“I owe you dinner?”

“Yes. Remember this morning? You said I had a chance of you buying me dinner after our little, um, snuggle session on the train.”

Susanne chuckled. Snuggle session, hmm? So was Anja still thinking about it too? “Right. I did say that, and I’m a woman of my word, so let’s go. Any good restaurants around here?”

“Oh yes. Plenty of them. What are you in the mood for?”

Susanne honestly didn’t care. She wasn’t picky about food, and if the Indian dishes they had shared last week were any indication, they had similar tastes. “You’re the local. Why don’t you surprise me?”

“All right. Come on.” Anja took her arm, pulled her away from the windy bridge where the streetcars stopped, and led her down the street.

“Careful.” Anja reached for Susanne’s elbow as they stepped across a Bächle. She hesitated in front of the restaurant’s heavy-studded oak door, not sure if Susanne would enjoy this type of place. It might be a bit too rustic for her, with tasty but simple regional dishes.

But Susanne was already reading the menu that was posted on small blackboards attached to the shutters. “Ooh, that sounds good.”

“Are you sure? It’s pretty simple. No frills. Don’t expect fine dining.”

Susanne shook her head at her. “You’ve really got the wrong impression about me. I’m not the glitter type either. No frills is fine.”

Before Anja could think of a reply, Susanne opened the door and held it for her.

“Thanks.”

Lively conversations drifted over as they entered the large dining room. The dark hardwood floor and the wood ceiling gave the restaurant a cozy feel. It was pretty busy, and they were lucky to find a free table for two in the corner.

The vegetarian options were limited, but Anja already knew what she wanted, so she watched Susanne study the menu. She didn’t look out of place here at all. She had taken off her blazer and had opened the top button on her blouse. Her hair tumbled to her shoulders and was still a little mussed from her nap on the train. Anja found that she liked this more down-to-earth look.

“Do you mind if I order meat?” Susanne had to lean across the table to make herself heard above the noise.

The question caught Anja off guard. She hadn’t expected Susanne to be so considerate. “No, not at all. I don’t like people trying to talk me into eating meat, so I try not to be a missionary and convert people to vegetarianism either.”

“I don’t eat a lot of meat, but Franzi—my sister—says I have to try the Rindfleisch.” Susanne tapped the item on the menu.

Anja took a closer look. It was the beef with horseradish sauce, boiled potatoes, and cranberries. “Good choice. It was my grandmother’s favorite.”