Thank you guys for the reviews, I love readying them and getting your opinions. Stay blessed and enjoy!

Cory Hall is Brock O'hurn FC

Mercedes made her way to Stacy's office with a box of croissants, she had called the young girl about 30 minutes ago and asked her if they could meet up. It was time for Phase two, though Mercedes wasn't sure she should continue. Even though last night Sam showed her that he was indeed a man who was attracted to her, she needed to tempt him more, and growing up with an absent mother and overprotective father and brothers, she didn't really have much style.. She made due but everything she had was so professional besides her nightwear and she wanted to change that.

"Hi I am here to see Stacy," Mercedes said as she smiled to the bright eyed receptionist.

"May I ask your name?"

"Mercedes Jones, I called her this morning."

The girl nodded as she called Stacy, and then was lead to the back office. Stacy smiled seeing Mercedes.

"Whatever you want as long as those are croissants and it's not illegal I am down for."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I want something."

"You and Sam always show up with treats to tempt me when you want something."

Mercedes placed her hair behind her ears. "I need your help fixing up my wardrobe. I am in a phase of my life where I want to spice things up."

"Spice things up more than Harper and Preston in one week?"

"They are just friends."

"I wish I had friends like that. I have been trying to meet Preston for two years. Getting an audience with him is as easy as getting one with the President."

"I wish I could promise and introduction but I can't"

Stacy nodded. "In that case." She said taking a croissant from the box. "I am free this afternoon or rather evening. About five?"

"You would still help me even though I can' introduce you to Preston?"

"Yes, if you would sell him out so easily then you would do me too. I appreciate loyalty, you should know that."

"Thanks Stacy."

Stacy stared at Mercedes and chewing slowly. "If I asked who the lucky man was, would you tell me?"

Mercedes shook her head. "No."

Stacy nodded. "I didn't think so,. I will see you at 6."

"But won't the stores be closing by then?"

"I know the owner, she will stay open for me."

Mercedes nodded. "Then I will see you at 6."

If it wasn't for the Hotel or gifts, shopping for herself was never high on her list of things to do, like it was many women. She hated going places that didn't have her size or clothing that was unflattering to her figure. It was a surefire way to ruin her mood. She associated shopping with disappointment, but she had to try at least one more time.

Walking into a store that was newly opened called "Shape of you" Mercedes was surprised to be greeted by a voluptuous sales lady in a pretty pink suit that looked as if it was taylor made just for her.

"Stacy, hi!"

"Hi Unique. This is Mercedes Jones, a friend of mines and she is looking to add a few pieces to her wardrobe."

"Hello Mercedes, you have definitely come to the right place. Are you looking for sexy, or casual? Dressy or comfort?"

Mercedes shook her head. "I don't know I mean I have a date tonight."

Stacy whistled. "You certainly aren't wasting any time are you?"

Mercedes blushed. I have wasted more than my share of time."

Stacy nodded. "I'll say."

"Is it possible to combine sexy and comfort? Because that's what I need."

"At Shape of You we specialize in doing the impossible. You know Mercedes we have a salon right up stairs, you have such a natural beauty that we could make any man do a double take while looking at you."

"Well my date is at nine, do you think there is time?"

"Child these here are magic fingers. Can work quick, an with Stacy and I we can get you take care of quick fast and in a hurry.."

Mercedes smiled. "Okay, let's do it."

There probably wasn't a man alive who hadn't gotten on the wrong side of a woman. Things like that happened all the time and some women might not forgive that man. But lucky for Sam, Mercedes didn't carry a grudge. He just wished she would get over her need to attract some guy to her, she didn't need that. If his strange behavior was any indication, she didn't have anything to worry about attracting a guy.

"Sam, Stacy is at the family table." Penny said . "She wants a Caesar Salad, fried Catfish and a fully loaded baked potato."

Sam smiled.

"Can you take her the chips and salsa and tell her I will be to her in a minute."

Penny nodded. "I am taking the chips and a Pepsi too. She asked you to save her a piece of pie as well."

Sam froze for a moment. Mercedes likes Pepsi with her desserts too.

Penny raised an eyebrow, "Sam? Sam you okay?"

"Yeah, Yes I am good."

Sam moved to save Stacy a piece of Sweet Potato Pie and then put it in his personal fridge for after dinner. He sighed making his way out to the family table with her order, the place was busy as usual with his wait staff bustling around taking orders and dropping off food. Sam sat down and smiled at his baby sister.

"Hey lil one."

