Thank you for your continued support. I appreciate it more than I can express.

Standard disclaimer.

Sam spent early Saturday morning, sitting across the desk from a man, he never would have thought he'd hire, as his next auto-body guy.

Brad Conner was overqualified, had just come back to Hope after a long absence, and he didn't know a whole lot about him, other than the family connection.

He had known Brad's older brother, Ken, from high school, but they hadn't hung out in the same circles.

Like Mercedes, Brad had left Hope after high school and he hadn't come back...until now.

"I was very sorry to hear about Ken," Sam said. "He was a good guy."

Brad nodded.

"Thanks. Yeah, he was."

Sam could tell he didn't want to talk about his brother.

To be honest, he couldn't blame him, most guys didn't want to get into the emotional stuff, and what had happened with Ken had been awful.

"Is that why you're back in Hope?" he asked.

"Partly."

The guy didn't have much to say, he noticed. Then again, his work spoke for itself. And if he wasn't too chatty, that was good.

He'd rather have him focused on the work and not on bullshitting, in the garage.

"You've mainly done a lot of custom motorcycle body paint," Sam said.

"Yeah. But I started out doing body jobs and worked my way into the custom work. I can handle what you need."

"I know. I talked to some guys you worked with in Memphis. They said you're the best body guy around."

A smirk was all he got in reply.

That showed confidence, though, and Sam dug a man who knew he was the best.

"I heard you're interested in starting up your own custom paint place."

"You heard right," Brad said. "But I need cash for that, and I'm strapped at the moment. I figure working for you for a while, will give me a head start."

Sam appreciated him not hiding that from him. Being upfront and honest, is what he liked about a person.

"Are you intending to leave Hope anytime soon?" he asked.

Brad shook his head.

"No. I'm gonna plant it here for a while."

Sam wasn't going to ask why, but that's the answer he needed.

"You got a place to live?" he asked.

"I'm looking into it. Not exactly interested in staying with my parents."

Sam smiled.

"I could believe that. I might be able to hook you up. There's an apartment above the shop here, if you're interested. I could cut you a deal on the rent, and you could work your custom jobs here during your off-hours."

Brad studied him, then frowned, no doubt suspicious about his motives.

And Sam could understand that. After all, the guy didn't really know him.

"Why would you do that?" Brad asked.

"Because, before you cut and run and start your own business, I'll need you to agree to find and train your replacement here. And I want at least a year out of you."

Brad let out a short laugh.

"I can manage that."

They worked out the details, and Sam showed him the vacant apartment upstairs. He had stayed there himself, before he'd bought his house.

The apartment was serviceable, had a few pieces of furniture, like a bed, a couch, and a crap table in the small eating area off the kitchen.

There were a set of dishes, utensils, towels, and stuff. Enough for Brad to survive. Anything else he needed, he could get for himself.

For a single guy, it would do, which was exactly what Brad said, once he'd looked it over.

He took it on the spot, and Sam told him, rent wouldn't be due until the next month.

With one major problem resolved, Sam filed Brad's application and paperwork. He was really looking forward to him starting work next week.

After that was finished, he headed home, changed into his old jeans and a T-shirt, and decided to wreck the guest bathroom.

He had already ordered the new counter-top and bought new fixtures, so instead of spending time at the gym today, he decided to get his workout in, by tearing up some things.

He pulled out the sink and faucets, took out the cabinets and tossed them in the back of his truck, since they were rotted out and of no further use.

Then, he got to work, chipping away at the hideous tiles.

He was dripping with sweat when he heard footsteps.

"I can't believe you're having this kind of fun and you didn't call me."

He swiped at his brow, then grinned at Mark.

"Shouldn't you be with your wife on your day off?"

"Michelle had a couple unexpected surgeries this morning, so she's going to hang out with the furry kids, for a while longer this afternoon. I thought I'd drop by here, to see if you wanted to have some beer and watch football. This looks like more fun, though."

"You keep calling it fun...I don't think you know the meaning of the word."

"Come on, man. If Michelle had gotten off work on time, we would have been at the mall." Mark grimaced. "Trust me, this is better."

"You asked for it. Go grab a pry-bar and a wrench and start chiseling some tiles."

"Now you're talkin'."

Two hours later, they had the tiles down and were taking a beer break in the garage, when Mercedes drove up.

She looked good in a pair of skinny jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.

"Lazing the day away drinking beer and watching football?" she asked, as she made her way into the garage.

"Would I be sweating like this if we were watching football?" Sam asked.

She gave him a close look.

