Hi guys here is another update for you, I hope you enjoy and let me know your thoughts. Stay Blessed and review.
"You know you owe Mercedes an apology, and you aren't going to sleep until you give it to her."
Sam scowled and let himself into the suite at the hotel. His brothers and sister said the same thing in various ways since they left him at the restaurant. That really didn't bother him, it was the embarrassment on Mercedes face that did it. He wished he could recall the words the moment they were out.
She had tucked her head and left. Sam hadn't even been aware that he picked her up until Simon pointed it out, he had never manhandled a woman before. He was still in shock by his actions when a text came in telling him the keys were waiting at the front desk. Simon chastised him with a look then followed Mercedes to the door, Quinn had been right behind him. Stevie and Stacy weren't shy on telling him exactly what they thought. Yet he couldn't explain what happened.
Stevie told him that the pressure was getting to him and he was losing it. And he should find a woman and do it fast.
Sam didn't want a woman, he tossed his bag on the bed and went out his door across the path to where Mercedes was. Unhooking the gate he frowned. She needed better security,anyone could just come over and attack her. At least the small porch was well lit, with a clear view from the peephole.
The stone path to his right lead to a table and chairs surrounded by flowers and Sam could see Mercedes sitting there after a long day, enjoying the peace, she certainly didn't need him adding to her stress.
Feeling worse, Sam rang the doorbell, then shoved his hands in his pocket.. A few moments later the door opened and Mercedes stood staring up to him. He sighed running his hand through his hair. "I am sorry, I don't know what got into me."
Wrapping her arms around herself she sighed. "Forget it."
"I can't." He stepped closer causing her to step back. "Mercedes, I wouldn't hurt you."
"Of course you wouldn't Sam." she said wide eyes.
"You backed away from me."
"I'm not dressed." she whispered softy.
It was then Sam let his gaze fall to the long silk robe that was belted at the waist. Seeing the material hug her curves, his body stirred, but he had other things on his mind at the moment. "Did I hurt your arm?"
"I don't damage easily Sam, remember i used to follow you and Cam around alot. I still have scar a on my knee from when we raced across that bridge."
"If a man did that to Stacy I would hurt him." He said.
"That man hasn't been born that Stacy can't handle and you know it."
"You both have mean left and right hooks, I am lucky you didn't punch me."
"I haven't had much use for punching people, the Jones curse keeps them away all their own, she said sadly.
"If they let some old wives tale keep them away then they are not worth your time and you are better off without them."
"Hopefully there is a man out there who won't care about the curse." mercedes said staring at him.
"Yeah...well I mean…" He didn't know exactly what he wanted to say. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"Positive."
"I don't suppose you would let me see for myself." He said half joking. She raised and eyebrow and then to his amazement she slid the robe off her shoulder. He didn't expect the hitch in his breath or the sudden impulse to touch her smooth skin beneath the then straps with his fingers, then his mouth.
"See I'm fine." She said,
Sam swallowed, he had to get a grip. She was his friend for goodness sake. Celibacy was making him act weird. "I see." he managed. "Thanks for the room, good night."
Stepped closer to him. "Breakfast is served until ten thirty tomorrow."
Sam turned and fisted his hands, the light behind Mercedes outlined her body painfully for him in every erotic detail. "I am meeting Mr. Hummel at 8."
"How about a wake up call at seven fifteen. We can meet on the patio at seven thirty?"
Sam sighed, he would do anything to make amends and please her after what he did. He also needed her to go back inside and stop tempting him. Damn temptress. Hot temptress. Sexy… Stop it Sam! He scolded his thoughts. "Fine, goodnight." He said turning and hurrying to his room and right to the bathroom, he needed a cold shower.
Locking her door, Mercedes went to her room and smiled, she saw the look on his face when he realized what she was wearing, it meant that maybe she did have a shot. Maybe, just maybe she could find a way to be with him. His mother wasn't going to give up, but neither would she. As she thought about everything Sam had done for her in the past, the truth hit her like a smack in the face, she knew what she had to do to make Sam fall for her, to make him see her as a woman.
Grabbing her notebook she began to jot things down, she needed a change, needed to change herself and her approach and then she would ask Sam to show her how to get a man. He would turn her down of course but it will be a start. She wasn't going to just sit by while some other woman got her happily ever after with Sam.
There was a ringing in Sam's ears that he tried to get out but he was unable to, he knocked the phone off the hook and sighed going back to sleep. Then next thing he knew there was a knocking on the door, he angrily got up when it persisted. Yanking the door open angrily he stopped moving when he was face to face with Mercedes. "Shit" left his mouth before he could stop it and he slammed the door in her face. He looked down saying thank God he wore boxers because sometimes he wasn't that lucky.
"Sorry...I didn't.. I mean … " he sighed from the other side of the door. "I will meet you on the patio of the restaurant in fifteen minutes."
He heard her say "okay" softly as he turned to get dressed. This was a mess.
Mercedes was working on a few renovation forms as she sipped her orange just when Sam came up to her.
"I am so sorry about that."
Mercedes shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I know how you are in the morning. I ordered you breakfast since I know how you are and how busy you are this morning."
As if on cue he was met with the pleasant aroma of whipped cream and strawberry covered pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage,crispy shoestring potatoes and a basket of freshly baked croissants.
"My mouth is actually watering."
He said with a smile as she was given a plate with french toast and bacon. After she pray she started to eat. "So what do you plan on doing while Mr. Hummel works on your place?"
