Sam invited Mercedes out to the farm for some of those horseback riding lessons he'd promised her along with a home cooked meal. Unfortunately, his day had not gone as smoothly as planned and he was still stuck in his office, currently rubbing at his temples as he tried to get his work done. He'd texted his family to direct Mercedes back here if she arrived before he finished and he was just doing everything in his power to concentrate.
Mercedes was excited. She and Sam were official, and she couldn't be happier. Though she had a heavy caseload, she was able to get out on time, to meet Sam at his ranch. She brought her change of clothes to work and was now slipping into a pair of Jeans, and an off the shoulder "Horseback riding is the new sexy" shirt. Adding a pair of boots she made her way to Sam's farm. Greeting his mom and Stevie, she happily followed Stevie to Sam's office. "Hey handsome!" She said walking to him and kissing his cheek.
Sam looked up, smiling as soon as he saw her. He turned his chair so he could greet properly, opening his arms to her. "Darlin', you are a sight for sore eyes," he told her. "And a beautiful one at that. I'm sorry I'm running late."
In his arms she hugged him kissing him softly. "Thanks! Its okay I know you are busy." She glanced around his desk and smiled. "Anything I can help you with?"
"Just making sure payroll gets out on time," Sam explained. "I meant to get it done earlier, but uh... I had a small run in with a particular ranch hand that wasn't exactly on my schedule."
"Oh yeah gotta make sure everyone gets paid." She raised an eyebrow. "Ranch han- Sam what happened?"
Sam groaned slightly and leaned forward, resting his head against Mercedes' stomach. "Why do I let myself get pulled into the middle of this shit? I just wanna forget about it all."
"Sam I really like you, and I really want this to work, but it's time for me to be honest here. It seems like you and Jess and Andy or Mandy or whatever his name is, got some unfinished business and maybe you just don't have time for me."
Sam lifted his head and looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Cedes, no. I don't wanna be in their business anymore, but they keep dragging me into it." He stood up from the chair and sighed. "This might just scare you away even more, but..." He lifted his denim shirt up to reveal the bruise that was forming on his side.
Her eyes widened looking at Sam. "You fought him? Sam tell me you didn't fight him over Jess!"
"I didn't fight anybody!" Sam corrected immediately, holding a hand up in his own defense. "I got sucker punched while I was out checking the irrigation system."
"He just came up and hit you for no reason?" She shook her head. "I know you didn't want to fire him cause of what he did but now it's a hostile workplace and you have to take action."
"Oh, he had his reasons. His made up, misinformed, ridiculous reasons," Sam told her as he sat back in his chair. "And it was taken care of. Though I'm sure I'll be hearing about it soon enough."
Mercedes leaned back against the wall with folded hands. "And what was the misinformation?" She really liked Sam, but everytime she thought they were good, Jess popped up.
Sam sighed as he went back to his computer, attempting to finish out the payroll so he could maybe salvage the rest of this night. "Apparently they got into a row and she told him she and I were talking again. Probably just to piss him off. But it's a load of bull cause besides what you were there for, I texted her once to tell her nothing was gonna happen with us."
"Sam..." She didn't know what to say at this point. "What is it about her that makes you want to reply to her at all?"
Sam's brows drew together as he looked back at her. "There's nothing about her. I was trying to make her understand it's over. I was telling her that I'm with you and she needs to figure out her shit. Do I worry about that kid? Yeah, I do. Because that's who I am. And he doesn't deserve any of this. And... neither do you."
Mercedes frowned. "One thing I love about you is that big heart of hers. But Sam you owe her nothing. You don't owe any of them anything."
"Oh Sammy I just heard about the fight."
The door flew open and Jess ran in moving to Sam.
Sam's head jerked around and he smacked his hand on the table. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Satan's clearly out to get to me. He knows I missed church this last month and he thinks he can have a field day now," he said, mostly to himself.
Jess stopped in her tracks and eyed Mercedes, but didn't say anything for the time being. "What are you on about, Sammy? I just wanted to check on you."
"Why? Shouldn't you be checking on Andy?" Sam pointed out. "Because you see, my girlfriend is already here to check on me. Or... actually she just found out, but that's not the point!"