"You are sweaty. And filthy. What are you two up to today?" she asked.

"Working on tearing up the guest bathroom," Sam said.

"Sam promised it would be fun," Mark said.

He shot Mark a glare.

"I promised no fun. You insisted on helping."

Mercedes laughed.

"I'm going inside to take a peek. Is Michelle here?"

"She's still at the clinic, looking after some post-surgery patients," Mark said.

"Okay."

After Mercedes disappeared inside, Mark took a long swallow of beer, then turned to Sam.

"How's it going with Mercedes?"

"Good, I guess. She's skittish, with one foot out of town already. But I offered her a job."

Mark arched a brow.

"No shit. Did she accept?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You're going to try and get her to stay?"

"I don't think anyone can convince her to stay. If she does, it'll have to be her idea. I just figured, she might want to linger for a while...test the waters of Hope."

"And then you'll get her to stay?"

Sam shrugged.

"We'll see."

"I like you two together. So does Michelle. She thinks the two of you are destined to be together, or some such female bullshit."

Sam liked him and Mercedes together, too. As far as destiny? He didn't much believe in that.

Mercedes was going to do what she decided was best for herself and he knew better than to interfere in that.

He was just offering her something to do, while she was here.

And hey, it benefited him. She was organized, and he needed that.

He refused to think, his offer of a job, was a way to keep her in town. His heart knew better.

The door opened and Mercedes came out.

"You've got a great mess going on in there, but it looks as though you got a lot accomplished," she said.

"Yeah, the demo is pretty much done," Sam said.

"Too bad. I would have liked to wield a sledgehammer," she said.

He cocked his head to the side.

"I'm not sure you can pick up a sledgehammer."

"Oh, now you're challenging me. Give me something to destroy."

Mark nudged him, smirking.

"Yeah, Sam. Give her something to destroy."

Sam raked his fingers through his hair, wondering what he could put her to do.

"Okay," he said.

They went into the house, and he took a look at the bathroom, then at Mercedes.

"How do you feel about pulling up floor tiles?"

She grinned at him, then rubbed her hands together.

"Excited."

He shook his head.

"Now, you sound like Mark."

"Don't listen to him," Mark said. "It's fun doing dirty work."

"That's what I'm thinking. I just need one of your old shirts, since this one I'm wearing, is one of my favorites," Mercedes said to Sam.

"Right side of my closet," he said.

"I'll be right back," she said, going in search for the shirt.

Sam shook his head, watching her walk determinedly away. Beside him, Mark snickered, there was no way in hell, he was missing this.

After a few minutes, Mercedes came back wearing one of Sam's oldest, paint-stained T-shirts, which was a little too big and too long for her, but he had to admit, she looked damn hot in it.

In fact, he'd like to see her wearing just his T-shirt and nothing else. But that was a thought for another time, when Mark wasn't around and when he sure as hell wasn't giving him, an 'I-know-exactly-what-you're-thinking look', so he shrugged it off and handed her some tools and work gloves.

It turned out, Mercedes was fairly adept at pulling up floor tiles, and between the three of them, they had the floor up in an hour.

Then, they cleared out the debris and swept the room clean.

"If I'd known it was going to be this easy, I would've called you both over when I started," Sam said.

Mercedes blew a stray hair out of her eyes and leaned against the wall.

"Mark's right. That was fun."

"See?" Mark said to Sam. "Told you."

"You're only saying that, because, you haven't had to do an entire house," Sam said.

"Michelle wants to redo the guest bathroom at our house, so this was good practice," Mark said.

"Did I hear my name?"

Mark stuck his head out the bathroom door, seeing his wife.

"You missed it. There's nothing else to destroy in here, so don't ask," he said playfully.

She laughed, as she surveyed the wreckage of what was once a bathroom.

"Looks appropriately demolished in there, and I'm not about to volunteer. I'm already exhausted, after spending the day with a post-op dog and cat."

"How are they doing?" Mercedes asked.

"They're both fine, and their owners picked them up, so now I'm free."

"You look like you could use a glass of wine," Mark said. "I should take you home."

"Or, we could all get cleaned up and go out to dinner," Sam suggested. "It seems like everyone worked hard today."

"I like that idea," Michelle said. "But we should probably stop at home and check on the dogs first."

"How about we meet somewhere in an hour?" Mercedes suggested.

"That sounds good to me," Michelle said.

They made dinner plans, then Mark and Michelle left.

Seconds later, Mercedes scanned the bathroom, then turned to Sam.

"Clean slate. Does it give you ideas?" she asked.

"Always. I want to do a big shower in here."

