Hey guys! Kesh told you that we were working on some great things and I gotta say this is just one of the amazing things that are ahead and if I do say so myself. This is...well you will know the moment you read it. So get ready to enjoy The Deal!

We love you, enjoy!

Prologue

Mercedes Jones placed the tray down onto the table and smiled happily as she placed the plates down in front of the patrons. "Okay, here you go, blueberry muffin and a caramel latte and an Iced Mocha latte with a cronut."

The couple smiled towards her. "Thanks, Mercedes." She said, taking a sip. "Wait, is that? Did you have them add chocolate? I completely forgot to ask for them."

Mercedes nodded. "Last week, they accidentally added it, and you told me you loved it."

The woman smiled."I swear you are the best server we have ever had to remember things like that. Thank you."

"What can I say? I know what my customers need even when they don't."

Mercedes walked away and moved over to the table of a man she hadn't seen before. "Hey, handsome, what can I get for ya?"

"Coffee, black, and a vanilla and almond biscotti." He answered looking at her briefly before looking back at his tablet.

"Sure thing!" She said, writing it down and heading back to grab his order. After handing another customer their order, she walked back over to the man with his. "Here you are. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Be my wedding date this weekend." He joked half-heartedly. "No, that'll be all, thank you."

She smiled. "I mean, I do look pretty hot in a dress, don't let the shortness fool you; I've got legs for days."

"Mhm, now you've piqued my interest…."

Mercedes raised her eyebrow with a smirk. "I do, and I do a mean electric slide…." She teased, placing napkins on his table.

"Not much of a dancer myself, but I believe you." He replied, smiling back at her.

Mercedes gave the customer a once over and shrugged. "Women around here have got to be crazy. How is it that a man who looks like you, with a smile like that, doesn't have a date?"

"I didn't have time to find one, and I forgot that my brother's wedding was this weekend." He admitted. "I was supposed to be a groomsman, but he told me not to worry about it."

"So you just aren't going? Well, that doesn't sound good; I am sure he wants you there; he is just trying to be understanding." She said.

"I'm going… I just need a date before I do. My family is… they expect a lot, and my showing up single would open the conversation on why I'm still single. I don't have time because of work."

She nodded. "I understand that...for the record though, I am free this weekend. Would hate for you to have to show up alone."

"You don't even know me, and it's in upstate New York." He countered.

She shrugged. "Life is what happens when you are busy overthinking things. And it's not like I have never been to Upstate New York."

"It's for the entire weekend… and my family will know it's not real."

"How will they know?"

"Believe it or not, affection is required in my family. They live on seeing people in love… It's actually annoying. Not everyone likes PDA." He answered, shaking his head.

"Meaning you aren't?" She asked, taking a seat across from him.

"I like to keep my personal life personal."

She eyed him for a moment, then moved to sit closer to him. "Hey, Mads, come here for a second."

She linked her arm with Sam's as the brunette came over to them. "Hey, Merce what's up?"

"I wanted to introduce you to my boyfriend, Tyler, and he came all the way from Upstate New York to surprise me." She leaned on his shoulder with a smile.

"Oh, hi! Nice to meet you; I didn't know you were dating anyone, Merce!" Madison said, smiling at them both.

Mercedes shrugged. "Well, he's pretty shy; I really shouldn't be on him like this. I am sure he is uncomfortable but I just... I missed him so much." She said happily, looking the man in the eyes, then turning back to Madison. "Anyways, can you tell Beiste I am taking my break so I can talk to him?"

"Sure thing! Nice to meet you, Tyler!" Madison said before leaning down to her ear. "He's hot!" She whispered before walking away.

"Tyler, huh?" He asked, amused when Madison was far enough away...

Mercedes laughed with a shrug. "I didn't have your real name, so I just pulled that from the top of my head."

"Well, I don't know yours either." He said, looking at her intensely for a moment. "Sam."

She chewed her bottom lip for a moment and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Sam; I am Mercedes."

"Mercedes, what?" He asked, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

"Jones. What about yours?"

"Evans, you don't have a crazy boyfriend or anything, do you?"

"What would you say if I did?" She teased.

"That would pose a great problem considering you're going to be photographed a lot at the wedding."

"I guess it's a good thing I don't have some crazy boyfriend...I have a dog, though; he is very cute but very protective." She smiled.

"I have one too, not so protective, though… if we do this, we need to set a few rules." Sam said, figuring any date was better than none.

She cocked her head to the side. "Okay...hit me with 'em."

"I'll pay for all of your expenses, including wardrobe, because there is a dress code for the entire weekend. If you agree to do this, you have to go along with whatever story I tell them about our relationship. I'm not overly flashy, so please keep a low profile and don't let on that this is fake." Sam answered.

"Okay, so that means we will be going shopping? Or are you gonna let me pick it out myself? And I don't mind the others, but we will have separate rooms right?"

"You'll have your own suite, but it will be next to mine. My family has a tendency to just pop in unannounced. I can go with you while you shop so that you know what is expected, but I'm okay with you picking a few things that make you feel comfortable."

She looked at Sam, smiling before she answered him. "Okay, one more question..."

"Okay, shoot."

"You said your family likes affection; what if they want us to be… affectionate?" She asked, smirking at him. "I don't have a problem kissing you."

Sam looked at her, confused. "You don't? You don't know me."

Mercedes moved in closer so that their noses almost touched. "I'm an affectionate person." She teased.

Sam inhaled with a nod. "I can see that."

"And?" She asked, brushing her nose against his.

Sam cleared his throat, it had been a very long time since he had been close to anyone let alone a woman. "I am sure we can figure something out."

"We should probably get it out of the way, don't you think?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Sam removed her arms from around his neck. "That sounds like something we should probably not do in public."

"The wedding is a public event, isn't it?" She asked, running a hand along the nape of his neck.

Sam swallowed, shaking it off. "Yes, it is."

"Then we should make sure we're convincing," Mercedes said, leaning in closer, allowing her lips to brush against his.

"You know...how about we practice kissing later… we can find your clothes, and then we can talk more about this." Sam said, leaning away from her.

Mercedes sighed. "Okay, I get off in three hours. I live a few blocks from here; here's my number." She said, writing her number on a napkin and handing it to him with a wink.

When she got up and walked away, Sam exhaled for what felt like the first time since she sat next to him. "What the hell did I just get myself into?" He mumbled to himself as he got back to work.

What indeed, Sam, we will see in Chapter One, coming soon.