It made Sam hate the guy, even if he had given him $200 in one night. "So what happens if you do fall in love?"
"I'd give it up. If they loved me for me, not for my worth I would give it all up for love. But who would marry someone foolish enough to do that?"
"Someone who values love just as much, I guess," Sam suggested with a shrug. He heard the music playing and smiled as he opened the door to the crew bar. "Here we go. Time to have some fun."
"Yeah well they would have to love me first and hear my dad say it, I am unlovable." When Sam opened the door she took a step back. "Where are we?"
"No one's unlovable," Sam insisted. "If guys in prison can get women to fall in love with them, there's absolutely no reason a beautiful, strong woman like you should have any problems." He smiled at her. "Just the crew bar. Thought we could have a couple drinks, do some dancing, get away from the craziness for awhile."
Mercedes smiled. "You called me beautiful." She nodded. "drinks and dancing? Not really my thing but for you I will try."
"You are beautiful. Like... take my breath away when I turn around after getting by a hat kinda beautiful," Sam assured her as they stepped inside. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling you haven't really had a chance to find out what you're thing is quite yet. So might as well explore a little."
Mercedes blushed looking at Sam. "That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Mercedes shrugged. "Maybe because I have been stuck in my father's world?"
"Well, I meant it." Sam led her over to the bar. "Yeah, maybe. What do you want to drink?"
"Well you were right about the drink earlier...so what do you recommend?"
"Unfortunately, they don't offer us all the bells and whistles the guests are afforded," he explained. "Pretty much just your simple cocktails. I usually have a whiskey sour myself."
Mercedes nodded. It all goes to the same place." She looked around and stopped. "Whiskey Sour it is."
Sam wandered behind the bar and made them a couple of drinks, swiping his cash card against the machine. "For the lady."
Mercedes took the drink and took a sip curious of the taste. "Oh wow...I don't know what I was expecting but... okay this is really good."
Sam chuckled, nodding along. "Glad you enjoy. Ever play pool before?"
She shook her head, "I have not. It's on my list tho."
"Well, c'mon then," Sam urged, walking over to the table. He set his drink down on a nearby high top and moved to rack up the balls.
Mercedes hesitated for a moment but followed him. "So the point of the game is to hit balls?"
Sam laughed as he grabbed a cue. "I mean... sort of, yeah. You want to hit them into the pockets. There's more to it, but maybe we should just practice that first. I'll break the balls, okay?" He lined himself up and aimed his cue before smacking the cue ball into the others.
"Break the balls? Seriously?" She burst out laughing at him. "Sorry that just sounds so funny." She watched him and grabbed the stick. "Okay how do I hold this?"
Sam couldn't help but smile at the sound of her laughing. It was the first he'd heard it since he'd met her. "It's just a term, okay?" he teased. He moved over beside her. "Here, let me help. Your right hand goes back here, it's got the control. And you use your left hand as a support." He took her hands and placed them on cue, his body pressed gently behind her.
His body pressed against hers and she forgot for a moment she was supposed to be paying attention. "Umm yeah like this?" She held it incorrectly and maybe it was wrong but she liked being in his arms.
"Close." Sam's arms wrapped around her from behind and he positioned her just so. "And then you wanna lean into it," he explained, guiding her forward with his body. "And use that left hand to help you aim."
She shuddered at his feel but concentrated on what he wanted her to do. She did as he said and hit the red striped ball into a pocket. "I did it!"
"Yeah, you did!" Sam hugged her, getting a little rush from seeing her so happy. "Now you can't say you never played pool before. Or... the general idea of it."
Mercedes hugged Sam back and sighed. "Well that is one thing off my list. Never thought I would do anything in it."
"So tell me more about this list," Sam requested as he took another shot himself. "What else is on it?"
Mercedes took a sip from her drink. "Oh it's just, okay it's like a bucket list. I wanna learn to swim, okay yes I am on a boat. I can doggy paddle with the best of em but I wanna swim, you know? Climb a rock wall. Fly a plane, Sing for a crowd, dance in the rain...stuff like that."
