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Mercedes Jones screamed in frustration; he was at it again. Her "temporary" neighbor was blasting his music yet again. She rolled her eyes as she climbed out of bed, grabbing her phone. She sighed; she had six missed calls from her mother. A woman she didn't want to hear from ever again. The only reason her mother even knew where she was, was because Mercedes made the mistake of reaching out to her sister.

Mercedes came from a long line of con men and women. She grew up living with people who took pleasure in hurting, stealing, and taking things that weren't theirs. Tossing her phone aside, she took a shower to drown out the noise. Every day her neighbor would play his workout mix loud just to bug her, she was sure.

After her shower, she dressed in an oversized T-shirt and a pair of yoga pants. She threw her hair in a messy bun as she walked out into the living room. Currently, she is staying with her best friend, Mike. The two went to high school and college at UCLA until Mike was drafted by the New York Yankees.

After Mike left, she graduated with her BA in interior design. Once done, she started working for a major design company; everything was going well until her boss came onto her, forcing himself on her and making it impossible for her to stay there.

Going to HR, she reported him with all the evidence she had. Still, the scandal would have been too great, so instead of going to court, she settled out, receiving $500,000 for sexual harassment and $250,00 for him making her work in a hostile work environment.

Mercedes was glad not to have to go to trial, even though her lawyer told her she could make much more if she did, Mercedes didn't want to do so because she knew they would find out about her family and her claim, and the claims of others after her would be invalid. Though when she learned, he hadn't been fired, just warned, she would have fought harder.

After dealing with all of that, she decided to call her sister, looking for some sisterly advice. But all she got was her mom telling her she should have lied, said he did more, hurt her worse, and should have taken the company for all it was worth.

They visited her, trying to take a cut of what she received, and that is when she realized it was time to get the hell out of dodge, and Mike offered her his guest room. She had been there for about six weeks now.

BANG! BANG!

Mercedes jumped as someone banged on her door. She gripped Mike's bat, moving closer to it, peeping out the peephole and seeing no one out there.

The knocking came again, and she gripped the bat tighter as someone jingled the doorknob. She backed away, closing her eyes and praying her family didn't find her.

"Mike? Tina? Mercedes?" Someone called out.

Mercedes sighed heavily as she moved closer to the door.

"Guys, it's Sam! Open up, please!"

Mercedes looked out the peephole again and sighed, seeing Sam pace away from in and back in front of it. Unlocking the door, she opened it, freezing as he stood in front of her carrying a box and wearing nothing on but a towel that barely covered his thighs.

Her eyes traveled down from his just showered wet hair, big full lips, perfectly sculpted chest, and thighs, which held quite a big surprise between them. Stepping back with the bat still in her hand, she looked up to him, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Why are you here half-naked?" She questioned, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I got locked out. Mike has a spare key for me in here." Sam replied, running his hands through his hair, giving Mercedes a really nice look at his bicep.

Clearing her throat, she sighed. "Well, Mike isn't here, so you are gonna have to go somewhere."

"Where am I gonna go? I'm locked out. Can you let me use your phone? Maybe he put it in a drawer or something." Sam sighed.

Mercedes pulled out her cell phone and turned away from Sam; she really didn't need to be staring at him like she had been starved for months and he was her first meal. Dialing Mike's number, she glanced back to see Sam staring at her with his arms folded across his chest.

"Hello?" She heard from the other end of the line.

"Mike, hey, Sam locked himself out and said you have a spare."

"I do, but it's on me," Mike replied.

"Oh…and you and Tina won't be back till tonight, right?"

"Well, we are on the road now, so it will be like an hour or so. Tell him to go talk to Billy. He can probably get Sam in there."

Mercedes sighed. "Okay, have fun with T, and I'll see you later." Hanging up the phone, she looked over to Sam and shrugged. "You are gonna have to go talk to Billy, Mike has a key, but he and Tina are in Connecticut until tonight. His last little getaway before the season starts."

Sam frowned. "I can't go to Billy; it's Tuesday."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Tuesday?"

