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Harper Holland is Christian Keyes FC
Sam was ready to throw his phone against his wall. Neither Cameron nor Duncan were answering his call. He needed information and yet he wasn't able to get any information. He looked at the clock, it was almost 10, he gave up trying to call them back, if they weren't answering now they wouldn't answer in ten minutes. He would check on the restaurant then he would get to the computer in his office and get as much information as he could. Halfway out the door he was hit with a genius thought. He pulled his phone back out calling the Hotel.
"Casa de Serenidad, House of Serenity, Good Evening may I help you?"
"Is Ms. Jones in?"
"Can I ask who is calling?"
He stopped speaking for a moment, there was no way he was going to tell her who he was so she could tell Mercedes.
"A guest."
"Your room number please?"
"Never-mind." He said as he hung up the phone. He would do a run through at the restaurant and then go check for himself. That man better not be in her room, Sam would kill him before he let him take advantage of her.
Mercedes couldn't hide the smile from her face, she knew Sam was not happy about her date. Her plan was working, plus Sunshine called her saying a man who claimed to be a guest called looking for her. She knew it was Sam when she said he hung up instead of giving his room number. She didn't miss the look of anger on his face when she saw him look at Preston. That was rage mixed with jealousy. She was deep in thought when someone knocked on her door. Walking to the door she was still in the black form fitting dress she wore to dinner, it was the only dressy piece of clothing she owned, and she bought it on a whim a few years back. She opened the door to see Sam standing there.
"Sam, what are you doing here? Is everything okay with the restaurant?"
"You working?"
"Why? She asked cautiously.
Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. "Is your date here?"
"Sam why are you here?"
"Oh your date left before I could get his card, I know someone who might like to take his job offer."
"And that's the only reason?"
"What other reason would there be? SO is he here?"
"I am sorry Sam, but Preston wanted to hire you, not his friend, it would be wrong of me to ask him about giving you any information."
"Why don't you let him tell me that for himself?"
"Good night Sam."
She said closing the door behind her. She looked at him through the peephole, he stood at her door for a few moments, raising his hand and dropping it back down. She was tempted to open the door, but she didn't. She was playing a dangerous game, he could very well get upset and never speak to her again, but she was running out of time.
Sam stood in front of the crowd as he prepared to show them how to cook. Though many volunteer to teach cooking classes, Sam went a step forwards auctioning things off so that the proceeds can go back to the Women's League, because the women in town knew Sam was "on the market" they made up the majority of the group.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are going to prepare Cornish hens, green beans and potatoes, spinach salad with honey mustard Vinaigrette and Strawberry Cheesecake. Finally, we will select a wine that goes with the meal. No matter how good the meal tastes, the win makes the meal. Once we are done cooking and eating we will have the silent auction for everything you see to the left of me."
Liza raised her hand. "If I am the top bidder will you come over and be my personal chef?"
"I will tell you what." He said to the room that filled with laughter. "I will be happy to give cooking instructions to the highest bidder."
After that announcement several women got up to go to the silent auction table and placed additional bids. Mary smiled brightly. "That's it, Ladies, you get to help others and there is no better cook than Sam."
He knew it was for charity but he cringed at the thought of those women thinking they had a chance. He just prayed the highest bidder was a married woman.
Stevie stood up and smiled. "I do not cook, like at all but I would happily come over and sample a meal cooked by the next to the highest bidder.
Sam smiled towards his brother, thanking him for throwing himself prey to the hungry women, and his confession caused even more women to stand up and walk to the table.
Stacy stood up decided to add her two sense, this was for a great cause. "Men in the audience, i know you guys can cook, don't let the women have all the great stuff."
Stanley Stevens a balding man of sixty plus years and owner of a pawn shop stood, "Does that mean if a man wins you will cook for him?"
"Only if he signs a medical waiver cause we all know Stacy can not cook." Stevie teased. Rolling her eyes stacy smiled at the older man.
"How about if you win I will let you cook for me. Like Stevie my talent lies outside the kitchen. Plus with a mom like ours and Chef like Sam, why learn? Just ask my dad."
Dwight shook his head staying seated, he was not touching none of that.
The men quickly joined the ladies and began signing up.
"If you guys will have a seat we can proceed." Sam said moving to the front.
The guest all too a seat and just as Sam was about to start his lesson the door opened and Mercedes walked in, Sam smiled until he realized that she wasn't alone.
The man she was with wore a black three piece suit, white shirt and and tie, he could see that smile on Mercedes face looking at him like she actually cared what he had to say.
