The irony wasn’t lost on Anja: a few hours ago, she had teased Susanne about taking three hours to get ready for a date, and now she was the one who was taking forever. She had put on three different outfits before finally settling on the beige corduroy skirt and the knee-high, brown boots she had worn to the stationery fair last month. If she wasn’t mistaken, Susanne had checked out her legs several times when they’d been on the train. Instead of the conservative blouse she had worn to the trade fair, she had paired the skirt with a long-sleeved, deep-red top with a sweetheart neckline that dipped low, revealing the swell of her breasts if she moved a certain way.

She studied herself in the mirrored sliding closet doors. Was she overdressed? Underdressed? Too sexy? Not sexy enough? It was impossible to say since she had no idea where Susanne would be taking her.

Not that it really mattered. All she wanted was to spend time with her because that was the one thing they didn’t have a lot of: time.

She brushed the thought aside and went to dab some perfume on her neck and wrists.

Seven thirty—the time Susanne had said she’d pick her up—came and went, but the doorbell didn’t ring. Had she been unable to decide what to wear too?

By seven forty, Anja was pacing her small apartment. She would have called Susanne to make sure everything was okay, but she didn’t want to come across like the overbearing girlfriend.

When the doorbell rang, it startled her, even though she’d been waiting for it.

Finally! Not bothering with the intercom, she locked the door behind her and rushed down the stairs.

Susanne’s BMW was parked in front of the building, and Susanne waited next to it. She wore jeans that were so faded they appeared almost white and a black, long-sleeved shirt with big, white letters saying, I like coffee and maybe three people.

Anja hoped she was among the lucky three. Okay, I’m definitely overdressed. Where on earth is she taking me?

“I’m so sorry.” Susanne kissed Anja hello. “I’m running behind my admittedly ambitious schedule. I didn’t have time to change.”

“So I’m not overdressed?”

Susanne’s gaze roved over the formfitting top, the knee-length skirt, and the boots that Miri always said emphasized her slender legs. The open admiration in her eyes made Anja stand a little taller. “No, you’re perfect. Very beautiful.” She kissed Anja again and then opened the passenger side door for her.

Susanne got in on the other side and started the car.

“Do we have time to go to your place so you can change?” Anja asked. “What time is the dinner reservation?”

“Oh, the chef said they’re pretty flexible, so yes, we’ve got time.”

Anja stared at her. “You talked to the chef?”