He chuckled. “You’re an amazing woman. I’ve seen you in action, so I know. And I do respect your feelings. I do.” He liked the way the blush covered her cheeks.

“I owe you an apology too,” she said.

His heart gave a slight tug when he remembered her words. “That right?”

“Yes. What I said about Ozzy’s leg—that was truly horrible. I know I was starving and exhausted, but please know that I believe you did everything in your power to get us out of there.”

He appreciated her candor and decided to let the matter rest. “Let’s start over.”

“I would love that.” She visibly relaxed.

He smiled. “What did you do before you came here?”

She took a small sip from her glass before she set it down. “I worked a year in a private OB-GYN clinic my aunt started. I’d done my internship at Johns Hopkins, and when I finished a residency program, it felt like the clinic was the next logical step. But now I’m sitting here trying to remember what my days looked like.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her chair. “What about you? You said you went to the Citadel. Are you from South Carolina?”

“Me?” He raised his eyebrows. “No, ma’am. I’m from Kentucky.”

“Kentucky? I thought I detected an accent.”

The waiter brought a platter of flatbread with dipping sauces. He set it on the table and poured sparkling water into Rick’s glass, then set the bottle down beside his glass.

After the waiter left, Rick extended his hand toward Cynthia, palm up. She glanced at his hand, then at his face, before straightening and laying her fingers lightly in his palm. They bowed their heads. He prayed, “Father, thank You for this food. Please bless it to the nourishment of our bodies and bless our bodies for Your service.”

He ripped a piece of bread in half and dipped it in hummus. Cynthia chose the green dip that looked like tabbouleh.

“What kind of a degree does a Special Forces officer obtain from the Citadel?” she asked.

He swallowed before he answered. “I always wanted to be a soldier, so I formed my degree around my desired career. I have a degree in strategic intelligence with a minor in political science.”

“So, he’s super smart too.” She washed a bite of bread down with some wine. “That doesn’t surprise me.” She dipped another piece of bread into the green dip, so he tried it. The flavor of parsley and garlic married well in his mouth. “Do you like Kentucky?” she asked.

“Let me put it this way. Heaven is a local call from Kentucky. I come from a small town in the most perfect location in the continental United States. My soul longs to be back home whenever I’m away.”