She sat there watching her until her eyelids became too heavy and she closed her eyes.

Some unknown time later, a touch to her shoulder startled her from her light slumber.

She opened her eyes and looked around, expecting the conductor. But the aisle next to her seat was empty, so she peered to the other side.

Susanne had slid sideways in her seat, and her head rested on Anja’s shoulder.

Aww. Anja grinned. If only she could take a photo. She had a feeling not too many people got to see Susanne like this.

She gazed past her out the window to the darkness beyond, trying to figure out where they were, but couldn’t make out any prominent landmarks. A glance at her wristwatch revealed that they were about halfway to Freiburg. Oh wow. That meant that she’d slept for an hour.

The automatic doors to their compartment opened with a whoosh, and the conductor entered. “Tickets, please.”

Damn. Couldn’t he have waited another half hour so Susanne could get a little more sleep? Careful not to move her shoulder, Anja reached into the inside pocket of her blazer and pulled out her ticket.

Susanne didn’t stir. A slight frown pulled at her brows but then smoothed out.

Anja handed her ticket to the conductor. Susanne’s phone lay on the tray table, but she didn’t know the code that would unlock it, so she couldn’t show him Susanne’s ticket.

With a sigh of regret, she reached out to softly shake her awake.

“Don’t,” the conductor whispered. “It’s okay. She’s obviously with you.” Grinning, he nodded at the way Susanne trustingly rested her head on Anja’s shoulder, using her as a pillow.

With me, Anja mentally repeated. “Yes, she is. Thank you.”

He handed her ticket back and went down the aisle to the next passenger.

She watched him until he disappeared into the adjoining compartment. Had he assumed they were a couple? Doesn’t matter. You’re not.

Susanne made a kitten-like noise that had Anja press her hand to her mouth to hold back a giggle. Her long eyelashes fluttered, then lifted. She looked around, clearly dazed and needing a minute to remember where she was. “Oh. Uh, sorry.” She sat up and wiped her mouth as if to check whether she’d been drooling. Even the low light in their compartment couldn’t hide her blush.

“It’s okay.” Anja decided not to tease her, but she couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from curling up into an amused grin.

“Where are we?” Susanne asked.

“About halfway to Freiburg. Go back to sleep.”

“I wasn’t sleeping.” Her voice was husky, belying her words. “Just resting my eyes for a moment.”

“Mm-hmm. Same way I wasn’t squealing over that notebook earlier.”