Mercedes shook her head. "Sam you have nothing to explain to her." Mercedes moved in front of Jess. "This is Sam's office, and you have no right to come in here without permission, you need to leave."
"Andy seems fine... if not a little riled up," Jess remarked, ignoring Mercedes except to take a step back from her.
"Yeah, because we didn't have a fight, he just punched me in the gut," Sam explained, standing up from his chair again and resting his hands on Mercedes' shoulders. "And we're also not having a fight here, so why don't you just leave."
Jessica's jaw stiffened slightly and she finally met Mercedes' eyes. "You don't even know him. You don't know anything about any of us and you don't belong here."
Jess was slightly taller than Merce but that didn't stop Mercedes from standing toe to toe with her. "Sweetie it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the problem. You had Sam, then you decided that he wasnt enough for you, so you moved on thinking you found better. Now you are butt hurt because it didn't work out with Andy and you think you can waltz back in Sam's life and he will rescue you from your bad choices. But sadly for you, Sam is with a real woman who cares deeply for him. I see the man he is, the greatness that is Samuel Dwight Evans and he is my man now. So take your sad tears, your sob story and tell it to someone else because Sam owes you nothing. So you can leave or I can make you."
Sam's brows raised and then he looked up at Jess defiantly. "You heard the lady."
"Hey, Sammy, can I get you to look over these..." Stevie stopped in his tracks as he stepped into the office, his eyes darting around at the sight in front of him. "Well, shit."
Jess sighed, shaking her head as she stepped away. "I'm sure I'll be talking to you soon, Sammy. Maybe when you get your head on straight. Bye, Stevie."
Mercedes looked at Sam. "Sam I meant what I said but you need to do something about her." Mercedes grabbed her purse and walked out the door towards her car.
"Cedes... wait," Sam started to go after her, but he felt his brother's hand on his chest.
"Let me try," Stevie offered, jogging out the door and after Mercedes. "Hey, Mercedes. Can I talk to you for a sec?"
Mercedes made her way to her car but stopped seeing Stevie. "Stevie I really like your brother. He is the most..." she sighed. "Jess has a hold on him."
"I know," Stevie agreed reluctantly. "She's done this for years. Even when they were together. And he never saw it. It frustrates all of us as much as it does you. But you are all he's talked about since the day you met, no matter what shit she keeps throwing at him. He needs you. And she needs to see that she can't scare you off because that's all she's trying to do right now."
Mercedes chewed her bottom lip. "Stevie he is a grown man, how are we supposed to move forward if he is still stuck in the past. I have my issues with my ex too but I would never give him any power over me."
"He's not," Stevie insisted. He looked right in the eye. "I promise you I would be honest with you if he was. Sammy, he's- he has this hero complex. Not just with Jess, but with everybody. He thinks it's his job to make sure everyone's taken care of. He's bailed Blaze outta jail more times than I can count. He deserves to have someone looking out for him once in awhile."
Mercedes nodded. " I know that Stevie." She looked at him. "I could love him Stevie, I felt it the moment he really kissed me. I don't want to fall so deep and get hurt." She said honestly.
Stevie smiled that same crooked smile his brother had as he looked up at her. "The night you guys went on your first date, Sammy came in the house afterwards and he told me he was gonna marry you," he told her. "When he was thinking about asking Jess, he had this... 'Well, it's been five years, this is what you do now, right?' sorta feel to him. But when he came home that night, after one date, I've never seen him mean anything more in his life." He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at her pleadingly. "My mama made a real good dinner knowing you were coming tonight. And it would mean an awful lot to all of us if you stayed."
"He really said that?" She wiped her eyes and sighed. "What kind of guest would I be if I let your moms hard work go yo waste."
Stevie nodded in confirmation, the smile still on his face. "I asked him if he was high, but... yes. He did. And it would also mean a whole lot to him..." He gestured a thumb over his shoulder towards the barn, where Sam was standing awkwardly outside the door. "If you let him show you the horses. They're kind of his thing."
Mercedes moved close to Dyevie and kissed him on his cheek. "Sam is lucky to have you." She patted his back, walking over to Sam. "I believe you still owe me a lesson."