She shook her head.

"I disagree. You already have a big shower in the master. You have to think about your future, and guests. You need a tub/shower combination in here, so someone can take a bath. Plus...future kids will be sharing this bathroom. And you need a bathtub to bathe your babies...you know...for when you have them."

Sam thought about it for a minute,then reconsidered.

"You're right. I can totally see a double sink vanity and a lot of cabinets. And one of those rain shower-heads."

She smiled.

"I like that idea. And deep sinks, but spaced out nicely, in case you have more than one girl."

"Yeah." He leaned against the wall, staring at her. "Want to go shopping with me?"

"For bathroom stuff? I'd love to."

"Good. How about tomorrow?" he asked.

"That sounds fine to me. I can get away on the weekends when Dad is around." She swiped her hands on his shirt. "I should go home and take a shower."

He pushed off the wall.

"Or, you could shower here. You have a toothbrush here now. And some of your shampoo and bath stuff is here. Plus, you didn't get your shirt dirty."

"I do have another pair of jeans in the car, too."

"Then, you're good to go."

She tilted her head back to look up at him.

"Admit it, you just want to see me naked." He smirked.

"Purely a side benefit."

She laughed, then pushed at his chest.

"I'll grab my stuff from the car."

Once Mercedes had retrieved her clean clothes and makeup bag from her car, she headed towards the bathroom, giving San an impish grin over her shoulder.

"I get the shower first," she stated.

Sam shook his head.

"The hell with that. The shower is big enough for two."

He was seconds behind her, shrugging off his clothes and caught a glimpse of her sweet bare ass, just as she stepped into the shower.

While she turned the water on, he grabbed a couple of towels and set them on the vanity, then opened the door.

Mercedes had the jets primed and the water set at a nice, steamy hot temperature.

Since there were jets at both ends, Sam let the water beat at his sore muscles for a minute or two, while he admired Mercedes washing her hair.

Then, he grabbed the soap and scrubbed his body clean of the day's grime.

"Thanks for buying my shower gel," she said, pouring some into her hand. "Though, I wouldn't want you to read too much into having some of my things here."

"First sign of too much comfort and routine for you, I'll toss those right in the trash," he said.

Her lips lifted.

"That's reassuring."

She soaped her body, and that was a visual treat, watching her sweep her hands over her breasts, down her rib cage, and between her legs.

His manhood hardened in a hurry, and he moved towards her as she rinsed the soap off.

"Touching you there is my job," he said, pulling her against him and cupping her neck, holding her steady as he took her mouth.

Desire snapped hard like a whip inside him.

He had to leash it, but he wanted her with a need, that always made him feel like he was losing control.

When he skimmed his hands down her arms and his fingers bit hard into her hip, she whimpered.

"Sorry. Too hard."

"No. Harder," she said, lifting her leg over his hip. "I want you."

He groaned against her lips, that leash loosening just a little, and he pushed her against the wall of the shower, sliding his hand between her legs...delving into the silken softness of her.

Mercedes arched into his hand, her body moving in rhythm to the strokes of his fingers.

His member, hard and heavy, rubbed against her hip while he pleasured her.

Just then, her fingers wrapped around his length, stroking, until he thought he might drop.

He kissed her, lost in the sensation of his fingers inside her, of the movements of her hand and the taste of her.

It was so damned intoxicating. She was like a drug, and he couldn't get enough.

When she came, he was the one shuddering, trying to hold back, but she gripped him like a vise, and in the end, she was his undoing and he went with her, slamming his hand against the wall as he let go.

His breath came in rasps.

He had a death grip around Mercedes, and he was sure there were spots in front of his eyes.

And he knew for certain, he couldn't move...not for a minute or so, anyway.

About a minute later, Sam sufficiently caught himself, shut off the water and led them out of the shower.

They dried off, both of them sneaking hot glances at each other.

"You keep looking at me like that, we'll never make dinner," he said.

"Too bad I'm so hungry."

"Yeah," he said, giving her a hot look. "I'm hungry, too...but not for food."

Mercedes gave him a sexy smile in the mirror, then, bit her lip, internally grappling with the idea of skipping dinner.

Instead, she said, as he got dressed and ran a brush through his hair,

"That was nice as round one. I'll expect round two after dinner."

"What? You want me to perform, after all the physical labor I did today?" he asked.

"Damn straight. And if you can't, I'll be very disappointed."

He came up behind her, as she was putting on her eye makeup, letting her feel how very performance ready he was.

She grinned.

"I knew I could count on you, Sam."

Stay safe, stay blessed!