“You don’t need to show me the parade,” Susanne said when they got outside. “It’s not like we don’t have carnival parades in Berlin. Well, they aren’t as big or as popular, and there won’t be one this year, but that doesn’t mean we have to go see the parade here. You can just go home, if you want.”

“Actually, I can’t. I left my bike at home this morning because last year at carnival someone decorated it with paper streamers, and it took me half an hour to get it all off.”

“What about the streetcar?”

“They aren’t running until after the parade, so I’m stuck here for the next three hours.”

Susanne sighed. “Guess that means I’m stuck too, hmm?”

Anja glanced up at her. Would it really be so bad for Susanne to spend some time with her away from work? The thought stabbed her chest like a sharp needle. “No. Not if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly fine watching the parade on my own.”

A twinkle entered Susanne’s eyes. “Nah. Someone has to protect you from all those witches.”

“Oh, so you’re going to take on the role of my protector?”

Susanne shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to have to face Nobby and tell him I let his best employee be witch-napped.”

“And that’s the only reason you’ll go to the parade with me?” Anja had meant to make it a teasing joke, but her tone was much more serious than she had intended.

They looked at each other, then both glanced away.

“No,” Susanne said so quietly that Anja almost didn’t hear her over the sound of the trombones. “I also really like spending time with you.”

A slow smile curled Anja’s lips, then grew into an ear-to-ear grin. “I enjoy your company too. Very much so. I…”

Two people in cat costumes rushed past, probably late for the parade. The jingling of the bells around their wrists interrupted Anja before she could say more—and maybe that was a good thing. Susanne had made it clear from day one that she wouldn’t be staying, so getting too attached to her was guaranteed to end in heartache.

Susanne placed a hand on the small of her back and urged her forward. “Come on, or we’ll miss the best candy.”

“I think they hand out candy mainly to the kids.”

“To kids and to people with an irresistible smile,” Susanne shot back.

Anja nudged her. “God, you sure aren’t suffering from an inferiority complex.” Of course, she secretly had to agree. Susanne did have an irresistible smile.

“Who said I was talking about me?”

Anja’s stride faltered. Heat rose up her chest and fanned out over her cheeks. “Oh.”

Laughing, Susanne led her down the street, with her hand still on Anja’s back.