Free Force of Nature Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4) by Kathi S. Barton

rather than standing in the kitchen with my mom and brother. You can bet I’d be wooing her, not insulting her about her lack of morals.”
    “I most certainly did not say a damned word about her morals. I simply told her that I couldn’t catch whatever diseases she was trying to protect me from by insisting I needed condoms.”
    Dallas grinned as he said, “And wait for it....”
    It took Austin several seconds before it finally hit him. “Fuck. I told her she was carrying diseases. That is not what I meant.” He started pacing. “She knew it too. She’s just trying to throw me off my game by—”
    The spoon hit his head this time. He started to glare at his mom and had second thoughts. She could be a bit…mean…when the mood struck her. Instead, he glared at his laughing brother.
    “You know,” Dallas said as he stood up. “I think I’ll go and visit CJ. I’m betting she’ll be a bit sweeter to someone who doesn’t treat her like she’s some hooker on the street corner.”
    “You go near my mate and I’ll tear you apart.” The words were out before he could stop them, the meaning of them not lost on Austin. “I don’t want her, but it seems I’m stuck with her. She’s mine.”
    He knew in that moment that she was his no matter what he did to prevent it. He may have screwed things up with her, he may even have deserved his mother hitting him in the head, but there was no way his brother was touching his mate…not so long as he had breath in his body.
    “Then she is your mate?” Dallas looked at him hard. “Then, brother dear, what the fuck are you doing here?”
    He didn’t know. Austin wasn’t sure if he’d even be allowed in after what he’d done. He looked over at his mother, who was holding the spoon in her hand like she’d use it on him if he even thought of the wrong thing right now. 
    “She was mad when I left. She was really mad. She told me if I darkened her door again, she’d shoot me.” Austin glared harder at his brother when he snorted. “What the hell am I supposed to do, if you know so fucking much?”
    “Whatever it is, you can’t do if from here. Go to the store if you can find one open, buy the stupid protection—and flowers if they have some—and go and beg. Beg like you’ve never begged for anything in your entire life.” His mom finally put the spoon down as she picked up the phone. “In fact, let me call this friend—oh Elis, you’re not going to believe it,” she said in the receiver. “Austin has found his mate. Yes, I know, I can practically feel the grandkids on my knee right now…oh yes, I do know. Austie would have been about to bust. But he had a little tiff with—what’s that? Oh, I couldn’t ask you…yes, that would be better, but still, it’s the middle…are you sure? Well, you have probably saved his butt. Yes, Elis, I’ll tell him to hurry. Oh yes, that’s wonderful. I’ll send him right over.” She hung up the phone and looked at him.
    “Mom, I’m so sorry. But this doesn’t change how I feel about her. I don’t want her. I never wanted a mate. Not now.”
    “It matters little the timing, son, it’s the doing. Now, go to Elis’s flower shop on Tenth. She has it in her head that she can help you smooth things over for you and your mate. You just try and keep your mouth shut about the protection and the diseases, please.”
    Austin reached over and took the spoon from her, then pulled her close for a hug. He kissed the top of her head and held her. Dallas told him to wait there and he’d be back. Austin hadn’t meant to hurt his family, but this business with CJ had screwed all sorts of things up.
    His brother came back in the room with a box of condoms and handed them to him. “They were a gift at Christmas last year. I’d forgotten all about them until just now. I don’t think you’ll find anything open at this hour, so go have fun.”
    Austin hit his brother with the spoon and handed it back to his mom. With a wink,