Night Probe! (Dirk Pitt 6)

"Please don't." Pitt laughed softly. "I've always wanted to buy out a flower store for a beautiful girl.

Embarrass me and I may never do it again."

She pulled Pitt down, kissed him on the cheek and fought back the tears. "Thank you, Dirk. You'll always be my dearest friend.

"A friend?" He feigned a hurt look. "Is that the best I can do?"

"Can we ever be anything else to each other?"

"No . . . I suppose not." His face went gentle and he took her hand. "Funny how two people who had so much going for them couldn't find it in their hearts to fall in love."

"In my case, it was because of someone else."

"The fickleness of women," he said. "They fall for the guy who treats them like trash, and yet they wind up marrying John Q. Square."

She avoided his gaze and stared out the window. "We've never learned to deny our feelings."

"Does Shaw love you?"

"I doubt it."

"You love him?"

"I'm not my usual practical self when it comes to Brian. Yes, I love him for all the good it'll do me. We consumed each other. He had his reasons, I had mine. If he wanted me, I'd run to him like a shot. But it'll never happen."

"There comes that sad face again," Pitt said. "I refuse to send a whimpering female on board an airplane.

You leave me no choice but to cheer you up with one of my magic tricks."

Heidi laughed softly through watery eyes. "Since when did you practice magic?"

Pitt took on a mock hurt look. "You've never heard of Magnificent Pitt, the Illusionist?"

"Never."

"All right for you, nonbeliever. Close your eyes."

"You're joking."

"Close your eyes and count to ten." Heidi finally did as she was told. When she opened her eyes, Pitt was gone and Brian Shaw was sitting in his place.

The cry that she had kept bottled away burst from her as she embraced him, and the tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped from her chin.

"I thought you were locked away," she blurted between sobs.

Shaw lifted the folded raincoat that was draped across his lap and revealed the handcuffs. "Pitt arranged for me to come."

She tenderly touched the bandage that showed beneath a tweed cap. "Are you all right?"

"My double vision is almost gone," he answered, smiling.

The airline attendant behind the checkin counter announced that Heidi's plane was ready to board.

"What will happen to you?" she asked, afraid to release him.

"I suspect I'll spend some time in one of your federal prisons."

"Would you think me maudlin if I said I love you?"