Love or Romance... Possibilities between sexes

You might have heard it a number of times from different people, "A girl and a boy can never be friends. Love always blooms" (ek ladka aur ladki kabhi dost nahi ho sakte. Pyar beech mein aa jaata hai.) And this is said to emphasize the romantic connection. I differ on this on the grounds that I think love are two different emotions. 

Romance is based on love but Love may not end up in a romantic angle. If I agree to the said notion than it would mean that I don't love my male friends; because as a corollary that would mean that since its a male-male friendship there is no chance of love blooming. Some of my friends suggest that its different because there is no sexual connection in this case whereas there will always be one male-female friendship. I agree to it to some point BUT the point in discussion is whether love is same as romance in a boy-girl friendship. 

I agree that there will always be love but I also stress that it will be there regardless of friend's gender. If I be friends with a girl for as long as I am with Nikhil, Cheenu, Jassi or Prabh I would love her the same as I love these guys. Wouldn't I ? Does it mean that since Nnc, Plv or Mns are girls, I don't love them. I believe that love is strong emotion and is to be held and understood very diligently and carefully. Love, like any other explosive material should be handled with care. 

There will always be a possibility of developing a romantic angle anyways. What I am trying to decipher is that will it be a determining factor? By definition, I should be romantically involved with many of  the girls I know because I am a good friend. Shouldn't I?