So as we are getting to the last chapter I want to thank you all for being with me on this Journey. There will be the Finale after this and trust me what you know you don't know and what think you know might be right. I hope you enjoy this chapter and remember to stay blessed and review.

I also want to say that my prayers go out to those who have lost someone or know someone in the tragedy in Florida.

Mercedes didn't want to attend the party, but she didn't have a choice, the hotel industry had this event and connections were important to keep in business. The problem was not only was she still heartbroken, she had been sick to her stomach for days because of it. On top of that she was on a date with someone who wasn't Sam. Shane was sweet and all but she couldn't pretend to be into him and the more he spoke, the more she was annoyed and that made her feel guilty.

"I am headed to New York I have a few guys to scout and then I am headed to Miami, you should come with, give yourself a vacation."

"Shane we just met."

"I know but don't you feel this, this connection?"

Mercedes was about to answer when she felt Sam enter the room, he was carrying a drink tray looking devastatingly handsome in his dinner jacket. She tried to pry her eyes off of him, but she couldn't, she wanted to run to him but she wasn't wrong. He was. So she stayed put. Shaen followed her eyes and nodded.

"Good Idea I am thirsty as well. Waiter, hey!" he called out to Sam.

Sam looked their way and he looked through Shane to Mercedes, the red form fitting dress clung to all his favorite parts of her body, and she couldn't cover it with the black shaw she wore. She Gripped it covering her bare shoulders and her dress glimmered in the lighted area and Sam inhaled a moan knowing exactly what he was missing.

From the way he stared at her she could tell he was thinking over everything they had been through and everything they could be doing. Stubborn man, she thought as she watched him move closer to them. Shane took two glasses from the tray and turned back to Mercedes.

"Here, so how about we toast to our future and a night we will both definitely remember."

Mercedes looked to Sam who has the most dangerous expression on his face, she was grateful her date couldn't see him, he would have died. Before she could take a sip he emptied his glass and placed his and hers on the tray and took her to the dance floor. Sam watched as the man held her close as he guided her on the floor. Sam saw red, this man didn't know her well enough to have his hands all over her like he did. Mercedes glanced back at Sam who had walked away and sighed. She could be in his arms if he wasn't such a stubborn, hard headed man.

Sam had smiled at the thought of the man in Mercedes arms missing his teeth and with a black eye. He couldn't stand another man touching her, another man making her feel good. Making her moan that beautiful moan she did when he hit that right spot. Sam watched as Shane's hand went down her back to the curve of her hips and even further down. His hand gripped the tray as he moved towards them.

"Didn't think people needed drinks on the dance floor?"

Sam turned to see Cameron looking at him with a smirk. He reached over to grab a glass and smiled. Sam rolled his eyes.

"That...guy is making a move on Mercedes."

Cam took a sip glancing at them. "I don't see a problem."

"He has his hands all over her for the world to see!"

"And what do you care where his hands are Sam? Mercedes has given everything up for this place, she took it over and didn't have a life. Now she is finally living. Finally enjoying herself. She deserves a great guy to take care of her and since you don't want to stick around for her, don't get all bent out of shape for a man who does."

Sam cut his eyes at Cam. "Your face is begging for my fist."

Cam smirked. "Truth hurts don't it Sam?"

Cam patted his back putting the empty glass on his tray as he walked away.

Sam scowled looking at his best friend and fighting the urge to dump the remaining drinks on him. He searched through the sea of people to spot Duncan, surely he would protect Mercedes. Color him shocked when he saw the older man wrap his arms around Shane like a pal. Sam was done playing nice, if they weren't going to protect Mercedes from some lush trying to take advantage then it would be up to him. He walked into the kitchen to put his tray down, but when he returned to the party both Mercedes and her date were gone. Frustrated and angry Sam walked out and went to his car. This would not stand.

Mercedes was unable to sleep, she had a lot on her mind and even though she had made it out the house, seeing Sam threw her back into her depression state. He just looked at her like she didn't mean anything. Like he was better off. How could he look so good when she felt so awful. She wandered through her house, remembering the time and and Sam spent there. How in every room there was a reminder of him. The sad thing, saddest thing is that is she had it to do over again, she would have done it. She didn't regret any time she and Sam spent together and frankly she knew this day would happen, she just hoped it wouldn't happen for a while.

She loved Sam, and being with him these last weeks made her realize that the love she had for him was not only real but it grew into so much more than she could have ever imagined. The only thing that caused her to feel slightly better was the fact that her brothers were sure Sam felt the same way she did. They just figured he was still in shock from the whole thing. A man who was determined to stay single, falling in love with his best friend. It would be a lot for anyone. She was just scared that in this time of self preservation, Sam wouldn't go off and do something stupid in spite of her.

She knew that Sam's mom was still a factor too. She wanted Sam married and on the list of women she had for Sam, Mercedes was certain her name was nowhere near it, and now she had an opening to push a woman onto Sam.