"Tuesdays and Sundays, Billy has his…"lady" friends over. Now I am not one to judge what others do. I respect the man who likes himself a certain kind of woman, but what I saw the last time I visited him for an issue, he was in the reverse cowgirl position."

She raised her eyebrow. "You never saw anyone in that position before?"

"Mercedes, I don't think you heard me. HE was in the position."

She stepped back, shaking off that image, and Sam laughed.

"Welcome to my nightmare. Can't I just stay here with you until Mike returns, or I know Billy's lady friend…leaves." He asked, pouting and begging. "Please."

She sighed. "Fine! But we need to get you out of that towel."

Sam grinned, his lopsided grin stepping closer to her. "Oh?"

She stepped back, putting her hand up to stop him from getting closer. Which she immediately knew was a mistake. Just seconds of touching his chest had her swooning on the inside.

It wasn't that Sam wasn't attractive. That man was, he was an Adonis, sculpted to near perfection. It was easy to admit it to herself but not to him. The first time she met him, he wasn't her type at all. Cocky and arrogant, his smooth baby face was full of lies.

But that was five years ago when Mike first joined the Yankees. Every time he saw her after that, Sam would flirt and hit on her, but she saw him for what he was, a playboy. Then something changed. 19 months ago, during a game, Sam was struck in the head when a fly ball hit him just as he took his helmet off. Luckily for him, there wasn't any lasting damage, but the MRI showed a massive tumor that needed to be removed.

After Sam's surgery to remove it was a success, Sam seemed to be a new man; he started giving back and started a charity for the inner city youth, donating jerseys and gear to learn to play baseball. In a crazy twist of fate, she was the first person he saw when he awoke, and she could admit that they had a moment. But that's all if would ever be. But when she returned after the fiasco at work to move in with Mike, she was shocked to see him. Gone was the smoothed-skinned babyface, and it had been replaced by the sexiest goatee and beard she had ever seen on a man; it suited him and damn near broke her resolve.

It took everything she had in her not to flirt back when he flirted with her; Sam was the exact kind of target that her parents would have a field day with. Rich, Single, and easily manipulated by a woman who knew what she was doing.

"Hello? Earth to Mercedes?" She heard Sam say, and she turned to him.

"What?"

"Can I stay?"

Mercedes sighed. "Fine, you can stay, but we need to get some clothes on you; we don't need Mike complaining cause your naked ass was all over his stuff."

Sam laughed and followed her to the laundry room.

"How did you get locked out anyways?" She asked as he grabbed the sweat pants and put them on.

"OH!" He said and ran out of the room. She rolled her eyes walking out to the living room, where Sam stood proudly holding the box he had with him when he knocked.

"I had to sign for it, and I had just gotten out of the shower."

"You didn't think to… I dunno, put some pants on first?"

Sam shrugged, blushing. "I wasn't thinking; if I was, I would have grabbed my keys. See, my mom sent this package, and the woman knows the way to my heart. Which shouldn't be surprising, and she did raise me."

"So whatever is in there is worth walking around…like that?" She asked, pointing to his body.

Sam shrugged. "If you got it, you know? Besides, I am not ashamed of my body and am comfortable with my sexuality, so I have no issue walking around like this. Or naked." He looked at her. "Though I think the entire building would lose their shit if they saw you naked."

Mercedes frowned. "Why would you say that?"

Sam shrugged, looking at her. "Beautiful, curvy goddess who turns heads when fully dressed. Can you imagine the kind of riot you would create if you walked around naked?"

Mercedes blushed, looking down at the box. "So what is in the box?"

Sam beamed as he opened it. "My mom's freshly made ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie brownies made this morning."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie? What kind of high caloric diabetes monster is that?!

Sam laughed, fishing out the sarand-wrapped container full of the brownies. Mercedes felt her mouth water when the aroma filled her nostrils.

Sam held one up and smiled. "Take a bite."

She shook her head. "No, I'm good."