"Feel free to tell him that," Stevie answered with a smile. He looked down at the print ads he wanted Sam to look at and sighed. "I'll just show these to Dad," he muttered to himself once Mercedes had walked away.
Sam rocked back on his heels as he watched Mercedes walk over to him. His nervous look turned into a bright smile at her words. "I believe I do," he agreed. "I believe I also owe Stevie an apple pie."
"He is a really great little brother. He loves you." She exhaled softly. "Sam I did mean everything I said to Jess about you."
Sam took both Mercedes' hands in his own and held them between their bodies. "I know you did. And I mean it when I tell you that all this ends today. I fired Andy, I blocked both of them on my phone. I'm done. I want to be yours. Just yours."
She frowned. "I wanted you to do that Sam, pretty sure Stevie did too. But not for us, for you. You loved her, makes sense a part of you wants to help her."
Sam shrugged slightly. "I guess... there was just part of me that hoped that everyone could end up happy. I thought maybe I could help them figure things out, but they're gonna act however they choose. And I don't wanna be a part of it anymore. I want to be a part of us."
She stared at him for a moment before lowering their entwined fingers and kissing him softly. "I want that too."
Sam made a happy little hum, so grateful for the fact that she stayed. "So... does this mean we can still have our date? Cause I'd very much like to show you around the farm."
"I would like that too." She stepped back. "So where too first?"
Sam's smile only widened and he pulled Mercedes in so he could kiss her, hard and long. He let out a breath as he finally pulled back. "Thought I'd introduce you to the horses. But there is one more thing I'd like to tell you. And you can feel free to smack me afterwards as I'll probably deserve, just avoid the bruise."
Mercedes kissed him back, moaning against his lips. When he pulled away she nodded looking at him confused. "Um okay..."
"When you told off Jess in there?" Sam spoke lowly, leaning closer to her. "That was the hottest thing I've ever seen in my life and I'm still a little turned on."
Mercedes smiled stepping closer to him. "Oh? You like seeing me all Diva Mode?" She stared up at him. "I wish there was some place around here we could go so you could show me how turned on it made you."
"Yes, I do," Sam confirmed with a cheeky grin. He glanced around for a moment. "I mean... there's nobody in my office. And I will lock the door this time."
Mercedes beamed. "Well no one messes with my man." Reaching for his hand she pulled him toward his office. "Think we have time for a little detour."
"You know? I like the sound of that a whole lot." He laughed as he followed along back into his office, locking the door behind them this time. He immediately wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her deeply. This was the evening he was hoping for.
Mercedes laughed as he locked the door and pulled her close. She kissed him deeply, wrapping her arms around him and moving back to sit on his desk.
Sam leaned into her, his hands resting on the desk on either side of her. A small moan came from his lips as she kissed him and the want he'd been feeling only grew.
She pulled him between her legs, pushing her tongue through his lips, wrapping it around his as her hands wrapped around his neck.
Sam couldn't stop himself from pressing his hips forward, letting her feel just what she did to him, how much she made him need. His mouth moved up her jaw and down onto her neck, greedy for just a little taste of her.
"Oh." Left her lips as he pressed against her. She moved her neck giving him better access, wrapping her thighs around him instinctively drawing him closer.
The way her body fit against felt perfect to him, like it was exactly what he'd been searching for his whole life without even realizing it. His lips sucked at her neck and his hands slid up her sides to appreciate the incredible shape of her. "God, Cedes..."
Her hands grabbed at his back as he sucked at her neck. "Sam...you are driving crazy! In the best way though." She moved against him loving everything he was doing to her.
Sam lifted his head and licked his lips as he met her eyes. "I'm sorry and... you're welcome?" he chuckled. "You make me want you, Mercedes."
Mercedes bit her bottom lip. "You make me want you too Sam. In a way no one ever has before."
"I want you to know... when you are ready, if it's with me, I'll do everything I can to make it a night you'll never forget. For all the right reasons," Sam told her with sincerity. "But that's entirely up to you."
She smiled. "I wouldn't want it with anyone else," she answered honestly. "I just feel bad you have needs that I can't meet."
Sam shook his head quickly. "Don't you worry about me, darlin'. It's been a year and a half, awhile longer won't kill me. Plus, I have no doubt you're worth the wait." He leaned down again and kissed her softly.
