So I know I left last chapter on a cliffhanger and I hope you enjoyed every minute of it. I am so glad you guys like this story. And keep the reviews coming. Enjoy and stay blessed!

Also this chapter is updated so quickly because of LoKmAlY and everyone else in need of a distraction from world's events. I am glad I can be that for you and thank you so much for following me from the beginning, that means so much.

After the first initial shock of Sam running out on her, Mercedes had gotten up to follow him,but then she remember and stared down at her fingernails in horror. Her manicurist put red pepper nail polish on her nails to stop her from biting them. Oh God, she said to herself, what the hell was SAm thinking of her right now.

Mercedes sat back down to the floor, placing the cushion on her lap as she waited for Sam to come back. Despite the fact that she was horrified at what had just happened, she couldn't stop the laugh that left her lips as she thought about the face Sam made.

Sam walked back into the room looking a little flushed and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing.

"What in the world did you have on your fingernails?" He asked sitting next to her.

"Red Pepper nail polish… I bite my fingernails sometimes and it was supposed to help."

"Red Pepper?"

She nodded as Sam started to laugh as he pulled her to him. "I wonder...do you have red pepper in other places I should know about?"

He asked moving to her neck and nibbling before he tickled her sides.

"SAm! You're tickling me!"

She squealed grabbing a cushion and hitting him with it. He flipped her over.

"I am just trying to make sure I don't get burned again."

He said as he lifted her shirt, placing soft kisses on her stomach. She giggled trying to get away from him.

The playful moment was ended when a hard knock came onto the door and then Mrs. thornton let herself into his room.

"You are disturbing my rest!"

She said coldly, and immediately the fun mood was ruined. Sam's face grew red as Mercedes felt like she was back in school being yelled at by a teacher.

"I am sorry, We will be quieter." Sam said looking at the older woman. She eyed Mercedes.

"See that you are." And with that the older woman turned and left the room. Mercedes sighed running her hands through her hair. "Maybe you should take me home, she said and Sam nodded in agreement.

As they rode in silence, Sam glanced over to Mercedes. "Did you have a good time?"

Mercedes turned to him smiling. "I had a great time." She said with a smile.

"Good. Do you have plans for tomorrow?" He asked turning into her driveway.

She shook her head no. "Not unless you mean plans to sleep in late." Sam nodded getting out the car and opening the door for her. She turned towards him. "Would you, I mean do you want to come in for some coffee?"

"I don't think so. Goodnight." He said as he placed a kiss on her cheek. Sam gave her his lopsided grin and a wave as he headed back to his car and sped off.

Letting herself into her place she felt let down, maybe he was turned off after what happened with her nails. She sighed, he didn't say he would call her or anyhting of the sorts. She sighed as she took a long bath and got ready for bed, she needed to get out of her head.

Sunday morning came and Mercedes stretched out on her bed enjoying the stillness that came in the mornings. She closed her eyes enjoying the moment when the doorbell rang. Sighing she figured she would ignore it until it rang again and again. Getting up in frustration she sighed slipping on her slippers and walking to the door in just an oversize night shirt that barely covered her thighs.

Opening the door she internally screamed seeing Sam staring at her with those gorgeous green eyes of his. And she stood there looking like Shrek's sister. Her hair had been wrapped in a scarf and her face covered in a green overnight facial mask.

"Are you gonna invite me in?" He asked giving her his signature smiled. She nodded moving to the side and letting him in, he carried a big picnic basket and her purse. She didn't even realize she didn't have it last night. She was about to thank him when he pulled her into him.

"I couldn't get you off my mind last night. I was so glad when I found your purse. It gave me a reason to come see you."

Sam's touch was intoxicating, but Mercedes pulled quickly as she tried to wipe some of the mask off her face. His eyes caught her actions and he softly kissed her lips. "You are beautiful you know that?"

She sighed against him. "Can you give me a minute, please."

Sam nodded and Mercedes left the area running to her room, she washed her face quickly, letting her hair fall as she brushed it out and threw on a pair of yoga pants. When she finally entered the dining area, Sam had unpacked the picnic that was full of fresh flaky croissants that literally melted in Mercedes mouth, fresh grapes and strawberries and fresh squeezed orange juice and champagne.

"You really know a way to a girl's heart don't you?"

She asked walking towards him. He pulled a Lily from behind his back and smiled.

"Not any girl's, only to yours."

Brunch was perfect and the end of it found Mercedes and Sam sitting on her couch in comfortable silence. Mercedes glancing at her phone going over her schedule for the week and Sam following his fantasy football lineup as they sat and watched Avatar on cable. His hand absentmindedly stroking her thigh, with her legs over his. This felt, right, it felt perfect. Even at work everything was perfect. But then looking at her schedule she noticed she had a meeting set up with the President aka Teddy to go over her quarterly review. It came up every four months and this one she was not looking forward too. Because she knew it couldn't be Sam reviewing her.