His hand on her lower back and he was standing way to close to her for Sam's liking. He looked over to Stacy but refrained from asking her what she thought about him, she was great at reading guys. Sam caught the gleam in Stacy's eyes and knew what it meant. The man looked like a businessman and the fact that his sister was practically drooling at him meant he had money and she was going to try and sell him something.
"Sam we are ready when you are."
Sam didn't even bother looking at his mother, she would see right through him and know something was wrong, but then she would get the wrong idea as to why he was worried about Mercedes.
"Okay well I have already prepared the meals for us, but lets see how you go from this." He pointed to the table with ingredients.
"To that." he said pointing to the food being placed on a buffet style table by two of his wait staff.
He picked up the Cornish Hen. "Seasoning is vital and the key. Because let's be honest if you want spice in your life, you need it in food as well."
"I know that's right."
The voice had come from the back and Sam knew it was from the man Mercedes was with before he heard her giggle. It was in that moment Sam realized it was going to be a long night.
Mercedes however was annoyed for a different reason than Sam, it seemed she was the center of attention, or rather her dinner date Harper Holland was. He was almost as popular as Sam and Stevie were. And that was saying a lot.
Mercedes' meal grew cold as she was interrupted over and over to introduce Harpera to yet another woman. Mercedes was truly impressed by him, Preston had chosen Mercedes new man well. He was gracious but made sure the women knew he was there for Mercedes and she alone. After Liza left Mercedes picked up her fork to eat but stopped seeing Stacy walk towards them.
"Here comes trouble."
Harper looked over and saw Stacy and nodded with a grin that said he was ready for some fun.
"Hello Mercedes, I am glad to see you here again this year." Stacy turned her attention to Harper. "I don't think we have met, I am Stacy Evans."
"Harper Holland." He said standing and taking her hand in his.
"Hello Mr. Holland, I hope you are enjoying the meal. My brother is an amazing chef."
"Please call me Harper, and yes the meal is excellent, but then again Mercedes said it would be."
Stacy leaned in closer to him. "Maybe while you are here, you will get a chance to see his restaurant."
"I wish I could but I am flying back to Boston tomorrow Morning."
"I see, well that is our loss then. Don't let me keep you from your meal." She shook his hand once more and he held it longer than he should have and watched as Stacy walked away. Mercedes kicked him under the table and it startled him as fear came over him.
"Preston will kill me if i mess this up. I'm sorry, you aren't gonna tell him are you?"
"Not if you redeem yourself." Mercedes said.
Harper nodded scooting closer to her. "Consider it done. Too bad you only have eyes form Sam or I would be lingering after you and not all these other women."
"Please we both know you are not the settling down type."
"True, too many choices."
Stacy pulled her chair out and sat down next to her brothers. She sighed. "Well that was a bust."
"What do you mean?" Sam said looking over to her. He was glad his mother was not sitting anywhere near them.
"I recognized the name but not the face. He is a Boston developer. He is slated to break ground next month on a 32 acre community that will eventually have almost 3500 residents. That project alone is going to take like 10 years he is not taking on anything else, plus he is flying home in the morning."
Stevie grinned. "Then maybe I should have gone over there, because he will need financial advice. I will make sure he has my card before he leave.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Goodbye and good riddance."
Stacy eyed him. "Why would you say that?"
"Because he looks unsavory to me."
Stacy laughed. "And that my dear brother is what makes him appealing to women.""
"Well then it's a good thing Preston Waters went back to wherever he came from last night."
The only thing Sam learned about his search on the man is how wealthy he was,
Stacy and Stevie looked at Sam and spoke in unison. "Preston Waters was in Santa Fe?"
"You know him?"
Stacy shook her head. "No not personally, but anyone who is anyone in real estate knows of Preston Waters."
"If I could score like a tenth of his assets to manage it would double my entire income. Where did you see him?"
Sam tried to maintain his composure but he was annoyed. "He was with Mercedes last night." He look over to Mercedes clenched his jaw. She didn't have to sit so close to him, she was practically in his lap.
"Now she's with this other guy,"
Stacy followed his gaze. "Well way to go Mercedes. I didn't think she dated very much, but it seems she is making up for lost time with a bang. I guess what they say about the quiet ones is true."
Sam shook his head with a frown, "Mercedes doesn't know anything about handling men."
Stacy laughed. "You might be wrong about that big brother. To have nabbed dates with two wealthy men in the same week, I would say she definitely knows a lil something something about handling men.