Maybe that answered Anja’s earlier question about whether to get Susanne a gift for Valentine’s Day. They had agreed on no promises and no expectations beyond the right now, and a Valentine’s Day gift, especially traditional presents such as jewelry, implied a certain level of commitment. Putting that kind of pressure on Susanne wouldn’t be fair.

“Totally understandable,” Susanne said, as if agreeing with Anja’s unspoken decision. “I’m sure we can find something more affordable.” She turned her head and didn’t seem surprised to see Anja in the doorway, watching her. Maybe she had sensed her presence. “What would you recommend?”

Anja loved that Susanne had deferred to her, even though she had done well with the customer so far. “How about the Diplomat Excellence? It’s about the same size as the M805, and it looks really classy for only one hundred euros.” She crossed the room and bent over the glass case to find the pen. Her shoulder brushed Susanne’s, making a shiver trail across her skin.

The woman inspected the pen Anja handed her. “Perfect. Thank you so much.”

Within a few minutes, their happy customer was out the door with a gift-wrapped pen in her purse.

Susanne pretended to dust off her hands. “Not too bad for a digital snob, right?”

Anja rounded the counter and wrapped her arms around Susanne’s neck in an exuberant hug. “You were great! We’re gonna make a pen geek out of you after all.”

Susanne slid her arms around Anja’s waist and spread her fingers wide as if to cover as much of her as possible. “Is that a threat?” she purred.

“That’s a promise,” Anja answered, trying for the same tone.

Apparently, it worked, because Susanne shuddered.

Anja ran her fingers through Susanne’s hair the way she had longed to since the moment Susanne had stepped into the store earlier. She wanted to tell her how much she liked this just-out-of-bed look, but before she could, Susanne kissed her, and the words faded away.

Susanne’s lips moved over hers in a tender caress. Anja sensed that the kiss was more about reconnecting than about passion. Maybe Susanne had felt a bit insecure too when she had entered the store, not knowing what to expect.

Anja returned the kiss with the same gentleness and lost herself in the warmth and softness of Susanne’s mouth.

Just as Susanne fitted her body against hers and deepened the kiss, the bell above the door announced another customer.

God, their customers’ timing sucked. They jumped apart, and Anja wiped her mouth as inconspicuously as possible, trying not to look as if she had just shared one of the best kisses of her life.