Thank you for your continued support. This is the last chapter and I want to say a sincere thanks to all of you, for reviewing, for following, for making this a favorite of yours and for simply reading it. You guys make me want to keep on keeping on. I learn so much from your reviews and they spark many ideas in my mind. THANK YOU!

Standard disclaimer.

It was only an hour into the Winter Fund-raiser Gala, and Mercedes' face hurt, from all the smiling, not to mention, her feet were killing her, from avoiding Jacob Israel and Marley.

It really wasn't fair to Marley, but she had Stevie with her, and the truth is, he looked so much like Sam, it was a little bit disturbing.

Plus, he immediately wanted to know, what the hell had crawled up Sam's ass, since Christmas.

It hurt to even think about answering that, and she knew, she would have to eventually, once Miss Wilde gave up on the idea of Sam coming around.

Their very real breakup, of their very fake relationship, would go public soon.

Mercedes tried not to think about that, as she greeted guests and kept track of the caterers.

She was pretty sure, one of them was high as a kite. And she was torn between asking the kid to leave and finding out where he hid his stash.

Director Bernstein approached her with a warm smile and clasped her hands in his.

"The Gala is amazing, Miss Jones. You and Miss Rose have outdone yourselves this year."

"Thank you. I hope we can have the same turnout next year."

The skin around his eyes crinkled, as he smiled wider.

"Well, as long as that boyfriend of yours is around, I'm sure we will."

Mercedes blinked slowly.

"Come again?"

Patting her on the shoulder, he laughed softly and said,

"There's no need for pretense. I know Mr. Evans asked me to keep his donation a secret, but I'm sure he had to have shared his act of generosity with you."

Her stomach dropped.

"Because of him, the volunteer department will see another year, probably two." Director Bernstein squeezed her shoulder, but she really didn't feel it. "I shouldn't have been so quick to cut him out. And after all that he has done for the Institute, he should be here."

"Uh..." Mercedes had no idea what to say.

The director gave her another squeeze.

"Enjoy yourself tonight. You deserve it. And please pass along my gratitude to Mr. Evans."

Mercedes nodded dumbly and watched Director Bernstein rejoin his wife.

Several moments passed, before it fully sank in.

Sam was the person, who had made the last donation.

And it not only saved the department, it had saved her job and was what, had gotten her re-invited, to her own event.

Hope and confusion battled it out, for the top contender, for what she was feeling right now.

Obviously, he'd done this before he'd found out, she had been conned into being his girlfriend. Had to be.

Dodging guests, she found Marley with Stevie.

"Did you know?" she blurted out.

Marley's eyes widened.

"Did I know what?"

"Did you know that Sam had been the one, who made the donation, that took us passed our goal?"

"What?" Marley turned to Stevie, smacking him in the arm. Hard. "You didn't tell me?"

Taking in her reaction, Mercedes realized Marley really didn't know.

"Hey." Stevie held up his hands. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh my God," Mercedes said, stunned. "I can't believe he made that donation. That was so much money."

"Damn!" Stevie said, brows raised. "I don't think my brother has ever made a donation to anything, except, when he plays poker, because he's sure to lose. The Smithsonian should name a room after him."

Marley grinned.

"Actually, they should name it after Mercedes, because, I'm sure she's why he made the donation."

Turning around, Mercedes smoothed her hands over the skirt of her simple black dress.

She had to do something.

She didn't know what, or if it changed a damn thing, but she had to thank him. She had to ask him why.

Spinning back to Marley and Stevie, she took a deep breath.

"I...I have to go."

"What?" Marley stepped forward. "Merce, are you..."

"I'm okay. Really." She paused to smile at Stevie. "I just need to go, okay?"

Whirling around, she didn't wait for either of the two to say anything else.

She cut across the main room, hastily delving out smiles and kept going, so she couldn't be stopped.

She was ten feet from the entrance, when she came to a complete stop and the air rushed out of her lungs.

Standing under the twinkling white lights, was Sam Evans.

He was dressed in a tux...dressed like he'd planned on attending, and God, he looked wonderful. His gorgeous green eyes, scanned the room and landed on her.

Mercedes couldn't move.

The world around her ceased to exist.

With a look of determination, he moved towards her. He didn't walk. Oh no, he stalked up to her.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yes." She shook her head. "I was leaving to find you."

"You were?" He cocked his head to the side. "Why?"

"I need to talk to you."

She glanced around, as she took ahold of his arm, hoping to move the conversation to a much more private area.

"You made the donation," she said, rather than asking.

She couldn't glean anything from his expression, and he wasn't moving.

"I did," he replied.

"Why?" She kept her voice low. "Sam, that was so much money and..."

"I love you," he said, and loud enough, that several people around them stopped and turned. A bit of blush covered his cheeks. "That's why I did it. I may not have fully realized it at the time, but I do. I love you. And I can't have my girl not having her job."

Mercedes stared at him, unsure she had heard him correctly, but by then, they had gained an audience, and by the expressions on their faces, they would've had to have imagined the same thing.

"You love me?" she squeaked out.

A half smile appeared.

"Yeah, I do."

All of a sudden, everything felt surreal, like she was dreaming.

"Maybe we should go talk somewhere..." she started.

"No. I want to do this here," he said, dropping his hands on her shoulders. "I've been an ass the majority of my life. I didn't want to get off the playground, you know what I mean?"

"What?" Mercedes asked dumbly.

He shook his head.

"Forget the playground statement, but listen. From the night I first met you, I knew I was never going to meet another woman like you. I should've found you after then, but somehow, you came back into my life. I don't know how...and I really don't deserve that kind of luck, and I sure as hell don't deserve a woman like you."