"When do you think Teddy is coming back?" She asked looking at her phone.

Sam stiffened. "Why is it important to you?"

"Its not, I mean it is but not because of me because of work, and even now talking to you i can see it bothers you, I just don't want the shadow of him hanging over us, its bad enough he lied but-" she was stopped by his lips.

"I don't want to talk about Teddy, its clear that he can't do anything but lie I just want to leave it."

"Sam I can't what about work? What about-" Sam held up his hand. "Please… mercedes just leave it."

Mercedes looked at him and nodded. She was about to say something else when the doorbell rang. She groaned out when she stood and moved to open the door, smiling when she saw Quinn standing there. Sam had already stood in anticipation for whoever was at the door and watched at Quinn and Mercedes embraced. Sam moved to hug Quinn. "How are you feeling?"

"I have been feeling great! I ummm I hope I am not interrupting you two?"

Sam shook his head. "Not at all I was just leaving."

Quinn smiled. "Oh okay well Mike is having a barbecue, its his yearly release from all our healthy cooking and since he considers himself some kind of BBQ King or whatnot, he does this big event for our friends. The wives are there and all but usually it turns into this male bonding thing. He wants you to come."

Mercedes smiled. "Consider carefully before you accept, last year Mike was so stiff and sore from the football game he was in bed for a week."

Quinn laughed. "And another friend sprained his ankle and was in a cast. The do regress back to adolescence so be warned."

Sam grinned. "That sounds like something I would not ever want to miss. Here, have Mike call me." He handed her his card, then turned to Mercedes and kissed her softly. "I will see you tomorrow." Mercedes nodded as she watched him leave the house.

Quinn smiled as she took a seat. "Soooo did you two do it?"

"QUINN!"

Mercedes said shocked.

Quinn laughed. "What? Inquiring minds wanna know."

"Why are you so nosy?"

"Because I can be now spill!"

Mercedes sighed, "No, I left my purse at his place last night and he brought it along with Brunch."

"Oh Merce, I think you have really found a good one, but honestly I don't know how you aren't having sex with him already! I mean look at him, those lips alone can make your toes curl I am sure!"

"Oh my God! Quinn is that all you think about?"

"Mostly, Mike said it was my dirty mind that made him want to marry me."

Mercedes sighed shaking her head. "Yeah well you both are crazy. I like Sam I do, but I just get so paranoid when it comes to him and me and with the whole Teddy thing. I just don't want him in our relationship. ANd I know that's a lot to ask but I am just scared."

"Girl it wouldn't be worth it if you weren't just a little scared. But Sam cares about you and I know that you and he will work this out, whatever it is."

Mercedes hugged her. "Thanks Q, for always knowing how to talk me down."

The next morning had Mercedes on air, the sales figures were in and Women of all Colors numbers were so amazing that made even the fact she may have to be meeting with Teddy better. There was a knock on her door and she looked up surprised to see Rachel standing there.

"Rachel, what can I do for you?"

"I know your performance review is coming up and at the request of Mr. Evans I am here to go over it with you."

"Oh?." Mercedes said, tempted to ask which Mr. Evans she was referring too. Rachel walked in and Mercedes braced herself for whatever was about to happen.

"Mercedes I have to admit that I wasn't sure about your job here, after what happened with Teddy, but you stepped up and saved the Women of all Colors line and I am sure the new one will be just as great. However, there is the fact that you tend to be unprepared at times, and that little incident with the slides that we can not unsee. While your performance here has improved to the point where we will not be letting you go, your Annual Raise has been affected."

"What?"

"I am sorry but the good doesn't outweigh all of the bad."

Mercedes glared at her as there was a knock on the door. Sam walked in with a smiled. "Rachel your assistant said I could find you here."

"Yes sir we were just finishing up Mercedes performance review."

Mercedes cut her eyes at Rachel. "Yes, Rachel was just telling me about my raise. Or lack thereof." she said more to herself then anything.

"Ah yes, with everything that Ms. Jones has done for the company I am sure she is being well compensated for it."

Rachel looked at Sam and frowned as she looked back to Mercedes. "Of course."

Sam moved over to the ladies and smiled. "Great, if you will can you join me on my office there are some things we need to discuss."

Rachel and Mercedes both stood as Sam met them at the door. Without thinking, Mercedes lifted her cheek to accept Sam's kiss and she could see the wide eye expression on Rachel's face. It was then Mercedes realized that it was too late and the gossip train would definitely be leaving the station.