She smiled. "I will do my best to be worth the wait." She kissed him back, hungrily attacking his lips, wanting him to know how much she wanted him too, even if she couldn't have him."
Sam let his tongue taste her greedily one more time before he reluctantly pulled back. "Before I bust these jeans..." he chuckled, "why don't I go introduce you to the horses? So we don't look too scandalous when we have dinner with my family?"
Mercedes laughed, stealing one last kiss. "Sounds like a good plan. Lead the way."
"We probably won't have time for the riding lesson, what with the drama and making out," Sam laughed as he led her out of his office and out towards the fences. "But you can meet the girls, at least." He stopped along the way and grabbed a bucket of apples to take with them. "We've got four horses... and Chester."
Mercedes frowned. "Well I was looking forward to it, but maybe we can do it another time." She linked her arm in his. "So we have to see Chester first. What are the girls names?"
"We'll reschedule, I promise," Sam assured her. "Don't wanna be late to Mama's dinner though." He saw all five animals start trotting towards the fence when they spotted him and smiled. "We've got Laverne and Shirley. Those are my parents' horses. The light one is Spirit, she's Stevie's. And this here's my girl, Fiona."
Mercedes smiled seeing the horses run towards them. "They are all very beautiful." She reached out and Fiona nuzzled her hand. "Oh I like her."
"She likes you too, clearly." Sam smiled and reached into his bucket, handing Mercedes one of the apples. "Give her this and she'll love you forever. Now, you may notice there's no horse here for my sister. And that's because when she got to the age where my parents got us our own horse... she insisted on getting... Chester." He gestured dramatically to the small donkey that was hiding behind Fiona as he came up to the fence and let out a loud bray.
Mercedes reached up and handed Fiona an apple. She excitedly took it and Mercedes smiled petting her. She looked over to Chester and laughed. "I am liking Stacey more and more. Hi Chester!"
Sam handed off apples to the rest of the girls before they got too mad at him. He shook his head at Chester's noises and tossed Mercedes another apple for him. "He's so demanding. And then she just moves away and leaves me with him," he laughed. "You two should meet though. I'm sure you'd get along. You both agree on the stupid things I do."
Mercedes gave Chester the apple and pet him. "You have a right to be demanding don't you? It's hard work being surrounded by four beautiful girls huh?" She stood up. "I would love to meet her one day, just so we can compare notes."
"Oh, yeah. His life's real hard," Sam laughed. "If we hadn't gotten 'em all tied up we'd probably have a buncha little mules running around." He gave the girls' necks each a good rubdown. "Oh, that sounds fun for me."
"See his life is hard, he can't go off and sow his wild oats or nothing!" She laughed looking at Sam. "It will be good notes, I promise."
Sam snickered as he stepped up beside her. "Wild oats," he corrected gently. "Not oaks. But that was adorable." He leaned down to kiss her softly.
"Hey I tried! And what is the difference between oats and oaks anyways?" She accepted his kiss and leaned against him as she took in his farm. "It is so beautiful out here Sam. I get it. I get why you love it so much."
"Oats are a grain that the horses eat. Oaks are... a tree," Sam laughed, wrapping his arms around loosely from behind. "Isn't it? I mean, it's all I've ever known really. But it's home and it's a pretty great home to have."
Mercedes laughed nodding. "Okay, okay I got it." She exhaled wrapping her arms around his. "I wouldn't want to leave either. I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else if I lived here."(edited)
Sam leaned down and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. He didn't know what the future held for them, but he sure did like sharing this with her now. "Well, you're welcome here anytime. Consider it a second home."
Turning to look up at him she beamed. "You mean that? Because I will take advantage of this view, this peacefulness as long as it's being offered."
"Of course I do," Sam answered easily as he rocked her back and forth gently. "But you do have to pay me in cuddles."
"Pay you in cuddles for this amazing view and peacefulness? Done!" Mercedes laid against him a little longer, before turning towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, for sharing your life with me."
Sam smiled down at her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you for giving me more chances than I probably deserve," he told her quietly. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he froze for a moment in worry. But he'd blocked the numbers. Pulling it out of his pocket, his smile returned. "My mom. Dinner's ready," he chuckled.
