And I kind of grew to love your city too. What would you think of me staying?

Anja traced the words. “You…you want to stay?” It came out in a reverent whisper. “For good?”

“Yes. I realized that as much as I like Berlin, it’s just a place. This could be home. You could be home.”

Anja sank into her arms again and kissed her cheeks, her nose, her lips. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes.” They got lost in each other again for a while, then Anja asked, “What about your career? I was afraid to ask, but do you have something lined up?”

“No. Which should have been a pretty good indication that I didn’t want another job. I didn’t think I would, but I like the one I have now. And since Felix just quit because he graduated, I thought maybe I could…”

Anja couldn’t help squealing a little. “You want to take over Paper Love?”

Susanne firmly shook her head. “No. I don’t want to force Uncle Nobby into retirement just because I’ve decided to stay. Even if he decides he wants to retire at some point, the store is yours. I know that’s what Uncle Nobby wants, and it feels right. But I thought maybe you’d want to hire me.”

“You…as an employee…taking orders from Nobby…or from me?” Anja laughed. “I just can’t see it. Besides, I like the thought of us being partners, in business and in life. Now that the online business is picking up, you could take over the webstore, while Nobby and I handle the brick-and-mortar store. What do you think?”

Susanne’s gaze went to some spot in the distance, as if she was already picturing it. “I’d love that. And I love you.” She cradled Anja’s face in both hands and kissed her again. When they came up for air, she laughed giddily. “So the local superstition was right after all.”

“What superstition?” Anja’s brain, drowning in endorphins, couldn’t keep up with everything that was happening.

“I stepped into the Bächle on my first day here, remember? And you people from Freiburg believe that whoever steps into a Bächle…”

Anja stared at her as the local superstition played through her mind. “Does that mean…you…you want to marry me?”

“Uh, maybe we should take it a bit slower.” Susanne’s eyes twinkled. “Ask me again next year.”

They grinned at each other.

Anja lovingly refolded the paper boat and tucked it away in the inside pocket of her jacket, right over her heart. “Oh, I will,” she whispered against Susanne’s lips. “I most definitely will.”

If you enjoyed this book, you might want to check out another workplace romance by Jae, Under a Falling Star.

About Jae

About Jae