"As you like," he murmured.
"A poor choice of words," she snapped, then started marching away.
As Benedict was on his feet this time, he felt no need to incapacitate her. Instead, he dogged her every step, remaining a mere (and annoying, he was sure) two paces behind her.
Finally, after about a minute, she turned around and said, "Please leave me alone."
"I'm afraid I can't," he said.
"Can't or won't?"
He thought about that for a moment. "Can't."
She scowled at him and kept walking.
"I find it as difficult to believe as you do," Benedict called out, keeping pace with her.
She stopped and turned around. "That is impossible."
"I can't help it," he said with a shrug. "I find myself completely unwilling to let you go."
" 'Unwilling' is a far cry from 'can't.' "
"I didn't save you f
