“Discreet, hmm?” A teasing smile tugged at the corners of Anja’s lips. “So no making out in the middle of the store?”

A vivid image of her pressing Anja against the island display while she captured her mouth in a demanding kiss flashed through Susanne’s mind. “Uh…”

“All right. We can do discreet.”

Susanne suddenly wasn’t so sure she could.

Anja ran her fingers over Muesli’s damp fur. “All done. Good boy.” She bent and kissed his head, then straightened.

“Hey, what about me?” Susanne tapped her chest. “I helped get him clean. Don’t I get a kiss for that?”

“You’re not the one who got her fur all wet.”

“Oh, I’m plenty—”

Anja pressed her mouth to Susanne’s. “Don’t say it,” she playfully whispered against her lips.

“If you don’t want me to talk, maybe you should find a way to shut me up.”

So Anja did.

By the time they finally managed to pry themselves away from each other, it was already nine o’clock. Susanne reluctantly walked Anja to the door. She didn’t want her to go, but she knew they both needed some time to process what had happened, so a sleepover wasn’t an option tonight.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?” Susanne asked for the third time.

Anja nodded. “If you drive me, I have a feeling we’ll still be sitting in your car at midnight, exchanging one last kiss goodbye.”

Susanne couldn’t argue with that. “At least send me a text so I know you made it home safely.”

“It’s just two quick streetcar rides, not a trip halfway across the country.”

“Still. I’m allowed to worry about my…” Susanne cut herself off, not knowing what to call Anja. Did she have the right to call Anja her girlfriend when she wasn’t sure what would happen once the six weeks were up? “To worry about you.”

Anja smiled and softly touched her palm to Susanne’s cheek. “I thought you were a total ice queen when we first met, but you’re actually pretty sweet.”

Heat flared up her neck. “Am not.”

Grinning, Anja rose up on her tiptoes and kissed her, just a light caress of her lips this time.

It was sweeter than the most delicious chocolate.

“I like it,” Anja whispered against Susanne’s lips. Then she dropped down onto her heels, took her hand away from Susanne’s face, and opened the door. “I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”

“See you,” Susanne said with a nod, already wondering what it would be like to see Anja again, away from the safe haven of her apartment. Would things between them feel weird? “Good night.”

“Sleep well.” Anja stepped outside, but instead of walking away, she faced Susanne and lifted her hand in a silent goodbye.