“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good. Anyway, I believed in my heart of hearts that he was innocent. No excuse.”
“No need to explain. Go on,” Merry prompted.
“Okay, so everything’s swell. Then on the way home he kisses me, and guess what.”
“You kissed him back?”
“Besides that. Never mind. I’ll just tell you. He nicked my tongue with his fang, and presto…we have telepathic communication.”
Merry’s eyes rounded. “You what? Did…did you just say—”
“You heard me. We can read each other’s minds.”
“Christ on a cracker, Roz! That’s…well, that’s—”
“Crazy? Nuts? Impossible? Yeah, but for some reason it happens when a werewolf finds his mate.”
“No, I was going to say wicked inconvenient!”
Roz chuckled. “You’re picking up the Boston vernacular.”
“Yeah, the nurses at work say it, and it seemed appropriate for the occasion.”
Roz added, “It only happens when we’re talking loudly, in our heads. Usually when something surprises us or something. We can do it on purpose too.”
Merry scratched her head. “I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say. Congratulations?”
Roz grinned. “That makes as much sense as anything.”
“I’m really glad you found a wonderful man, even if…well, you know.”
“There’s one silver lining in all this mate business. I think you’ll understand and appreciate it, since you have the same blessing.”
Merry tipped her head and hesitated. “Blessing? Are you pregnant?”
“Huh?” Roz’s jaw dropped. “No. Are you saying that you are?”
Her best friend grinned. “We haven’t told anyone yet. I thought maybe you could read my mind too.”
Roz whooped and jumped out of her chair. Hurrying around to the other side of the table, she grabbed Merry and hugged her. “Holy crap! Congratulations.” She held Merry’s arms and leaned away so she could see her face. “Are you happy about it?”
Merry grinned. “Very. We both are. We want you to be the baby’s godmother.”
“Then I’m over the moon.” She glanced around the restaurant and noticed people were staring at them. “Hey, it’s not every day you find out you’re going to be a godmother.” People smiled and returned to their own conversations. “Can you teach the baby to call me Auntie Roz?”
“Well, not right away. Maybe when he or she learns to talk.”
Roz laughed and went back to her chair.
“What were you going to tell me? What’s the blessing we share?” Merry asked.
“Oh, yeah, in all the excitement I almost forgot what we were talking about. Well, apparently wolves mate for life just as falcons do, so no more losing the latest guy to someone skinnier than me.”
Merry looked at the ceiling. “Hallelujah!”
Roz grinned. “Let’s raise our water glasses in a toast.”