Tears began to build in her eyes.

"Sam..."

"I'm not finished, baby." His green eyes seemed to be dancing. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of...like with those women...whom I really didn't sleep with...but that's not the point. But yeah, I did a lot of things that impacted other people. And I never took responsibility for any of it, but what I regret most...was leaving your place on Christmas Day."

'Oh God, I'm going to start bawling.' "Sam, it's okay. We can..."

"It wasn't okay. I should've heard you out." He let go, taking a deep breath. "And I never wanted to fix anything until now, and it has nothing to do with the contract. Fuck the contract."

Mercedes sucked in a breath, but it got caught.

"I want to fix things because of you. I want to be worthy of you."

Tears sneaked out of her eyes then.

"But you are, Sam. You are."

A bit of the smugness eked into his expression.

"Well, I know I'm great, but I could be better for you."

She laughed shakily.

"Wow!"

"What I'm trying to say, is that, you're the best fake girlfriend I've ever had." He went down on one knee in front of her and the entire world. "I'm in awe of you."

Mercedes froze.

"What are you doing?"

"Holy shit!" Stevie said, somewhere from the sidelines.

"Shut up," hissed Marley.

Sam shot his brother a wicked look and then turned his gaze back to Mercedes.

"This may be crazy, but what the hell, right?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, and Mercedes immediately felt faint, as he cracked it open.

A garnet set in a silver band, winked up at her.

"I love you, Mercedes. I'm pretty sure you feel the same way about me, and screw the whole dating thing. Let's just get married."

Blood drained from her upper body so fast, she really thought she was going to topple right over.

But Sam waited.

"What do you say? Will you marry me?"

Oddly enough, Mercedes' entire life flashed before her eyes.

Which was really weird, considering, she wasn't dying or anything, but it did. In an instant, everything she had ever been and ever would be, collided.

Her heart swelled and happiness rushed over her.

Her eyes locked with his and the words came out.

"Yes. Yes!"

There was a thunderous roar, as Sam rose to his feet and slipped the ring on.

It was a little big, but Mercedes couldn't care about that in the moment.

Looking up at him, she closed her eyes, as his lips descended on hers, in the sweetest, most tender kiss they ever shared.

"Holy shit!" she heard Stevie say, and Sam and her parted, laughing, as they saw his dumbstruck brother, standing next to Marley.

Wrapping his arms around Mercedes, Sam lowered his mouth to her ear.

"Thank you," he said, and then, repeated it. "Thank you."

She burrowed her face into his chest, as she clutched his arms.

"You do deserve me," she whispered.

He slid his arms around her waist.

"Then show me."

She got the message immediately. Grabbing him by the arm, she shot the director an apologetic smile.

"Sorry about the circus. Really, I am."

Director Bernstein looked as stunned as she felt, but she kept going, leading Sam out into the lobby and down the hall.

They made a pit stop in the first room they found...a small storage room, holding the wine for the Gala. It was chilled in there, but it was perfect.

Sam locked the door behind him and turned to her, eyes flaring a deep green.

"I need to hear you say it."

Mercedes' heart fluttered.

"I love you, Sam. I wanted to tell you that on Christmas, but..."

"But I acted like a douche, I know." He came up to her and reached up, tugging her hair down, so it was a mess of waves and curls. "I want to spend the rest of my life making up for it."

Amazing how those words turned her on, more than anything in this world.

"Then start making up for it now."

"Oh, I like that. Miss bossy pants."

He dipped his head and kissed her...kissed her in a way, that was so different from before, as if he was telling her, he knew he had her, and he was never letting go.

"Think you can handle marrying a player?" he asked.

Mercedes slid her hand between them, finding where he was ready for her.

"As long as he's a player only on the field, yes." She cupped him and smiled, when he moaned against her lips. "You think you can handle me?"

In a split second, Sam had her flipped around and her back pressed against his front.

"What do you think?" His breath was hot in her ear, as he slid a hand up her thigh. "No stockings. I have to say I agree."

Her panties were gone before she could even say a word.

They ended up down by her ankles and she stepped out of them.

"That's my girl." He kissed the back of her neck. "My soon-to-be wife."

His words made her heart flutter. She felt ridiculously happy.

The sound of Sam's zipper coming down, almost had Mercedes coming right then.

There was no other warning.

He slid into her, his rhythm hot and furious, relentless and beautiful, as he guided her neck back, bringing his mouth to hers.

Both were panting, as his hips slammed into her soft behind.

He took his fill and generously gave to her, as he took them to a soul-shattering release, that left them breathless.

When he spun her around to face him, he kissed her deeply and held her against him, every so often, dropping a kiss to her cheek, her nose and her eyelids.

"I guess I do have to thank Miss Wilde," Mercedes admitted, when she could speak again.

"What for?" Sam asked, straightening the hem on her dress and then pressing a kiss to her throat.

She smiled up at him, her heart swelling so fast, she was sure it was going to burst.

"For you."

He cupped her cheeks.

"You're right, but I'm the one who needs to be thanking her. She brought you back into my life. Let's never tell her, though," he said, kissing her lips. "She can come to the wedding, God knows, her head can't get any bigger. She doesn't need our help."

Mercedes laughed, as she looped her arms around Sam's neck, happier than she'd ever thought possible.

With Sam Evans of all people, a player on the field and a reformed one off.

And all because of the publicist from hell. Funny how things worked out.

"Agreed," she said, smiling.

Sam dipped his head once more and based on the way he was kissing her, and pulling her into him, they wouldn't be leaving the wine room anytime soon.

That's it. I hope it was worth your time.

Stay safe! Much love to you and yours.