Coral Hearts (2 page)

Truth was, it had been his conversation with Sally over at the diner that had sealed his change of direction. When Sally had confided how awful she’d felt on Christmas Eve when she had finally had to shoo Coral out the door so she could close up the diner. Sally told him Coral had obviously been trying to stay away from her lonely apartment as long as possible, nursing a small cup of hot tea for more than an hour. Sally’s soft blue eyes had filled with tears as she’d confided in him. “It broke my heart to send her home, Sage. I tried to get her to come home with me, but she didn’t want to impose on my family’s Christmas. Damn, I was almost sick by the time I got home for worrying about her.”

The idea of the sweet woman he’d spent months coaxing closer like a timid colt spending Christmas alone sent a lance of pain straight through his own heart, as it had Sally’s. Knowing she’d been alone while he and his brothers shared the holiday with a lively parade of family and friends moving in a steady stream through their enormous log home had solidified his determination, Sage would make sure she attended their annual New Year’s celebration.
Damned stubborn woman isn’t going to ring in the New Year alone—it’s just that simple.

The first time he’d laid eyes on Coral she’d been bent over the hardware bins trying to find some obscure, specialty nails old man Stevens had asked her for. Sage had known instantly the old fart didn’t need the nails, but was using the request as an excuse to look at the pretty brunette’s luscious ass. When Sage leveled a look at the old man with knowing suspicion, Stevens had become flustered, and assured the young woman he’d return later after she’d had time to look for the unusual piece of hardware.

When Coral stood up and turned his way, Sage felt all the air leave his lungs in a crushing whoosh. Her long hair had fallen in a cascade of chestnut waves over her shoulders, framing her heart-shaped face as the sunlight caught the golden highlights. It made it look like light fairies were dancing around her. Damned if those rumors about
glowing
hadn’t been exactly right. Her cheeks were a deep pink from leaning over and her chocolate brown eyes glittered with mischief. “Okay Mr. Stevens, I’ll keep looking if you’re sure they are down there. And I’ll check with Charlotte when she gets back from the doctor’s office too.” Coral had spoken to Mr. Stevens, but she’d locked gazes with him.

Old man Stevens had nodded and then turned toward Sage and winked as he’d hobbled out of the small store.
Sly fox still knows how to corner his prey even if he’s too old to chase it.
When he returned his attention to Charlotte’s new clerk, she smiled, and his heart had nearly stopped. She’d swiped her dusty hands down the front of her faded jeans and then held out her small hand. “Hi, I’m Coral. It’s nice to meet you. What can I help you find?” The instant their hands had touched heat sparked in every cell in his palm before racing up his arm, and spreading through the rest of his body in a searing arc heating every part of him at the speed of light. Sage had done his share of battles with electric fences over the years, but nothing had prepared him for the shock waves Coral’s touch left in its wake.

Hell, Sage thought his brain must have been a bit fried, because it had taken him a few seconds to realize he hadn’t answered her question, or released her hand. Reluctantly releasing his grip, he’d let her fingers linger over his as he withdrew slowly. “Hi, I’m Sage Morgan. My brothers and I own the 5M Ranch north of town. I’m sure you’ll be meeting them all at some time or another. I’m here to pick up the fencing supplies Charlotte ordered in for us. She left me a message this morning saying everything was here.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Mr. Morgan and let’s…” it was all she’d gotten out before Sage had interrupted her, because having Coral call him Mr. Morgan wasn’t going to do at all.

“Please, call me Sage. Mr. Morgan is my pop, and you’ll probably meet him soon enough since he and Mom are back for the summer. But watch out for him, because no man raises five sons without becoming a real character.” Coral’s enormous smile had been as bright as the morning sun, and just as welcome. Something about the pretty young woman standing in front of him warmed the ice he’d kept around his heart after his ex’s betrayal, and knowing he’d been the one to send that sparkling smile dancing over her sweet face was an added bonus.