Sam leaned against the pool table as he listened to her, chalking his cue. "There is a pool on this ship, you know? You could definitely get started. And I have been on ships with rock walls, but this is sadly not one of them."
"These are just things that I always wanted to do and will eventually do. I mean knocking the pool off the list was a start. I can figure the rest out I suppose."
Sam sipped from his glass and nodded along. "Well, you have a long life ahead of you. Plenty of time. I'm a little sad that I won't be there to see it though because as happy as you are about a game of pool, I can only imagine how adorable you'd be after accomplishing a rock wall."
Mercedes looked at him and smiled. "Well what if we tackled another one on my list with you here?" She looked around at the crowd. It was full of all the workers and she figured they would be an honest audience. Moving over to where the music was she asked the guy if she could have the mic. He smiled handing it to her and she cleared her throat. "Um hi guys, I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I got up here and dedicated a song to someone who really made a bad day really fun."
Sam's eyes widened slightly and he smiled, impressed with her gusto. He let out a loud, "Whoo!" and clapped for her.
Yes it was definitely the drink she had...maybe a little bit Sam. Closing her eyes she took a breath and began to sing "Ain't no way".
Sam stood, still leaning against the pool table, with a huge grin on his face. She was absolutely amazing. He whistled for her, surprisingly proud of someone he'd only just met today.
Mercedes didn't know why but seeing Sam out there, cheering her on it just made her want to sing harder, better. By the end of the song she was surprised at the applause she had gotten. Blushing she moved over to Sam.
Sam laughed with delight, still clapping for her as she walked back over to him. "That was amazing!" he declared. "You should be doing that everywhere."
Mercedes shook her head. "Uh no I am good just doing it here. Though I did love the applause,."
"You sounded incredible. They'd love you whether they were drunk or not," Sam laughed. "Tonight's been a big night for you, huh?"
Mercedes blushed. "Yeah tonight has been a night of surprises for sure. Thank you for giving this to me."
"Hey, you did that all on your own," Sam reminded her, gesturing to the spot she'd just belted out the song in. "See what happens when you let go a little bit?"
"Yeah I let go a lot there... but I see what you mean. I guess I just have to let myself enjoy things don't I?"
"You'll definitely have a lot more fun that way." Sam shrugged as he took a drink. "If you spend your whole life being angry at your circumstances, you're really just letting them win, aren't you?"
Mercedes bit her bottom lip, he made sense. "It's still hard but I get it."
Sam nodded in understanding. "It's a big change. Not gonna happen overnight, but you already did some pretty awesome things just tonight alone. And even little things you do just to make yourself happy are a big deal."
Mercedes shook her head. "Why are you doing this for me? You could have just let me jump."
Sam frowned at that idea. "What kind of person would that make me? Would you have done if that if the roles were reversed?"
She shook her head. "No, I wouldn't have let you jump."
"Exactly. I know you're surrounded by some not so great people, but not everyone out there is like that," Sam told her.
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Sam." She said softly.
One side of Sam's mouth quirked up in a crooked smile and a slight blush crept up on his cheeks. "Happy to help. Would you care to dance?"
She nodded holding her hand out to his. "I would love to dance."
Sam led her to an open area as the music played and rested his hand on her waist. "You know it's taking everything I have in me not to tell off your parents and that guy during dinner. Here's hoping I make it through the week."
"Thats my life 24/7. I envy my brother, he got out." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I appreciate you wanting to do that for me though."
"Nobody should be talked to or about that way," Sam insisted, shaking his head. "Especially someone as incredible as you."
Mercedes blushed. "I'm really not all that great. You on the other hand. You are a really great guy Sam."
"Easy for both of us to say after knowing each other for a day, I guess," Sam pointed out as they danced. "But I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character since I see so many people."
She nodded. "True, I guess I just... I have been kinda verbally beat down so much it makes you wonder if it's all true."
Sam frowned at that, hating the idea that she would believe the things he'd heard them say about her. "Don't let them win, Mercedes. You deserve so much more than that."
She smiled softly. "Thank you Sam, thank you alot for that."
"My pleasure," Sam whispered. His eyes met hers and he just stared at her for a moment, his heart beating a little faster.
