Adelaide forced a smile, deliberately thinking about the food he’d brought again, knowing she needed to steer the conversation in another direction. “Let’s not talk war or politics,” she said as sweetly as she could. “I’d far rather hear all about your family back home while we devour that round of cheese.”

His laugh was hearty, and she took the small knife he’d had wrapped with the cheese and started to cut it. She stared for a moment at the tiny, curved blade in her fingers, wondering how hard she’d have to drive it into his skin to do any damage. But the thought passed as quickly as it had arrived, and she offered him the first piece. There was no way she could attack a German commander and get away with it, let alone be successful enough to kill or seriously wound him.

“I should have said ladies first,” he said.

Her shyness slipped away, as if she were acting a part in a play. She suddenly realized she could actually do this, behave as if she were someone else, someone so much more confident and worldly than she really was.

“I want to see the look on your face when you taste it,” she teased, pushing her dark thoughts away. “I dare say it’s aged to perfection, so it should be delicious.”

He shut his eyes as he placed it in his mouth and she waited, watching for his smile. It only took a few seconds before he was grinning at her, and in that moment she knew then that being involved with a high-ranking German wasn’t the worst move for a woman. If they were to stay? If he was right about the German army not leaving? She would have better rations and be kept safe from other soldiers who might otherwise lurk around two women living on their own. Many of her neighbors might hate her when they returned for accepting the enemy, but if Wolfgang was right and their government was going to announce defeat? What option would any single woman have other than to accept the presence of German troops? Than to take up with a German soldier?

“Adelaide?” Wolfgang asked.

She raised her chin, a piece of cheese touching her lips as she took a small bite, coyly looking up at him. He reached out and stroked her cheek, his calloused fingers brushing roughly against her skin, before one of his fingers crooked and he gently swept a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“May I kiss you?”