" She held her breath, waiting for his reply

"You don't want me to be your friend"

"Don't you think that's for me to decide?"

"For the love of God, woet you to listen? For the last time, I cannot be your friend I could never be your friend"

"Why not?"

"Because I want you"

She forced herself not to pull away He'd been so blunt, so bare with his need--it al," she said hastily

"Do you think so? You know very little about hed "Not half as much as I know about you, my dear Miss Trent"

"Don'tyou Shall I prove it? All the things I know, all the little things I've noticed I could fill one of those books you're so fond of"

"Blake, I think you should--"