Susanne mirrored the gesture. She watched as Anja reluctantly turned and walked toward the building’s front door. The hallway veered to the right, so Susanne couldn’t track her all the way to the door. Suddenly, she understood how Muesli probably felt every time she put him outside and closed the French door between them.

Stop being so melodramatic. This so isn’t you. Get back inside, put the cat out, and get some work done.

But she stood rooted to the spot until she heard the front door open.

In a second, it would fall closed behind Anja, and she would be gone.

“Anja!” she called, then immediately wanted to slap herself. She barely recognized herself. She had never acted like this with any other woman. In the past, she’d always been in control of herself and her actions.

Anja’s footsteps paused before hurrying back toward her, as if she’d been waiting for Susanne to call her back. It took only two seconds for Anja to reappear, a question in her eyes.

Damn. What was she supposed to say now? “Uh, I…I just thought you probably need another kiss to tide you over.”

A twinkle lit Anja’s eyes. “Oh, do I?”

Susanne nodded. “You do.”

“Well, then you’d better come here and kiss me.”

Susanne took off one slipper and used it to block the door so it wouldn’t fall closed since she didn’t have her keys with her. On one sock and one slipper, she padded through the hallway. God, if any of her friends or former colleagues could see her now! Cool, calm, and collected Susanne Wolff was making a fool of herself over a woman. That was definitely a first.

Any embarrassment she might have felt quickly vanished when she bent and kissed Anja. She loved the way Anja curled her fingers around her neck to tug her down and hold her against her. She could spend hours exploring Anja’s warm mouth and nibbling her soft lips.

But they were standing in the middle of the hallway for all her neighbors to see, so she reluctantly broke the kiss and traced Anja’s reddened bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. “Good night.”

“Sweet dreams,” Anja whispered.

Oh yeah, she would definitely have those. Although they might be more hot than sweet after that last kiss.

Still looking dazed, Anja walked backward to the door. Their gazes held until the very last moment. Then, with one final wave, Anja turned and was gone.

Susanne trudged back into her apartment.

Muesli sniffed her abandoned slipper, but when she approached, he stopped and greeted her by rubbing against her legs as if he hadn’t seen her all day.