Page 65 of Hidden Chance

“You mean like working for this marvelous company who supports the militias in Burma? Is it even the children you’re wanting to help? Or is this all to make you feel better about what happened in your past?”

She opened her mouth in a surprised squeak, and Robby closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That was uncalled for.” He ran his hand through his hair as he ambled across the room and fell into a chair. “I’m not used to being challenged.”

“I guess I bring out the worst in you.”

“It’s not you.”

“It’s not? Because it sure sounds like it.”

“It’s nothing. Forget it.”

But it was clear to Hannah that it was far from nothing. The pain that was etched across his face was a familiar one. He had a past that haunted him, and she was bringing it to the surface.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“You have nothing to apologize for. That’s on me.”

He looked at her and she saw something in his eyes that drew her to him, but she stayed in place.

“I pushed you too hard.”

“Actually, the truth is, Hannah, you inspire me.”

She laughed. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“No. I’m used to being around a trained group who are solely focused on the mission. We do our job because that’s what we’re hired to do. It makes the operation run smoothly, but you’re different. You’re willing to risk yourlife because you care. That’s the one thing that’s trained out of us.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is. We can’t afford to feel.”

“But you do care. You want to protect those kids because you care about them.”

“Not just them. You’re one of the vulnerable who is being taken advantage of. I’m supposed to keep you safe too, and you won’t let me do that. I don’t know how to work with that.”

She nodded slowly, trying to untangle what he had just said. “So you don’t think we’re in imminent danger right now?”

“No. If they were going to move, they would have by now. They’re just watching.”

“Then how about we have dinner, and then we can decide what to do next? I’m starving.”

“Yeah, okay. As long as you’re a good cook.” He cracked a smile.

“You’ll have to let me know. I like my cooking, but it’s not often I cook for someone else.”

His schoolboy charm mixed with the confidence of a man who knew how to handle himself—yet a selfless care for the weak—made it hard to fill her mind with the important things they were facing. The one thing that helped was to remind herself that he had no interest in God. There was no way she’d ever consider getting involved with a guy whose most important thing in life wasn’t the same as hers. The best way forward with Robby was to remain professional.

As she set the table, she asked God for wisdom. Sheknew she could be hardheaded when she shouldn’t, and her passion to save the kids could be pushing her too hard in the wrong direction.

Please don’t let me make a mistake. Or, if I do, don’t let the consequences be too hard to undo.

Chapter 16

The conversationduring dinner was pained at first. The draw Robby felt toward Hannah caught him off guard, and he kept the conversation formal at the start, but it wasn’t long before they’d both relaxed.

“Isn’t that thirds for you?” he said when she dished herself up another bowlful.

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