Afternoon sunlight streamed through the bedroom window, waking Sam with its warm light. The storm outside may have passed, but Stone's curiosity had triggered one inside her that continued to rage. She turned her head to look at him, lying there with the sheets barely covering his muscular back. Her whole life had been, and was still, about surviving, outdoing, staying three steps ahead, never trusting, never faltering, never letting anyone see her sweat.

Carla had been the first person to break through all those carefully constructed defenses and Sam had no regrets in their relationship. In fact, she couldn't, didn't want to, imagine her life without Carla and her family.

Now, here was Stone, a man she'd known only a week and already, he'd infiltrated her defenses. In her mind, she could see herself caring for him. She could feel his gentleness chipping away at the stone around her heart. It terrified her.

Her mother had given her heart to a man.

It killed her.

Sam’s father had beaten the desire for human connection out of her. Emotionally, she knew she didn't have anything to offer this man, but he made wish she did. She'd never before desired emotional connection with a man. It was too dangerous. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"You watching me sleep, Sweetness?"

Sam smiled at him as he rolled to his side and pulled her close.

"I can't believe you carried me back here and I didn't wake up."

"You were tired. We've got the rest of the afternoon. No planned activities today, since we go to the lake tomorrow. I had something in mind, but if you want to rest, that's fine.” He gave her a squeeze. “I’m more than happy to just hold onto you all afternoon."

As tempting as that sounded, as much as she loved the way she felt in his arms, she needed to get some space. She went for door number one.

"What did you have planned? Something to wow me with your cowboy skills?"

"Ha! Think I’ve already done that part." He said with a quirked half smile. "Nope. I have something that you are gonna love. It'll be a bit of work, take a little time, but worth it in the end."

"What is it?” She asked curiously.

"Come on.” He pushed out of bed, hauled her up, and led her to his kitchen.

"We're going to make ice cream!" He announced proudly, grinning and gesturing to the large, round wooden tub on the countertop.

Sam laughed out loud, considering him quizzically.

"How do we make ice cream with that?"

"The old fashioned way." He answered, smiling at her.

She raised an eyebrow and cocked her hip to the side, waiting further explanation.

"You put milk, ice, and flavoring inside. Then, you churn it with this handle part."

"That seems like too much work.” She said skeptically. "Couldn't we just go down to the main house? Or go buy some ice cream?"

Stone chuckled. "We could go into town. I'd enjoy taking you there, you'd like it. But that would take us a couple of hours. Something to save for a day when we have the whole day. And yes, we could go down to the main house," He moved a little closer to her. “But with this being our only free day until you leave, I was hoping to keep you to myself a little longer."

"Mm.” She smiled a slow smile. “I can't say I have much objection to that."

"Let's get started then!" Stone exclaimed, rubbing his hands together.

Sam snorted at his excitement.

"I did a good deal of the work myself.” He looked at her sheepishly. “I keep a base in my ice box because I like to do this once a week or so. I’ve been watching you get that ice cream every night after dinner, so I thought this'd be a treat for you.”

She barked out a laugh. "Why do I get the feeling you're always watching me?” She inquired.

"Maybe because I am." He replied with a wink and a grin.

The statement should have bothered her on many levels, but all she felt was a warm glow at the thought that he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Clearing her throat, she gestured for him to proceed.

"Right." He rubbed his hands together again.

"Our base is made of milk, cream, honey, cream cheese, sugar, salt, and vanilla bean. What we've got to do is pack this,” He pointed to the larger bucket. “With ice and salt. Then, we put the base in this little pail and churn it up.”

“Then it’s ready?” She asked.

“Nope.” Stone shook his head. “Then we get to find something else to occupy our time for a couple hours while it freezes again."

"Wow.” She looked aghast at him, asked in her most sarcastic voice, “A couple of hours? What in the world are we supposed to do with all that time?"

"Ah, Sweetness. I can definitely think of a few things."

Suddenly ice cream was the last thing on her mind and she leaned towards him. Just as quickly as his eyes had gone dark and his voice had taken on that gravely tone that made her all tingly, he turned and strode away. Okay then.

In the end however, they did find a few ways to occupy those hours and that ice cream tasted even sweeter when he was the one feeding it to her.