Mercedes had thought if she could show his mom just how much she loved Sam, then maybe she could get her blessing, but the thing was, Sam wasn't speaking to her and that was her first problem.

She sat down on the love seat pulling her feet up under her looking at the time on her phone. She knew Sam still cared, that was shown tonight when he saw her with Shane. While his looked as if he was not heartbroken, seeing her with another man surely did him in, she knew he was jealous even if he didn't admit it.

She was grateful though for her brothers, she was in no place ready for the kind of relationship Shane wanted from her, and when he lowered his hands coming dangerously close to touching her behind, Duncan did a pretty great job at putting him in his place.

Basically scaring the tar out the man, at the end of the night Shane dropped her off, took one look at her brothers and drive away fast. And while she knew it wasn't' her fault and knew Shane was not for her, she couldn't seem to be okay with the fact that she lost another guy. Her brothers walked her to her place and stayed with her until she calmed down. She finally sent them to their rooms about ten minutes ago.

Leaning her head back against the love seat she closed her eyes. The alarm on her phone went off and she stood walking to her room until the sudden pounding of the door caused her heart to skip as she sat up. Scared, she reached for her phone until she heard Sam's voice.

"Mercedes open this door now."

She smiled, he had come to her, after everything they had gone through he wanted her. Going to the door she opened it and reached for Sam, but he brushed past her looking around.

"Where the hell is he?" without waiting for an answer he went in search of the man he knew was in there with her. Opening every door possible including the bathroom and closets and even looked under her bed.

With each step Sam took her heart broke even more. He wasn't there to reconcile he was there to make sure she didn't have a man in her bed. How dare he! Her hand left the door knob but she left the door open as she folded her arms.

"I called you a few times." Sam said staring at her, and by the way he was looking she knew he thought the worst of her.

"I didn't get any messages on my phone or from the front desk." She said rolling her eyes.

"I didn't leave a message."

She laughed. "Right, so I am just supposed to know you wanted to get a hold of me how? By reading your mind?" His jaw tightened and she could see she got to him. Good, she thought, serves him right. "If you don't mind I would like to go to bed now."

It was at the moment Sam realized she was dressed in a silk, sheer nightie that fell just above her gaze slowly followed her curves and hands itched to touch her, caress her, make love to her.

"Goodnight Sam."

That took him out of his daze. He stared at her. "I was just trying to look out for you, I didn't want you to make a mistake on the rebound."

It was in that moment the last shred of love and passion left her face. "So you think I would jump into bed with the first guy who came along? I see so you think I just give my body to any and everyone who asks right?"

"It's been over a week."

Her pores burned with rage. "Of course so naturally I just spread my legs and say hi right? Do not come into my house and insult me. You can see your way out. Goodnight."

He hesitated for a moment as he headed to the door.

"Merce I didn't-... I just, I don't want you hurt."

She felt something grab her heart squeezing it tight as her eyes burned. He cared about her, he just didn't love her. She looked at him bitterly. "It's a little too late for that Sam."

He flinched. "It just can't be the way you want it to be."

"Because you won't let it! Forget about being next on your mother's list, and think about what we mean to each other."

"I want too, but you tricked me."

"I made a mistake because of how i felt for you. I was so desperate for you to see me as a woman, for you to finally love me. But now I am wondering how I fell in love with such a selfish, narrow, one track mind man!"

Using both of her hands she shoved him completely out the door and slammed it in his face, but not before she saw his shocked expression on his face.

She ran from the living room and to the bathroom kneeling in front of the porcelain toilet expelling whatever she had for dinner and drinks. Frustration plagued her, as she flushed the toilet and lifted herself to the sink. She rinsed her mouth out and wet her face as she sat back staring at the the one thing she had forgotten when Sam arrived. Looking down at the test she shook her head quickly taking the second one and repeating her actions from earlier.

It didn't even take the full five minutes to tell her all she needed to know.

"Dammit!"

Sam slammed the doors all the way from the restaurant up into his bedroom. No one have ever made him feel the way Mercedes did. And slamming the doors didn't make him feel better at all. He was angry, pissed and down right perturbed at her. Instead of Mercedes being happy that even after the way she hurt him he wanted to protect her, she kicked him out of her house.

Women usually went out of their way to make sure he was happy, but not Mercedes no she didn't want to be accommodating instead she hissed and spat like a cornered cat waiting to sick her claws into you.

He moved towards his suite closest kicking off his shoes onto the shoe rack and then tossing his shirt into the clothes bin. He would never understand women and their illogical brains. Kicking off his pants he tossed them into the bin and grabbed a pair of shorts as he moved to the bed.

"She should be thankful! I did so much for her and she treats me like this?! I mean I…" He stopped talking as his brain went over everything he had done for Mercedes. There had been plenty of things he was sure but he was so angry that he couldn't think straight. But the more he thought, the more he came up with all the things she had done for him, each one more generous than the one before. The most precious thing she could ever do was give him her innocence.