Fuck, just thinking about his ex-girlfriend made him feel like his blood pressure was spiking. Everything about Mackenzie Leigh had been an illusion, and remembering how she’d fooled him sent a wave of fury through Sage. How the hell had he not realized what a viper that woman was? She was wicked to the core. Sage wasn’t sure he’d ever been so deluded by anyone. And the worst of it had been the fact Sage had nearly destroyed his relationship with Brandt before he’d come to his senses. He counted himself lucky since he’d had almost an entire year of peace and quiet—fuck it, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough time between them in his opinion. But, evidently the rumor mill had started churning the minute he’d taken an interest in Coral, because messages from Mackenzie had begun within a few days of their first meeting. The past month he’d gotten texts almost daily.

Sage had wondered a thousand times why he’d made an exception to his “no repeat dating” with the viperous bitch—his only explanation was the fact he’d only seen the carefully crafted side of her she’d wanted him to see. Where she’d gotten the crazy notion he’d consider reconciling with her after she’d almost managed to ruin both his and his brother’s reputation was a mystery for the ages, but he’d given up trying to explain “crazy” a long time ago.

T
hinking back on
the day they’d met, Sage remembered how Coral hadn’t batted an eye about helping him transfer the large pallet of supplies onto the flatbed of his truck. She had somehow even managed to make sure everything stayed nicely sorted so it would be easier to unload once he returned home. It had been hard work, but she’d stuck it out until the job was completed. He’d been damned impressed, and told her so. Coral had tilted her head to the side as if trying to figure out whether or not he was being sarcastic before simply explaining it was what Charlotte had hired her to do.

They’d chatted for a few minutes before he’d driven back to the ranch lost in his thoughts about the woman he’d just met. Sage had been impressed with Coral’s insightful questions about ranch life, and her cautious enthusiasm for her new hometown. A few of her questions had seemed oddly out of place, and he remembered wondering how she could seem so skittish and gregarious at the same time. He knew women didn’t usually travel alone across the country without becoming a bit cautious, but she seemed oddly focused on whether or not the locals looked after one another? He’d briefly wondered who or what such a sweet woman could be hiding from, but he’d let it go.

Sage knew his immediate physical attraction had been more than a little influential in the decision, but Coral Williams was the first woman he’d even given a second glance since exorcizing Mackenzie from his life, and he hadn’t been willing to let go of the feeling his libido might not be dead after all. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t played at the club since he’d broken up with Mackenzie, but in Sage’s opinion sex during play was nothing more than physical relief. The attraction he felt for Coral was something else entirely.

During their short chat, Coral had reluctantly admitted Charlotte had rented her the tiny apartment above the store—a place Sage had known Charlotte hadn’t rented out to anyone in almost a decade.
Christ, what kind of condition had the place been in? Couldn’t have been good, that’s for sure
. He and his brothers were all pretty good handymen and carpenters. It had crossed his mind to check the stairs at the back of the store that led up to the apartment the next time he was in town. Winters in Montana were usually brutal and those old stairs had been through too many to count.

After meeting Coral for the first time, he’d updated his brothers on Charlotte’s newest employee during one of the rare occasions all five Morgan brothers managed to sit together for an evening meal. When they’d all expressed interest, he’d had to bite his tongue to keep from staking a claim. Not surprisingly, it had been Kip who’d gone straight to the heart of the matter, “You going after her big brother? Because if not, I’m thinkin’ maybe I ought to make a trip to hardware store real soon.” Kip was the youngest and the most impulsive of the five of them, and he was also a first class horn dog who attracted women like a magnet. Even at the tender age of twenty-five he had already worked his way through most of the female population in a hundred mile radius.

“You might want to reconsider that decision little brother.” Colt’s words barely covered his chuckle. “I’d say the eat shit and die look you’re getting’ from Sage is mighty meaningful—if you catch my drift.” Brandt and Phoenix both laughed as Sage picked up his plate, and moved to the sink to rinse the dish before placing it in the dishwasher. He had known his brothers were teasing but it hadn’t stopped the spark of jealousy that had flared inside of him. Hell, he’d never been jealous of a woman before because he’d always made every effort to avoid entanglements whenever possible.
But you were never jealous of Mackenzie and God knows she pulled every trick in the book to make you that way. So what’s so special about this woman?

