Already Freakn' Mated by Eve Langlais Read Free Book Online

said nothing, then Chris would walk away, or worse, find another woman.
    The partially folded t-shirt in her fist shredded under the claws that popped out. Oops. Seemed her cat had jealousy issues. Well, so did Jiao. How to let Chris know she was interested? An honorable man wouldn’t intentionally seduce a married woman. But I could drop hints that ours isn’t a match made in heaven. Maybe let him know I am open to cheat ing on my husband. However, she’d have to keep it a careful secret. If Sheng thought for a minute she jeopardized them, he’d have Patricia relocate them faster than she could beg for forgiveness.
    And I can’t let that happen. Not when I might have finally met my mate. She needed to find a way to distract Sheng while she explored her reaction to the wolf. First though, she’d have to convince him to hire Chris for the basement project without letting on she rooted for him. How? She didn’t know, but she’d figure something out. Hopefully.
     

Chapter Six
    Chris bounded into his house with only one goal in mind. Winning. Consumed with thoughts of the woman he’d met, he whipped up a quote, then worked the numbers, massaging them into something only an idiot could refuse. Given Jack’s mental deficiencies, he then worked it some more, just to be sure.
    Intent on his task, he ignored the pokes from his brother Stu, cajoling him to come outside and toss a pigskin. He ignored his bellowing father demanding to know who made the great big mess in the living room. Chris had, but as he was busy, he didn’t take the blame and instead pointed outside to his brother bouncing a ball off the house. The ensuing outdoor shouting match reached wicked decibel levels. Those distractions he ignored, but he moved his ass quick as a pup on the trail of prey when his mother quietly asked for a set of hands to help dry the dishes.
    Only a stupid wolf got on his mama’s bad side. Five foot nothing, she looked sweet on the outside, but she ruled the roost with an iron fist. His mother beat all other mothers hands down. Literally. Didn’t believe his mother was tough? Just ask Katie Johnson. It took her weeks to grow back her front teeth. No one picked on Meredith Grayson’s babies. Except for her, of course. Not that she resorted to violence with her pups. Often. Chris knew only too well the agony of an ear in an unrelenting grip. But worse was her subtle punishments. Starch in his underpants. Oh, and the laxative the time he didn’t make it for Sunday dinner and came home stinking of booze looking for leftovers. The worst though, her sad sigh of disappointment, the one designed to make a misbehaving wolf tuck his tail and duck his head in shame.
    Damn he loved her. Best mother ever!
    Grabbing a dish towel, he dried by rote as his mama washed. Sunk in his thoughts, he tried to figure out what to do about his dilemma. Killing the competition? A little too drastic. Kidnapping his mate? Might freak her out. He could…
    “Why is your mind churning a mile a minute?” his mother asked.
    Should he keep the news to himself? Nah, he was too giddy, and he could use her opinion. “I met my mate today.” Well technically a few days ago, but seeing her again, he could now state it with certainty.
    Crash. The plate hit the floor as his mother gaped at him. Chris ran for the broom and dustpan. As he knelt to clean up the mess, she asked, “Who? I thought you went through all the ladies in town. Or so their mothers have complained. Not my fault their daughters gave away the milk for free.”
    Chris grinned. He’d sowed quite a few oats with the ladies. In some cases, twice. “She’s new to the area.”
    “Have I met her yet? What’s her name?”
    “Jill.”
    “And?” His mother tapped her foot as she waited for more information.
    “Oh, you want details.” He laughed at his mother’s arched brow. “She’s short like you, Asian heritage, cute as hell, oh, and married.”
    Chris should have known better than to drop