"Thanks for the grub bro." She said saying grace and dug into the plate. Taking a sip of her drink, she ran her hands through her hair. "So how are the repairs going?"

"They are going. How did your "date" with Mr. Stevens go?"

"It was fun, we ate we danced, he is a sweet old man, did you get out of cooking for Mercedes? Mom said she donated the set of cast iron cookware to the Women's League the other day."

"Yeah she does that every year."

"I don't blame her, with 24 hour room service and a chef like Henri, who would cook, my dream home, a house without a kitchen I don't need one."

"Lucky you for not needing one, but I need it. I feel lost without my kitchen. But Mr. Hummel is doing the best he can. He had to order some special pipes, which means I might be looking at longer than two weeks,"

'I'm sorry Sam, I know it sucks but at least you get to live it up in the lap of luxury."

"Yeah that is a pretty great perk, Mercedes really came through for me. Are you ready for dessert?"

She frowned, "Hate to say it but I think I might be too full to eat it I might take it with me."

Sam nodded. "Well you and Mercedes have the last two slices so I will get it."

"Mercedes?"

"Yeah I thought I would take her a slice."

"You might want to give it to her tomorrow, she and her date are dining at the Alcorn tonight."

Mercedes smiled across the table to her date for the evening Cory Hall, she wanted to see Harper again, but he was busy and had helped Preston set her up with Cory, who would "escort" her anywhere for the next two days, he was definitely the strong but silent type, the man barely fit his suit jacket, he didn't say much about himself and just listened as she spoke, asking questions along the way. She had wanted to go to Brandon's place, wondering how to let Sam know where she was and who she was with, but in the end she would just have to pray somehow he would find out. She didn't want her new look going to waste. The black halter dress with turquoise piping matched the chandelier turquoise earrings and necklace, her newly styled hair that was usually a mess of curls now fell over her shoulders in waves. Her makeup subtle but gorgeous nonetheless. She had been at the Alcorn with Cory for about an hour when she glanced up and her heart pounded in her chest. She saw Sam walking towards them.

"Sam's here." She said leaning towards him and whispering in his ear.

Cory smile like dog in front of a plate of bacon. His large hand covered hers. "Just how jealous do you want to make him? Do I get to kiss you?"

"Kiss me? Why would you get that?"

"Not gonna lie here, I'm curious."

Mercedes blushed. "I will think about it."

He lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist as Sam walked over to them. "Mercedes are you okay here?"

She looked Cory who just put her hand down on the table still holding it then back to Sam. "Hi, Sam, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working?"

"I think you know the answer to that?" He said, his voice coming out in a way she hadn't heard before.

It was one thing to think she was beautiful and desirable, but it annoyed her that he seemed to treat her as some airhead in need of protection.

"As you can see Sam, I am fine."

Sam looked at Cory. "I don't believe we have met before."

"No, we haven't." Cory said not even looking at Sam.

Mercedes could see Sam's face and knew he was about to do something stupid. She knew from speaking to Preston that Cory could be unpredictable when threatened. Excuse me Cory, I will be right back."

Cory stood, kissing her hand once more. "Please do, I get lonely."

Mercedes looked at him shaking her head and took Sam's arm leading him out of the restaurant.

"Sam what do you think you are doing?"

"Where did you meet him at?"

"Why? Its none of your business."

"You are the one who asked me to help yo-"

Her hand quickly moved to cover his mouth, not wanting to hear him say it. But the moment she did, fire spread through her hand, how she wished her hand was her lips pressed against his. Removing her hand she frowned. "I don't want to talk about that anymore Sam."

"You are going to get yourself into something you can't handle if you keep this up Mercedes."

Her chin lifted as she stared him in his eyes. "I can handle myself Sam, I am a grown woman and I don't need you protecting me like you are my big brother, you aren't. You need to leave and I am going back to my guest. Goodbye Sam."

"But-" He reached for her, but she pulled away from him and continued to walk. When she reached the table Cory stood and smiled bending to kiss her cheek.

He smiled at her. "That seemed fun."

"Finish your meal." She said shaking her head.

Sam walked inside of his restaurant and frowned running his hands through his hair, he had done something stupid again, crossing that line again. But it wasn't his fault, not really. It was celibacy, being celibate caused him to go crazy and act irrational, why else would he have felt such fire from her touch. Moving through the tables of the restaurant he felt like it was high time he started dating again, he needed to get his mind right. He spotted Tina Cohen Chang at a table talking with her friend Brittany and knew what he had to do. Tina was smart enough to to become attached to Sam, it would just be two consenting adults enjoying each other for as long as they wanted. He could do this.

