Free Coral Hearts by Avery Gale Page A

frames as she worked her way through the stages of their lives. Coral admired all the different experiences the Morgan’s had provided their brood over the years. It was obvious Dean and Patsy Morgan traveled the world with their five sons as they’d been growing up. There were pictures of the group visiting historically significant locations as well as more typical tourist traps. But what impressed her most were the pictures of them taken in areas of great economic need as well. Wow. It must be wonderful to have parents willing to teach you about social responsibility rather than ways to steal from others.
    She’d been impressed with the easy smiles on the Morgan’s’ faces as they stood together, whether in posed vacation pictures or candid shots taken of them around the ranch. The pictures captured their lives in poignant detail. Some of the snapshots were funny while others were inspiring, but in her view the best prints were of loving parents looking on as their sons absorbed a new experience. Having been little more than a prop for her mom and dad during their frequent scams, Coral found herself longing for a connection like the one the Morgan family shared.
    Glancing to the side, Coral was startled to see Colt leaning casually against the wall a few feet from her. Stifling her gasp, she’d slapped her hand against her chest, “Holy crap on a cracker. You scared the canaries right out of me.”
    His quick bark of laughter surprised her. “Canaries, huh? Because they sing so easily? Meaning I scared the words from you?” She felt her eyes go wide…people so rarely understood that expression, and she couldn’t help being impressed. “Aha, I see I’ve surprised you. Didn’t think the rodeo boy had any smarts?”
    “What? Why on earth would you think such a thing? I just happen to know it’s an odd expression and really I’ve found people rarely understand it. I’m actually quite impressed.” And she was. Her mother had often used the expression, and though Coral tried very hard to break habits she felt linked her to her parents, sometimes things slipped right past all those lovely filters she’d set in place. Damn.
    “No worries, darlin’, but it actually happens a lot—the underestimation of my intelligence, I mean—so I’m probably paranoid. Seems the general public doesn’t hold professional bull riders in much intellectual esteem.”
    Coral had purposely let herself study Colt Morgan for several seconds, she wanted him to know she was considering her words carefully. “I’d guess that’s a mistake on their part. Seems to me you’d have to be pretty smart to survive intact long enough to even make it to the professional level of such a demanding sport. I’ve watched it on television a few times. I’ve always been amazed at the balance and reflexes involved—nothing is ever the same twice and it happens so very quickly. That sort of skill set is only developed after a lot of well-thought out training.” She saw his cheeks flush ever so slightly at the compliment, before she continued, “And I’d be willing to wager painful experience is a good teacher as well.”
    Colt leaned his head back and laughed. “Damn, beautiful and smart. Sage hit the jack pot.” Then it had been her turn to blush. “Don’t be embarrassed and don’t you dare argue with me. I’ll rat you out and get that pretty little behind of yours a swat or two.” His words brought back a flood of deliciously heated memories. Coral’s mind slid right back to the moment Sage’s rock hard body had pressed her much smaller frame to the wall of the master suite’s shower a few hours earlier. Sage hadn’t hurt her, but he’d used enough pressure to ensure she wasn’t going to move without a struggle. Knowing he’d essentially bound her with nothing but his chest pressing against her back and one hand wrapped around her crossed wrists sent a wash of her creamy arousal racing to coat her softening sex. Just like it is