"Come on, just one bite." He said, moving closer to her. "It will change your life." His piercing green eyes bore into hers, compelling her to at least try it.

She stared at him for a moment and then sighed, knowing she had lost the battle, and stepped closer to him, taking a bite of the brownie and immediately moaning at the taste. "Wow." She said, covering her mouth as she ate.

Sam smiled, biting into the brownie, and nodded. "Told you." He lifted the brownie back to her lips, and she took another bite, eyes rolling in the back of her head as she groaned this time. She looked towards Sam and noticed a look in his eyes that was slightly unreadable, but one that sent sparks right down to her core, heating her up from the inside out.

She stepped back, licking her lips as Sam moved with her. She didn't know why but she had the feeling that something was changing, and she needed to create some space.

"Your mom can make one hell of a brownie."

"I know, right? She spoils us too." Sam said, watching her and smiled, licking his fingers. "You have something, right there." He pointed at her but didn't touch her.

She lifted her hand to wipe it, but Sam just smiled. "Now you smeared it, here let me."

She nodded, lifting her chin so he could wipe away the fudge, but it wasn't his finger that removed it. No, Sam moved closer to her, darting his tongue out of his mouth and licking the fudge before stepping into her space and kissing her.

Mercedes was in shock for a few moments, backing away and hitting a wall as his tongue slid across and then inside of her plump lips, immediately tangling with hers.

His hands moved to either side of her on the wall as he gave her everything he had to offer in that kiss. A soft whimper left Mercedes's lips as she felt weak in the knees. Thank God for that wall, or she would have been on the ground in a puddle.

Sam's scent enveloped her; the smell of Cedar and spice mixed with the brownies was intoxicating, and she needed more. Wanted more. And ugh, she wanted him to touch her and enjoy her body the way he was enjoying her lips.

All too soon, the kiss was over, and Mercedes was left staring at this man, one she needed to get rid of, but all she could think of was pulling him into her room and having her way with him.

Sam nipped at her lips one last time before pulling away as the door opened.

"Honey, we're home," Mike said, and Sam turned to him with a smile.

"Just in time, my mom sent her brownies," Sam said, walking over to Mike and Tina.

Mercedes looked over to him, catching her breath as Sam walked around acting as if nothing had happened. She exhaled, smoothing out her clothes as Tina looked at her raising an eyebrow.

Mercedes walked out of the room to her bedroom, and Tina soon followed her.

"Hey T, how was the trip?"

Tina smiled, shaking her head. "Don't you dare act like you don't know! I can't believe you kept that secret from me! How could you trick me like that!"

Mercedes smiled sweetly, shrugging. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Tina moved to her and hugged her. "It was perfect. And look at this ring!"

Mercedes smiled as Tina held up her hand. "It's beautiful."

Tina wiggled the 2-carat platinum diamond ring. "I know it was you that helped him pick it out."

"Mike picked it out; I just let him know it was perfect. And Mike planned everything, and I just helped him."

Tina sat back on the bed and glanced up at Mercedes. "And what was going on with you and Sam before we came in here?"

"Nothing. Nothing will ever happen between us again." She said, not catching her words.

"Again?" Tina asked with a smile.

Mercedes shook her head. "Stop, nothing happened.

"Oh, you are lying." Tina teased.

"He kissed me, and that is the last time something will ever happen again. Now we need to start planning your wedding."

"You liked it!" Tina gasped.

"I...am neither denying nor confirming that I do." She shrugged.

"Oh, you really like him; why not go for it if that's the case?"

Mercedes sighed, looking down at her hands; only Mike and Tina knew the truth. Knew her shame. "My mom will try to exploit him, and you know it; you saw how she tried to do that to Mike. And if Sam and I start something, that leaves him vulnerable."

"Oh, Merce, you can't deny yourself happiness because of your family."

"I can if it means doing the right thing. I have no choice, T. Now, start worrying about your wedding; you are gonna make one hell of a bride."

Mike grabbed a cookie and looked over at Sam. "Wanna tell me why you are in my place shirtless?"

