Enjoy!

Book Six: Be Mine

By Rontora

Chapter 1

Mercedes stared at Biff McIntosh from across the room; she had such a massive crush on him. It had been that way since she started working for Wayland Pharmaceutical as one of their Biotech researchers.

Mercedes had always been labeled a nerd, and she came to terms with it back in middle school. But she truly didn't care; her being a nerd had her as the highest paid, male or female in her company, making six figures plus bonuses and the youngest Lead Research tech they had.

The problem with being a nerd was that men like Biff did t even know she existed.

"If you stare any harder, you are gonna bore a hole through him." Her best friend and fellow researcher Tina laughed. "Why don't you just talk to him?"

"Yeah, I'll do that; just tell him I like him and want to be with him." Mercedes laughed pitifully.

"Why not? You are beautiful, Mercedes, even if you dress like the ditch digger's daughter."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "What is wrong with what I wear!"

"Girl, baggy, unflattering clothes under a too-big lab coat. Why are you afraid to wear clothes that flatter your body."

"I'm not…I just want to be taken seriously. I work hard, and I don't want my clothes dictating that. Last week when you wore that mini skirt, they couldn't even take you seriously." Mercedes said, eyes following Biff as he walked out of the area.

"Fine, maybe you are right. But you can be smart and sexy; there is no rule that says you can't. Come over tonight; maybe we can do something about that hair. "

"What is wrong with my hair?" Mercedes asked, running her hands over her braids. "It's practical for my job."

"Mercedes, I love you, but if you want a chance at Biff, you need to change your look."

"I can't come over today; I am having dinner with the family."

"Oh, I wanna come!"

"You just want to see James and Sam. You have crushed on them for years." Mercedes teased.

"Can you blame me? Your brother Is fine! And so is Sam."

Mercedes pretended to gag as she stood from the table. "Please stop lusting after my brother… it's just gross."

"How can you not see how they are? Sam isn't even your brother, and you can't see it?"

"I have known Sam since I was five years old, and he is a brother to me essentially."

Tina smirked. "He wasn't a brother to you that night we saw him skinny dipping. Still can't believe I was so distracted by Puck I didn't get to see a naked Sam."

Mercedes blushed as she thought back to her senior year in college. She and her friends went to the lake and found Sam and his friends there doing dares. One of them was skinny dipping, and she watched as Sam let it all hang out. "Look, for a brief moment, I thought he was hot, and then I realized that he was like a brother to me, and that is that. Now I gotta get back to work, but if you are serious about shopping, I am down."

Tina smiled. "You know who you should ask about getting Biff? Sam."

"Why in the hell would I do that?"

"You really don't remember? When James and Sam were in college, you told me they had a business helping men get dates with women they were feeling. You said one of the people they helped even got married."

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip. "I mean that's true. Mike and Quinn are legit very happy. And they got Santana and Brittany together, and those two just got engaged…they had been together almost ten years."

"So you are gonna do it?!" Tina asked excitedly.

"I dunno. We will see. I am going to go, but I will text you tomorrow about shopping."

Mercedes grabbed her files and headed to her office, mind wandering to what would happen if she asked Sam to help her. There was no asking James for help; he would shut it down immediately. She was twenty-eight years old, but he still saw her as his baby sister. But maybe Sam would help her figure all this out.

Mercedes headed to her parent's house, letting herself in; she called out, wondering who was there already. "Hello? Anyone home?"

"Mercy!" James said, walking into the room. "Perfect timing. Will you please tell Evans that in a fight, Batman would destroy Ironman?"

"Your brother is crazy! There is no way!"

Mercedes rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "How old are you two again?" She asked, shaking her head.

"Our age aside, let us know!" James said.

Mercedes sighed. "Honestly, that depends on Batman. I mean, there are only two who even have a chance with Ironman, and that's Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. But even then, Ironman would win."

"Told you!" Sam said excitedly.

"Thirty-two years old and still having these stupid discussions, huh?" She teased.

"You say stupid, and we say informative." James defended.

Mercedes nodded as she slowly backed away from them and headed to the kitchen. She stopped as she came face to face with Sam's on-again and off-again girlfriend, Kitty, and James' current girl Bree. They were literally mean girls, and Mercedes hated being around them.