Over the past year, Sage hadn’t dated the same woman more than a time or two. And even then, he’d made sure she understood the way things were from the beginning—he had no intention of making another disastrous decision. But even now, several months later, he still remembered the moment—standing at the sink in their kitchen and knowing to the depths of his soul there had been something very special about Coral. He hadn’t been able to shut down the sense of possessiveness he’s felt surge to the surface at Kip’s taunt, and even though it wasn’t a feeling he was particularly proud of, it had still been there.

Sage had known
Coral was nearby when he’d entered the store because he’d caught a whiff of the delicious fresh citrus scent that always seemed to surround her.
Christ, I’m going to start getting a fucking hard-on every morning when I drink orange juice if I’m not careful.
He’d wondered where she gotten off to when the ladder next to him had suddenly rattled. Sage looked up just in time to see her fingers slipping from the top rung, her eyes had already been closing, and the entire scene seemed to play out in slow motion. He’d easily caught her in his arms and been shocked at how slight she felt in his arms.
Christ, doesn’t the woman eat anything at all? She can’t weigh a hundred pounds.
He was overcome with an almost overwhelming urge to protect her, a feeling he’d barely been holding back for the past five months—but now it consumed him.

Charlotte was beside herself with worry and Sage had to smile at the elderly woman’s mothering of Coral. When Charlotte’s husband died several years ago, many in their small town had become convinced the feisty older woman was going to follow him to the grave. Charlotte had fallen into a depression so deep word of her struggles eventually made its way to Brandt, even though he’d been deployed on the other side of the globe at the time. Amazingly, the middle Morgan son had managed to convince his Commander he needed a short leave and Brandt had returned home to check on his former employer.

The summer before joining the Navy, Brandt had helped the O’Donnell’s out at their store. Sage wasn’t sure what had forged their bond, but Ben and Charlotte had both treated Brandt like a son as long as Sage could remember. He’d never known for sure how Brandt had gotten the short leave or what he’d said to Charlotte during the days he spent with her—but the difference in her had been noticeable. To this day the two of them were close, and now it looked as if Charlotte was becoming equally attached to Coral Williams.

Charlotte’s battle back from her grief had been a long, slow process. But Brandt’s visit had been the turning point, and the locals had been relieved to know she would eventually make her way back to them. Pine Creek was a small town, and the sense of community strong. There had been a collective sigh of relief when they’d started seeing glimpses of the old Charlotte reemerge. When Brandt returned home to stay he’d taken the part-time job as a deputy. Hell, the two of them still spent time together whenever they could. When the former sheriff died, Brandt inherited his position, and his time with Charlotte was often cut short. His younger brother was essentially the only law enforcement officer for miles around, leaving little time for anything personal. Sage had never heard Charlotte complain, but he’d seen the loneliness creeping back into her soft blue eyes. Coral’s arrival had seemed to put the spring back in Charlotte’s step, and everyone who knew her was thrilled with the change. “Oh my. Do you think we should call Doc? I have no idea what to do? She was fine before you came in. We were chatting up a storm. But she does seem to get mighty flustered anytime you’re around.”

The significance of Charlotte’s words wasn’t lost on Sage.
Could she be as attracted to me as I am to her? Fuck, maybe I’ve been wasting valuable time.
“Well, she was awfully quiet up there. I didn’t even know she was there.”
So I am wondering if she was even breathing.
He sat down on a pallet of feedbags, and settled her on his lap. When her eyes fluttered open, he grinned at her startled expression. “Surprised, sweet cheeks? I was too. It isn’t every day the good Lord drops a gorgeous woman right into my arms. I think I’ll buy a lottery ticket at the Stop ’n Go before I leave town, because I’m fairly certain this is my lucky day.”