His head hung in shame. Even the bed of rose petals he had done for her one night had been for his enjoyment as much as hers. The closet has been her idea, because she knew he literally tossed his clothes anywhere. It shamed him even more that he couldn't think of one unselfish thing he did for her to let her know how much she meant to him, that he values her, her friendship, her smile. That he values her love.

His head came up and he looked around as he came to another realization, he couldn't shake his head no and deny it any longer, except while his heart said what he knew all along his brain was stubborn. He cared about her but he couldn't love her because if he did, that would mean the end of his freedom.

It was around mid morning when someone called Mercedes at her desk. She was going through the budget making sure they were indeed ready to expand another area of the hotel.

"Yes, whats up?"

"Ms Jones I am sorry to bother you but you have a special delivery at the front desk."

"Can you please sign for it and sent it to my office?"

"I am sorry but it requires your signature."

Mercedes sighed, getting up and walking to the front. She wasn't sure but it sounded like Sunshine was excited about something.

As she made her way to the front she wondered what it could be, it wasn't very often her personal signature was needed, and when it was, it was usually something she personality order. As she turned the corner she stood still gasping at the sight before her. Standing shoulder to shoulder were at least a dozen men and women. Each held a bouquet of flowers.

A woman about Mercedes age and body type beamed holding up the electronic pad. "Ms. Jones we could use your signature. And can I say you go girl! I need me a man like this."

Mercedes moved gazing from one arrangement to the other, everyone more beautiful than the last. The flowers ranged from roses to orchids, lilies.

"Is there a card?"

The woman shook her head. "No card. He said you would know eventually who sent them. But I am supposed to give you a message. 'As I carry you in my heart and soul, please pick the one you will carry on our special day."

Mercedes closed her eyes trying not to cry, what was Harper thinking? How could he do this to her? He had to know that this wasn't a good idea. She wanted to refuse the arrangements but she couldn't. Signing for the flowers she took half to her office and the other half to her home.

After she was finished she called Harper who wasn't in town and couldn't be reached. She wanted to know what he was doing, she said back in her chair wondering what he was up too and hoped this was the last of his antics. Instead of dealing with her issues alone now she had everyone watching her like a hawk and wondering what was going on in her life.

After a brief knock of her office door, her brothers walked in. She had made sure they had rooms so she could keep her privacy.

"Wow Sam really knows how to grovel."

Mercedes frowned, "They aren't from Sam."

Cam picked up a Bouquet.

"Then who are they from?"

"A man who likes doing the unexpected, at least I think they are from him, he has done this before. So I know you guys are leaving soon but wanna do lunch?"

Duncan stared at her. "I am still not okay with you staying here alone. Are you sure you are okay?"

She sighed looking at her brothers. "There is something I have to tell you but before I do you can't say a word, not until I know for sure what is going on."

Cam sighed. "Merce you make it sound like you are pregnant or something."

Both men laughed until they saw Mercedes face. Duncan stood up. "Ima kill him, with my damn bare hands!"

Mercedes stood. "You will not. Look I knew what I was getting myself into with all this, and Sam isn't the only one to blame. You guys have to stop looking at me like I am your little sister. I am a successful woman."

Cam looked at Mercedes. "We won't say anything to Sam, but you should."

"I will, I just need to get over my feelings, I know he will step up and help and maybe all this happened for us to bring a beautiful child in the world, I don't know. But what I do know is he or she is lucky to have you guys just like I am. I thank you for coming here, but I am okay."

Duncan folded his arms. "Just because we won't say anything about him being a dad doesn't mean we aren't gonna pay him a visit."

"Dunc no."

"Nothing you say will change that."

She sighed and figured she won the battle just not the war.

Sam had just finished ringing up a customer when Duncan and Cam walked into the restaurant. He moved towards them, as he was certain they weren't there to pick a fight.

"Did you guys want a table?"

"Nope just a moment of your time."

Sam nodded taking them to one of the secluded tables and took a seat.

"So what's up?"

Cam sighed looking at Sam. "We just thought we would give you some friendly advice."

Duncan moved closer to him and smiled. "Looks like you have some competition, one who likes to go overboard and beyond."

Sam folded his arms. "I can see you are truly bothered by this."

Cam moved closer. "Look we are happy that she isn't moping around, but this dude filled her office with flowers."

"And why are you telling me this?" Sam said not giving away his true feelings.

Cam shrugged. "Better the devil you know. But I swear if you hurt her or make her cry again, we will both come down on you hard like rain, and i know you get it cause you would do that same."

Duncan smirked as he walked away and Cam gave Sam one last look.

Easing back in his chair Sam watched them walk away. They could have saved their breaths. Sam had already made up his mind about Mercedes, and nothing on earth could make him change it again.