There was something about his eyes about the way he looked at her. She felt like he saw her in a way no one ever did. As the music continued she found it hard not to blush at his gaze, not to want to kiss him.
Sam moved in a little closer, his forehead resting against hers, and got lost in the moment. He knew he could get himself in plenty of trouble getting this close with a passenger, but he had a strange feeling this one would be worth it.
Her eyes closed as he laid his head against hers. No one ever made her feel relevant and heard like Sam. The music stopped but she wasn't ready to let him go.
Sam guided her carefully over to the side of the room and leaned against the wall. "Did you have a good night?"
"I did, kinda sad its winding down. Did you have a good night?"
Sam nodded along. "I had an amazing night. Best one I've had in a long time."
Mercedes smiled. Do you want to walk me to my Quarters?"
"Ummm..." He did very much want to even though he knew he shouldn't be. But it was fairly late and his superiors were probably in their own rooms for the night. "I'd love to."
She smiled leading the way for him to walk her to her room. "How long have you been working here?"
"Here in the ocean?" Sam chuckled as he tucked his hands in his pockets. "I've been working cruises for almost three years now."
"Wow, you must really like it." She said as they made their way. "Does your family miss you when you are gone? Your girlfriend?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't hate it and I'm good at it. And, like I said, I get to see a little more of the world," he explained. "And, yes, they do, but I visit them pretty often. And, no, because she doesn't exist."
Mercedes nodded. "Well I am sure they love you and are just happy you enjoy what you do." It was weird saying it but seeing how Sam was she figured his family was that way.
"They do. And I've got Blaine. We always do our best to get placed together, so they know I'm not completely on my own."
"Blaine, is he the one with you earlier, when I lost my hat?"
Sam nodded. "Yep. We met on one of the cruises and hit it off and we've been best friends ever since," he told her. "And we got our roommate request this trip, so that's cool."
"That's really great. Do you already know where you are going after this cruise ends?"
"I won't have another gig for a couple weeks unless someone's needed last minute, so I'll either stay at Blaine's place or go back to Tennessee for a visit. Haven't decided for sure yet. What's next for you?"
Mercedes frowned. "If I follow my dads plan, once we get back to land, I will be engaged and planning my wedding."
Sam stopped in his tracks and stared at her. "Wedding? You're gonna marry that asshole?"
She turned towards him. "That is the plan. And until right this moment I figured it was the best option for my life. Marry him let him have his life and I have mine...but I just don't see that working now."
"And what's different now?" Sam asked curiously.
"You." She blushed and started walking again.
Sam tried to hide back the smile that snuck up on his face, but it was impossible. He took a moment before jogging to catch up with her. "Me, huh?"
"Don't let it go to your head." She reached her door and smiled pulling out her key. "This is me."
Sam glanced up and down the hall to make sure no one was around before leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Goodnight, Mercedes. I'll see you tomorrow."
Mercedes turned to her door but stopped. "I don't suppose you want to come in just for a moment? Make sure there are no sea creatures lurking?" It was a lame attempt but she had to try.
Sam grinned again, rocking back on his heels. He was digging himself into a deeper hole of danger, but he didn't want to stop. "Are you asking me to check your room, Ma'am? Cause it would be no problem at all."
"Oh yes sir as a member of the crew I am sure its apart of your job to make sure my room is properly umm checked." she had no idea what she was saying but it sounded official enough. Someone walked by looking at her.
"Ma'am is everything okay?"
"Yes, I seem to be in need of someone to check my room and I was asking this ummm crew man to help." She really needed to work on her demanding voice.
"She saw a spider," Sam added, giving the guy a look.
"Why aren't you in uniform?" he questioned.
Sam's eyebrows went up for a moment. "I'm off duty, but she remembered me from earlier. Just trying to help out."
Mercedes turned to the guy. "I do hope it's not a problem I have a phobia of spiders. My father Percy Jones says that I need to get it under control Anyways I went all the way down to what I thought was the dining cart but turned out to be the lower deck and ran into our waiter. I was so relieved I practically dragged him up here to get it for me and he didn't even complain. I will have to tell my father of how amazing your staff is."