"I have to change out the appliances. I have the woman's league thing tomorrow, then I have to start on the desserts. Are you always up this early."
She shrugged. "I am usually up at six."
"Seriously?
"Yeah seriously, I like to make sure the staff is doing alright and do a walk through, and unless there is an event I like to be in bed by 10."
Sam sighed. "And you have been up the last two nights because of me."
"Thankfully I don't need much sleep. I can go off of a few hours." She said, not mentioning that he has kept her up in her dreams.
"Yeah Cam didn't either, like I always hated how he could be partying all night and be up a few hours later. Sam reached for another croissant. "Ne I would just turn over and try to sleep longer."
She smiled. "Is that why you don't serve breakfast?'
"Why set yourself up for failure? I would dread going to work everyday."
"I understand. Well Mr. hummel will repair the problem and your life will be as before. Mercedes said softly.
"Yeah well once this crisis is over I will still have to deal with mom who just the other day tried to pawn me off to some designer, saying i need to redo my bathroom and apartment."
Mercedes smirked. "Well if it's anything like my brothers place the the might not be such a bad idea."
"Okay I can admit I might like a better bath like I do here. But I am not willing to have to keep dodging being hit on to do it."
Mercedes sighed, Mary didn't waste any time, she found his match already. It was time Mercedes took advantage of her disadvantage. "Well I mean I decorated this place, I would gladly help you out."
"Really? Well I mean I am not sure I am ready yet but I will keep you in mind."
She nodded putting her fork down and taking a sip before she turned to him, "Sam we are friends right?"
"Umm great friends…. Why" he said and she was certain he heard the words before.
"I need to ask you a favor and please actually consider it."
"Merce you know you can ask me anything."
"I want you to teach me how to get a man."
Sam spit out his drink as he heard what she asked. Shock and anger came across his face. "What did you just say?
"I asked you to teach me how to get a man."
"Mercedes are you crazy?"
"What? Is it crazy to want love, want to be love. I have to believe that love is out there and I have to know how to find it."
Sam shook his head as his face softened. "You know it's not but what you are asking me, I just… Cam would kill me and I would let him."
"This isn't about Cam, it's about me. I am old enough to make my own choices."
"And your own mistakes! What in the world has gotten into you? I have never heard such an outrageous request in my life. Not even my sister would ask this."
"I am not your sister! And Stacy doesn't need help I do."
"There is nothing wrong with you Mercedes."
She lowered her head sadly. "Then why don't men find me attractive?"
"Because some men are just stupid." He said,
She sat back in her chair, "Fine," she said letting him believe that this was over.
Sam sighed in relief. "I may not see you for a couple of days, we close at 11 tonight and tomorrow I am cooking for the women's League." I will be busy as well. Have a great day Sam."
She stood walking away, it was time she stepped up her plan.
Sam had been warned that his place would be a mess but actually seeing it, he wasn't ready. The Sheetrock dust was everywhere.
"Once I finish tearing out the wall, you won't have to worry about anymore dust." Mr. Hummel explained. "I am replacing the sheetrock with mortarboard so you won't have this problem if you have to do this again."
"Please don't even think that. I couldn't bare having to go through this again."
"I would keep the bathroom door closed but the space is too small." He said removing the mask from his face.
"It suits me well though."
"Yeah well after being at the fancy hotel for a few days you might change your mind. I was dead set against changing our place until we went on vacation and the hotel had a bathroom where I felt like a king. Two days after I got back, I was in our bathroom tearing out walls and redecorating."
"Yeah not gonna happen I plan on being back here in three days enjoying my bathroom as is."
Burt laughed shaking his head. "Well I best be getting back to work and see if I can make that happen."
Sam had smiled and then taken the last box from his apartment down to the front, as his mother pulled up, he went out to help her and was once again bombarded with questions from his mother. Sam sighed when she brought up once again how much she loved him and wished he would consider getting married. But that he could handle, what he couldn't was when Mr. Hummel told him that all the pipes needed to be replaced and it would take at least two weeks.
Later that morning, Mercedes had received a call from Marley asking if she wanted to come to a barbeque next week, she assumed it was her way of making sure Mercedes was okay after what Sam did to her, letting her know she was fine Marley didn't believe her for a second.
"You know Sam said he would be there."
Mercedes laughed, "And why would it matter to me if he was there?"
"I am just saying, I didn't think it was a coincidence that at my wedding you were the only woman not to shed a tear when I married Simon."
"Well I mean Si is great he really is."
"He's just not the Evans you are into."
Mercedes shook her head, "Sam and I are friends, he doesn't see me as anything more than that."
"Men often see even if they don't say a thing."
"Marls I know him better than most, I also know that he is going though a lot and an unfounded rumor might make things worse."
She heard Marley sigh. "I understand that better than most people, I understand about keeping secrets. But I have learned that the Evans men are special and they are worth fighting for. Waiting too long it could make you lose everything."
"I will talk to you later Marls." She said before they hung up, Marley was right she needed to step up her game. And she knew just the person to do it. Time to put phase one into action,
Sitting behind her desk, she picked up her phone and went right to the number she was looking for. When the line finally connected she smiled hearing that baritone voice.
"Mercedes, how are you?"
"Hello Preston, I need a huge favor." You didn't waste the time of a man like Preston Waters.
"Name it and it's yours." came the quick reply.
Mercedes sighed as she sat back in her chair and did just that.