Sam smiled to herself as she slipped her favorite, oversized t-shirt over her head, and slid her feet into the fuzzy slippers Maggie had given her last Christmas. She felt like a boulder had been removed from her shoulders. Making that recording last night had done something for her, released something she'd been holding onto. She felt like she wasn't fighting alone anymore. She had Stone to thank for that.

She was glad he’d come to her when he needed comfort. It was unfathomable how fast she'd fallen for the larger-than-life cowboy. When she'd allowed herself to think about love and life outside of who she was as Samantha Covington, she'd always imagined it to be a gradual process, one that took months or years to develop. Yet here she was, barely four months in, and she couldn't picture her life without him.

She wasn't quite ready to admit all that to him. Maybe she wasn't even ready to admit the whole truth to herself, but what she could admit fully, was that she was grateful. She was grateful for him and she loved how she felt, who she was, when they were together. He brought out her softer side, the side she'd worked so hard to keep under wraps, and it felt good.

Stone looked up from the fruit he was slicing and watched Samantha walk towards him. He couldn't help the broad smile that swept across his face when she turned her eyes on him, gave him that half-grin that made his heart clench. The woman was like a tractor beam, pulling him into her orbit. He wondered, as she slid her arms around his waist, leaned her head against his chest and said good morning in the sexiest voice he'd ever heard, how she didn't see it. How could this woman not know how incredible she was? Samantha was one of the most powerful women he would ever know, yet she wasn't power hungry. She wanted peace where most only wished to rule. As he held her in his arms, felt her relax against him, he closed his eyes and vowed that he would do whatever it took to get her the peace she needed, the peace she deserved after a life of turmoil. He would move heaven and earth for her happiness. He hoped he could make her happy enough to stay with him forever.

Stone breathed in her scent and smiled. Strawberries and vanilla. She made him want to eat something, namely her, but he had other plans this morning, so he kissed the top of her beautiful head and leaned back to look at her.

"Thought we could have a little workout this morning, then breakfast. What do you think?"

“Thought we already had a workout this morning.” She replied in a sultry tone, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in question.

He laughed because he couldn't help it. "That we did, Sweetness." He tapped the tip of her nose, then brushed the hair out of her face.

"I'm talking about a workout with our clothes on, one where I get to see how good you are with all those little toys you've got."

He laughed when the biggest grin split her face, an evil gleam lighting her eyes. “You want me to kick your ass?"

“Ah, that's not what I said, exactly...”

"Oh, yes it is. Challenge accepted!” She pushed away from him and practically danced down the hall. "Bring it on, cowboy!” She called out as she stepped through the door to her studio.

He dropped his chin to his chest and shook his head, wondering exactly what he'd just signed up for.

It didn't take long for Stone to realize that he'd severely underestimated Samantha’s combat skills.

"How long have you been training?" He asked between heavy breaths while they circled each other on the mat.

"Ten years.” She answered with a smirk. "Almost every day. That two weeks I spent at Hartstone was the longest I’d ever gone without practicing."

"Wow, that's a long time. What made you start?"

"Do you want to talk, or do you want to spar?” She stopped moving and put a hand on her hip, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"Can’t we do both?" He asked with a chuckle, thinking she was adorable when she got so serious.

"No, we can't. If you're talking, you're not focusing. Now make your move."

He hesitated a moment too long and she dropped low, swung her leg around in a lighting fast movement, and swept his feet out from under him. Stone lay on his back, the wind knocked out of him, thinking this wasn't what he'd had in mind when they started.

Sam straddled him, dropped down so she was sitting on his hips, giving him some good ideas. The corners of her mouth twitched, but she just stared at him with a gleam in her eye.

"Thought I was going to be easy, didn't you?"

She dropped her hands to either side of his head. Stone saw the sweat glistening on her brow, heard the pace of her breathing, and smiled a slow, satisfied smile.

“I knew you had to be more gassed than you let on. You make it look easy, but you're sweating as much as I am."

She looked down at her soaked t-shirt, then back at him.

"Your powers of observation are truly stunning."

Oh, she was letting the sarcasm out. Okay, he had something for that. Sam squealed when he flipped them before she could protest. He pressed his body to hers, holding her to the floor with his elbows resting on either side of her head. Watching her pupils dilate and her expression soften, Stone smirked down at her. “I think," he said in a gravelly voice, “That you haven't developed a true appreciation for my powers of observation. Then he showed her exactly how observant he could be, and how much gas he still had in the tank.

* * *

"How long are you staying this time?" Sam asked, lying in Stone’s arms, trying to sound nonchalant.

He chuckled. "You missing me, or counting the minutes till your space is your own again?"

She snuggled against his chest, sighing when he tightened his arms around her.

“I miss you, Stone. I may be giving up my feminist card by saying that, and it's hard for me to admit, even to myself, but I do. I miss you when you're not here."

As if listing to their conversation, Jasper whined from the floor, making both of them laugh.

“I don't miss you Jasper. You’re here all the time now, but I bet Stone misses you.”

She stroked her hand over his firm chest, listening to his heartbeat, steady and strong. The rumble of his voice warmed her as he spoke.

"You're right Sweetness, I miss my buddy, but I feel better knowing he's looking out for you. Besides," He stroked his hand over her shoulder, down her arm and back up. “I think he's your dog now. Seems to me, he's picked you.”