"Oh, look what the garbage man literally dragged in." Kitty teased. "I can't believe you walked outside looking like that."

Mercedes glanced down at her oversized sweatshirt and baggy jeans. Pushing her glasses back up her face, she frowned. "Why are you two here? Don't you need to go shopping? Or something."

"It's clear you need to go. You look like a hot mess threw you up." Bree laughed.

"She should be lucky she works as a research assistant."

"Okay, for one, I don't work as a research assistant, and I am over the damn department. Second, clothes don't make the man!"

"No, they just make you look like a man." Kitty spat.

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head. "You know…what? This is my parent's house, and you witches can kick rocks."

Mercedes rolled her eyes, walking out of the room, she really hated them, but anytime she brought up how much the two women sucked, her brother just shrugged, saying it wasn't like they were going to marry them. Heading to the living room, she grabbed her bag. She really didn't want to spend dinner dealing with those two witches.

As she made it to the door, Sam walked over to her. "Leaving so soon, Cede?"

Mercedes turned and nodded. "Yeah, I am. I had my fill already."

Sam frowned. "What happened?"

Mercedes shook her head. "Nothing. I will see you later." She said, walking outside to her car.

Sam followed her. "Talk to me. You know I am here for you."

She leaned against her car, scratching her head. "Sam, what's wrong with me?"

"What are you talking about?"

She sighed. "I haven't had a boyfriend in years, and I am so wrapped up in work that I don't know how to do any of this."

Sam leaned against the car next to her and bumped her shoulder. "Who is he?"

"What?" She asked, looking at him.

"You think I don't know you? I have basically known you your whole life. So who is he?"

"Biff, Marketing Director at our company. But he doesn't know I exist."

"I am sure that's not true."

Mercedes laughed. "Sam, if I weren't your best friend's sister, you wouldn't even recognize me on the street. I am forgettable. When I try to talk to him, I get in my head and can't think of the right things to say, and I embarrass myself. But the good news is that he doesn't remember me, so it's just like someone stupid is doing it."

"You aren't stupid, Mercedes; you are brilliant. The youngest lead research tech in that place. They saw something special in you; we all do."

Mercedes frowned. "Not all of them."

Sam looked over at her and lifted her face so that she could see his. "Merce, if they don't see how incredible you are, then they don't deserve you. If there is anything that I can do for you, let me know."

She looked away from him and frowned. Sam moved in front of her. "Hey, what's going on in that head of yours?"

"Sam, you remember when you and James had that business when you were in college?"

Sam raised his eyebrow. "Groove Back?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Mercedes. I don't know about that."

"Why not? You helped people all the time! I just want a chance and don't know what I am doing." She frowned. "Please, I can't go to James about this, and you are the only one that can help me."

Sam ran his hand through his hair, looking at her. He never could deny her when she was upset. It was a real problem when she got to high school. He and James were always behind the scenes making sure she was okay.

"Mercedes, me helping you get a boyfriend isn't something I think I can really do."

She sighed. "Yeah, I figured as much. It's fine, Sam, don't worry about it. I will see you all later." She turned to get into her car, but Sam groaned loudly.

"Fine! Look, I will give you some pointers, but I am not making any promises."

Mercedes's eyes lit up as she ran over to him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, thank you! Thank you!"

"I am free tomorrow morning, so that I will come over, and we will figure out a few things. I need to know about this guy, see who he is and what he is about; send me his info, and I will call Quinn and Mike."

"Why are you calling Quinn?"

Sam smiled. "You are beautiful, Mercedes, but no one can see it because you hide behind your clothes and glasses. Quinn is going to help with your style."

Mercedes side-eyed him. "Sam, why do I have a feeling you are still working on groove back?"

Sam laughed. "No, but I have given her some advice for a few of her clients throughout the years."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, and Sam laughed. "I consult on her show, okay?"

"You do know Quinn has been dying to get her hands on me, right? Said I would be her greatest masterpiece."

Sam smiled. "I may have heard that once or twice."