"I was locked out...and you took my spare. Be glad she found a pair of your sweats. BTW I'm going commando, so you might not want these back."

"Sam, now is not the time to joke. I don't know what I walked in on, but I saw her face. You know she's off limits, right?"

Sam frowned, walking away from Mike. He didn't typically get involved with Mike's friends; they weren't his type; besides, he had his choice of women who wanted him. Then during practice, one day, Mercedes showed up, and Sam was taken with her. It was like she wasn't aware that she had the entire team and half the coaching staff sniffing after her the moment she smiled.

Sam tried his hand, and she shot him down, flat. And he was sprung from that moment.

Five Years Ago

Sam stood in the batting cages, hitting the balls as they came, showing off for the women in the stands cheering him on during practice. He wasn't sure which one or few he was taking home tonight, but he knew they were enjoying watching him in his element.

As he finished, he looked up to see Mike walking toward a woman, and he froze, unable to take his eyes off of her. She was shorter than Mike, with long brown hair flowing in waves past her shoulders. She wore a pair of short shorts and a Yankee shirt that fell over her shoulder.

Sam grabbed his water bottle heading towards them but stopped as Anthony Rashaad beat him to it. Sam watched as she laughed and pushed him away, shaking her head as she followed Mike away from the stands and towards the exit.

"Yo, Anthony, who the hell is that with Mike?" Short Stop Paulie Walker asked as Sam moved past them.

"My future wifey, that's who; she just doesn't know it yet," Anthony said, smirking.

"We'll see about that," Sam said, jogging over to Mike and Mercedes.

"Hey Mike, I didn't know you invited your girlfriend to practice today."

"She's not my girlfriend," Mike said.

"You would be so lucky if I were." Mercedes teased him, then looked over to Sam. "I'm Mercedes, Mike's best friend, and I'm just visiting before I have to return to campus."

"Campus? You in school."

She nodded. "UCLA for Design. You guys looking good out there."

"I always look good out there," Sam said confidently.

"Is that a fact?" Mercedes questioned.

"Yes, it is."

"You know your batting average is .275."

Sam folded his arms across his chest. "Yes, I know my average. And it's a pretty damn good one."

"But not the best. You realize that if you spent more time practicing than showing off for your fan club, you could be at .300 or higher. Just saying." She shrugged.

"Mike...where did you find her?" Sam asked, both amused and impressed.

"We met in high school. And she's right; you are a show-off."

"What is this, attack Sam day? I do just fine, thank you very much."

"If you are good with just fine, then so be it." Mercedes turned to Mike. "I need the key."

"Key?" Sam asked.

"Sam, stop being so damn nosy. It's in my locker, and I'll be right back." Mike eyed Sam before running towards the locker room.

"So Mercedes, what are you up to tonight? There's this great spot I would love to take you to...as a welcome to the City."

"No." She said, shaking her head.

"No?" He questioned.

"Yep, no."

Sam moved closer to her, running his hand down her chin. "Mercedes, you are so bea-"

Mercedes smacked his hand away and stared up at him. "I didn't give you permission to touch me. Look here, Evans, I am not one of those fans girls who can't wait to take off my panties for you. I actually have standards. So no, I am not interested in whatever it is you have to offer. The only thing you can do for me is keep it in your pants, and up your batting average, so Mike has a chance at actually getting to the World Series." She patted his chest and smiled. "Okay?"

Sam was speechless as she walked away; women flocked to him the moment he could toss a football or swing a bat. But this woman was immune to his charms, and that intrigued him.

"Sam, Sam?" Mike called, and Sam looked over at him.

"What?"

"What happened with you and Mercedes?"

Sam sighed, grabbing his box and holding his hand out for his key. "Nothing, you know she refuses to give me the time of day. Key please."

Mike gave him the key and nodded. "Good, keep it that way."

Sam looked towards her room and then turned to head out. "Mike, I get you wanna protect her, but one day a man is gonna win her heart, and you are gonna have to deal with that."

"As long as it's not a teammate, I'll deal."