Sam chuckled, thinking about the intimidation she'd seen in Norman's eyes when Jasper growled out his warning at her office.

“I like Jasper. He relaxes me, makes me feel like someone else is looking out for me. Kind of like you." Sam tilted her chin up for a kiss that he readily provided, drawing a sweet smile from her.

"Think we should eat now?"

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “I imagine so. You've all but depleted my stores."

“I think I depleted you quite thoroughly.” She responded sassily, rolling to her side and hopping from the bed.

"Where did all this sass come from?" He said jokingly, but he was loving the view of her naked backside strutting away from him, loving the way she was relaxing with him, starting to have a bit of fun with herself. Stone watched her slip into a knee length, silk robe that did nothing to conceal the delicious body beneath it. "You're killing me." He groaned.

"Me?” She hit a pose, her finger perched on her bottom lip, eyes wide with feigned innocence.

"Yes, you." He rolled out of the bed and strode towards her, smirking at the way her look changed as she let her eyes roam his body. "Like what you see?" He crowded her against the wall, letting her feel how his body was responding to her, even in their playfulness.

"Mm. I do.” She licked her lips and he sighed, hanging his head. "You win." He said in resignation. "Let's go eat. And wipe that silly grin off your face, everything's not a competition."

"Stone, my dear boy,” She said with dramatic flair. "Life is a competition, a constant sparring between two entities in an attempt to best each other. And I’ve bested you this time."

She twirled away while he stared after her. Where moments ago, he had been so happy, a deep sense of foreboding spread through his chest. If that was the philosophy Samantha was working with, his job would prove far more difficult than he'd first thought.

Stone slipped on his slacks, then found her in the kitchen, reheating their food.

"You never answered my question.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, methodically stirring the eggs she'd redeposited on the stove.

"How long are you staying?"

Stone rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. He hated not being able to tell her the things he wanted to, but it was for her benefit. And for his. He couldn't deny the weight of what he was getting out of this deal.

"Ah, I have some meetings today. Lawyers and distribution logistics people. I’d like to stay with you tonight, but I have to leave again tomorrow."

Sam moved the eggs off the burner and turned to face him. He didn't like it, the assessing look she met him with. Stone Montgomery was not a man who squirmed, but Samantha Covington was the woman who nearly made him do it.

"So, if you hadn't needed,” She did air-quotes with her fingers. "Me so badly. Would I have seen you at all this time around?"

"Of course you would have." He stepped towards her, she stepped back.

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to be coming into town, then?” She accused. "Why did you just show up, when you could have told me a week ago that you were going to be here?"

"Sam," He said with a tinge of irritation. "What's going on? Why the questions?"

“Why won’t you answer my questions? It’s not a difficult one, Stone. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Samantha…” He reached for her shoulder, she shrugged him off with more force than necessary.

"Eat your breakfast, Stone. I need a shower."

Sam pushed past him and strode down the hall, leaving him to stare after her in bewilderment.

* * *

Standing under the hot spray of water, Sam berated herself. Why had she reacted that way? She should know by now that Stone was the kind of man who would show up without notice, just to put a smile on her face. She pressed her forehead against the cool tile and took a deep breath. She didn't want to be weak. She didn't want to be like her mother, chasing a man who would only use her.

Stone would never abuse her physically, she knew that. What about her emotions though? She'd only known him a short time and even though he claimed love for her, she didn't have any point of reference for this kind of relationship. It could go bad in so many ways. The most terrifying thing about that, was the thought that might never see it coming.

So lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear him enter the shower. She flinched when he touched her, felt him hesitate, then press his big body to hers, shielding her from the spray of water.

"Sam.” His breath against her ear, his body firm against her own, his low voice, it made her insides quiver. She squeezed her eyes against the assault of hormones flooding her system. "Tell me what's wrong." He prompted.

She turned in his arms, instantly regretting it. When his chest came into contact with hers, all she could think about was rubbing herself all over him. Focus. She lifted her chin to meet his tender gaze.

“I don't want to be just a... just a booty call that you think you can show up for whenever you want, and I'll just… spread my legs for you. I don't want to be the girl that sits in her big, lonely apartment, pining for a guy who comes and goes as he pleases.”

Her voice was rising, but she couldn’t stop it.

“I don't want to be the girl who gets..." her voice broke, but she pressed on. “I don't want to be the girl who gets used and left by the wayside. I don't want to be the girl who doesn't see the bad until it's too late.”

She swallowed hard.

“I won't be the girl who lets a man into her heart and then tries to keep picking up pieces to give to him so he can crush them again. I won’t be my mother, Stone. I won't lose my life to a man.”

Sam was breathing hard, tears running down her face. Stone’s jaw was set in a hard line, his eyes bored into her, and oh, how she wished she could take back the words she'd just said.

“Is that what you think of me, then?" He asked slowly, his voice a hard edge. "That I’m going to abuse you, leave you with the broken pieces? That I’m going to drive you to take your life?"

She saw the anger flair in his eyes and realized the dire mistake she'd made.

"Stone, no. That's not what I meant.” She back-peddled to no avail.

“I think you should think about what you really meant then. You can let me know when it comes to you."

With that, Stone turned and stalked angrily out of the shower. Sam flinched when she heard the curse leave his lips as he exited her bathroom. What was wrong with her?

Sam always had exactly the right things to say, but all she’d managed with Stone was to say all the wrong things, things she couldn’t take back, couldn’t fix.