The man sighed and gave a nod. "Fine, but be quick about it and get back to your quarters," he told Sam. "If there's anything else, Ma'am, you can let me know personally. Just dial 1 on your room phone."
Mercedes smiled. "What is your name? I just need to know who to thank when speaking to my dad and the captain tomorrow."
"Justin Roberts, Ma'am. I'll be on duty the rest of the night. You have a good night now."
Sam turned and rolled his eyes so only Mercedes could see him, glancing over his shoulder with a smile as the guy walked away.
Mercedes laughed opening the door. "See your boss wants you to come into my room too."
"He is not my boss, thank god," Sam insisted as he followed her in. "Different department. I mean, technically he's higher ranking than me, but I barely see the guy."
Mercedes nodded and shut the door behind them. "So you should check under my bed... I think there is something there."
"Are we still playing the game or... do you actually want me to look under your bed?" Sam asked in confusion.
"Kinda really want you to look under the bed I hype myself up about a sea creature."
Sam couldn't help but laugh as he moved to her bed. "If a sea creature was under your bed, it'd be dead. They kind of... need to be in the sea," he pointed out. He got down on his hands and knees and checked for her though.
Mercedes smiled. "Didn't think of it like that."
He may have stayed bent over a tiny bit longer than necessary, but he would never admit such a thing. Soon enough, he stood tall again and smiled at her. "No sea creatures or crawly creatures."
Mercedes couldn't help but enjoy the view. When Sam stood she smiled. "My hero, now I must reward you." She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.
Sam was admittedly surprised, but also not disappointed in the least. He smiled at her and found himself at a loss for words. "Oh, um... thank you," he chuckled nervously.
Mercedes pulled back. "Was that too much? I am sorry."
Sam shook his head quickly. "No, it's not... I liked it a lot," he assured her. "I also don't want your father or future fiance to, you know... put a hit out on me." Though was was pretty damn sure that future fiance wasn't alone right now either.
Mercedes smiled. "Don't worry, I think you are safe. If you wanted to kiss me back you would be safe from them knowing that too."
Sam gave her a crooked smile before stepping in close again and leaning down. He pressed his lips to hers gently and let his eyes slipped closed so he could memorize the moment.
Leaning up she accepted his liss. In that moment she was a girl and he was a boy. And it was perfect. Hands going to his side she pressed closer to him.
Sam let out a small, pleased little sound as his hands came up to cup her face. He was definitely in trouble, but it was exactly where he wanted to be.
Never in her life did she feel this feeling. The kiss moved her without even trying. She moved them towards her bed, pulling him down with her.
Sam was admittedly a little surprised at how forward she was being. Not that he didn't enjoy it, he certainly did. "We so shouldn't be doing this," he muttered between kisses.
Wrapping her arms around him as she pulled him on top of her she shook her head. "Why not?" Her lips went to his neck, sucking below his ear.
Sam gasped, his fingers grasping at the blanket beneath her. She was very, very good. "Well... technically it could get me fired if anyone finds out," he explained, though he kept right on kissing her.
Mercedes pulled away and looked at him. "Well I'm not telling a soul so unless you blab I think you are safe."
Sam nodded slowly, licking his lips as he looked into her eyes. "So... our little secret then?"
Mercedes nodded pulling him closer and smiling. "Or big secret in your case." She teased.
"Shhh." Sam laughed softly as he moved back over her and began kissing her again. His tongue pressed gently past her lips as his knee moved between hers.
Mercedes shivered kissing him back. Her hands went to his neck, wrapping around it as her lips moved back to his neck.
Sam paused and propped himself up on his elbow, looking down at her. "Just to be sure... though it probably wouldn't stop me anyway, you're not one of the girls who gets off on seducing the help, right?"
Mercedes laughed. "Girls do that?" She leaned into him. "I don't get off seducing people but right now I want to get off on you."
"Girls do all kindsa tricky things," Sam chuckled. He met her eyes though and he knew somehow she was sincere in all this. This moment wasn't planned by either of them, but it was exactly where they both wanted to be. He moaned slightly at her words and claimed her lips again.
tbc...