Making his way to the table he smiled. "Hi ladies,"

"Hi Sam." came from them both, he could see it in their eyes just want they wanted from him.

"If you are ready for dessert you can tell your server its on the house,"

"That is really sweet of you Sam, you must let me repay you."

"How about you join me here for dinner tomorrow and we can call it a date."

Timan smiled eagerly. "Yes. I can be here at 8."

"Perfect." Sam said as he smiled then walked away. He should have been excited except as beautiful as Tina was, his mind wasn't on her, it was on Mercedes. She looked deliciously beautiful in her dress, His attention was drawn immediately to her full breast of which he wished to touch, kiss, suck. He shook his head as he willed the thoughts of Mercedes to leave his mind. He had to stop thinking of her like that. He just had too.

Mercedes was tempted to call of her date with Cory but she couldn't, she had to forge forward. She was taking him to Sam's place tonight. She had chosen another one of her knew outfits, this time was a sheer purple multicolored printed top that left one of her shoulders exposed, and a pair of matching capris, and heeled wedges. She couldn't understand it but in this Gypsy inspired outfit, she felt like a flirt, like she could tame any man. Cory held her arm in his as they were being seated, and that is when she saw Sam and Tina.

It was a sight that stopped her heart from beating. She stood there unable to take her eyes off of them, They were huddled together, heads were close to touching. She felt sick to her stomach. Her time was up, Sam was with Tina and that was that.

"Mercedes."

"Cory, if you do-don't mind, I I I I'd like to leave." She said softly.

Cory watched her face and glanced in the direction she was looking and sighed, "Dammit."

His hand moved from Mercedes waist to her shoulders. "We have changed our minds, I'm sorry." He said to the hostess. Then he bent down to her ear. "Merce, hold your head up."

She sighed and did as he said and then things got worse, Sam looked at her, and as their eyes met, she couldn't control the pain on her face. She turned away from him moving closer to Cory. He held her hand and walked her out of the restaurant. "You can cry if you want, but that isn't going to change anything." She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I don't guess you have ever lost anyone have you? No one you loved?"

Cory shook his head. "No, I don't allow myself to feel pain."

She nodded getting into the luxury town car. "I am sorry for wasting your time."

"You didn't, I was glad to help out a friend."

"You mean Preston?"

"And you too."

He pulled up to the hotel and mercedes waited for him to open the door. She got out and smiled up to him. "Thank you Cory. I appreciate you helping me."

"Mercedes, if he doesn't see how beautiful, smart and worthy you are, then he doesn't deserve you." He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Are you sure that you don't want another date? I know Harper said he is only a call away."

"I might take him up on it but not now, thanks Cory, Preston said you were a softy."

"Am not."

She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him softly. "So you don't have to wonder."

Cory smiled. "Thank you."

Mercedes waved as she walked inside the hotel, she started to do her final walk through, needing the distraction from her thoughts. Sam had found his one, and she had to be okay with that.

This was a mistake, 2 minutes into the date Sam knew that the spark he wanted to be there just wasn't. He stayed on the date because he wasn't a jerk, je didn't want to just ditch Tina.

"WHy don't you come over to my place after you close? I can make it worth your while." She said snuggling closer to him.

"I can't tonight." He said, he looked up to the door and there was Mercedes. For a long while they stared at each other. Then she turned away and snuggled next to the man who she was with last night and they left.

"Sam, are you okay?"

"Yeah I am fine." He looked after mercedes, she probably didn't want him ruining her date again.

"You sure? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah that sums up this evening. You are about as interested in me as I am in that chair over there."

Sam looked at her and frowned, but stayed silent.

"Sam, if you didn't like me then why ask me out?"

"I wanted to see if we could click."

"Yeah I was hoping we could too. But I don't want to be in a relationship that isn't going to go anywhere."

"Tina you are beautiful and desirable but I just don't feel it."

She nodded.

"Yeah well I am ready to get married, I should really consider asking your mom for help."

Sam tensed up. "Don't even joke about that."

"Sam you should see your face. It's not a bad thing to want love, to want a man or in your case woman who is crazy about you."

"Yeah I guess."

"Well even though this date was a bust. You owe me dinner and I am starving. And since I don't have to "eat cute" I am going all out and I want a glass of your most expensive wine."

"YOu are making me pay aren't you?"

"Big time."

"Tell me what you want and i will put your order in."

"Then you are coming back right?"

"You couldn't keep me away."

SAm stood then stopped realizing that he just said the same thing as one of Mercedes dates. And now he was back on her again.