“I bet lots of women think about having babies with Austin.”

She grinned in agreement. “He said we should wait. He said it’s too soon, and he wants to make sure the pack will stay together and strengthen before we bring kids into the equation. I didn’t think kids were a math problem. The last time I was in heat, I was all over him and he nearly buckled. After that, he built that damn heat house out back. So the next time I hit my cycle, I have to stay locked up in there. Do you know how embarrassing that is? It would be one thing if I were single, but I feel like I’m in the doghouse with my own mate.”

I circled my finger around the rim of my glass. “So this is what goes on in packs.”

“Austin is the best lover I’ve ever had, and I really want to feel that with him while I’m in heat. Izzy said it’s intense—like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I’m getting the tingles just sitting here thinking about it.”

“Me too,” I said with a wicked laugh.

We resumed eating and I poked at my salad.

“Anyhow,” Lexi continued, “it’s been on my mind. Jericho is an amazing dad. When he found out she was pregnant, he came home that night with a stuffed guitar to put in the crib. It plays a little lullaby when you wind the key in the back; it’s so sweet,” she said wistfully.

Jericho was also doing well with his music from what Lexi had told me. His band, Heat, had gained such a following from Internet downloads that the demand for them to perform had grown exponentially.

My tilapia was so good that it took me a minute to respond. “Enjoy their baby until you’re ready for your own. You have hundreds of years ahead of you to start a family. The bakery is your time to shine, and you don’t get chances like these too often, especially if you’re taking care of a bunch of kids. Enjoy Izzy’s baby, enjoy selling your cookies, and then think about a family. This is one instance where I agree with your wolfman.”

“You’re probably right. Sometimes I forget I’m going to live for centuries; it’s still hard to get used to the fact I’m a Shifter. Austin said it’s just my instincts kicking in, but I’m serious… I really want children with him. It has nothing to do with hormones or anyone’s expectations—I just want something in this world that’s ours. To look at a little baby and see Austin’s beautiful eyes and my mouth.”

“Your big mouth?”

She snorted. “That too. I’m sure he or she would inherit my laugh and Austin’s deranged sense of humor. Poor thing.”

“Well, as often as Austin runs around shirtless, let’s pray for a boy.”

Lexi smirked and turned her plate in a circle. “He can’t help it. He’s hot-blooded.”

“You can say that again.”

“More wine?” the handsome waiter asked, tilting the bottle toward my glass.