Mercedes nodded. Quinn created her own brand by helping give people makeovers for an interview, dates, and things like that. E! Network picked up her Instagram show, and she just finished her third season. "I really hope she doesn't try and document me because that would be…embarrassing."

Sam laughed as Kitty walked to the door. "Sam, I am bored; let's go."

"Sam, I will just talk to you later."

Sam reached for Mercedes's hands and offered her a smile. "I am stopping by first thing tomorrow morning, and I expect breakfast. Maybe that famous french Toast?"

She smiled. "Maybe."

Sam held her door as she got in and smiled. "See you in the morning."

"See you, Sam."

Mercedes had received a text from Sam reminding her that he was stopping by at around nine am, so she got up, took her shower, and threw on a pair of sweats so she could make them French Toast. She wasn't one to stay in the kitchen, but each Jones had to perfect a signature Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Mercedes chose French Toast, Grilled Cheese, and Chicken Alfredo.

Since Sam had a key to her place, he and James had them in case of emergency; she continued to cook as he knocked on her door.

"Use your key." She yelled as she started to plate the food.

"It smells so good! James is gonna be so jealous when I send him a photo of that plate." Sam said smiling. He sat down on the bar stool, and Mercedes cleared her throat.

"Ahem, what are you doing?"

Sam smiled. "Getting ready to eat."

"I know my momma taught you better than that; wash your hands and help me set the table." Mercedes scolded.

"Yes, Ma'am." Sam mocked as he grabbed two glasses and set the table.

Mercedes placed the plates down, then grabbed the syrup and smiled as Sam filled the glasses with orange juice. "There's the civilized man my momma would be proud of." She teased.

Sam rolled his eyes. "You are so lucky I want these French Toast." He teased back. Sam extended his hand to hers as he said a quick prayer and then shot off a photo to send to James later before he dug in.

"Ugh Mercedes, I could eat this morning, noon, and night! Your mom's waffles are no joke, but this is heaven!"

Mercedes smiled. "Hey, what can I say? I chose well. And if it's one of the only things you cook, then you gotta make it worth it."

As they ate in silence, Mercedes pushed her food around her plate. "Sam…can I ask you a personal question?"

He looked at her and nodded. "Sure, you know we have no secrets, Cede."

She nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "Why are you with Kitty?"

"What do you mean?"

Mercedes sighed. "I mean, she and Bree are awful, and yet you and James are head over heels for them. In fact, other than Quinn for a few dates, most of the women you date are shallow and stuck up. Beautiful, yes, but ugly on the inside. Is that what men want, what you want?"

Sam put his fork down. "Mercedes, she may be difficult at times."

"Difficult? A toddler going through their terrible twos is difficult, she is a mean, hurtful bully who loves nothing more than tearing people down, yet men flock to her because she's skinny, beautiful, and easy. And I just…why is that? Why can't men see real treasure instead of going for fake gold?"

"Cede…"

"That's pretty much the answer I expected. You and James are handsome and smart, and you have empathy and grace, and yet you surround yourself with those monsters. While women and men who are like me lack any looks to get us even a date."

"Mercedes, not to get off subject, because trust me, I see your point; men don't look at you because what you lack most of all is confidence. You allow yourself to believe the lie that you aren't worth it, but you are. Cede, you are brilliant and beautiful."

"Beautiful? Ha!" She laughed. "That's a good one."

Sam sighed. "Mercedes, listen to me; I know that dating someone like Kitty might seem like I am only interested in her because of her looks, but it's more than that."

"Oh, so you two have scintillating conversations? She wants more than to be a kept woman; you have a future?"

Sam sighed. In truth, it really wasn't all that great. He had seen Kitty have moments of kindness and grace, but those moments were few and far between. "This isn't about me, Mercedes; it's about you."

Mercedes rolled her eyes, looking down at her plate. "Well, the me's of the world don't stand a chance against the world of hers."

"Mercedes Claudette Jones! I am done with you downing yourself. Your mother always tells the story about how you were born, how your Grandmother Mercedes Claudette Jones saw you in a dream, strong, beautiful, and intelligent, and how she wanted you to be her namesake because you were an extension of her. And how your grandmother gave her life so you could live."

Mercedes nodded. The story was one she had heard all her life. It was a bad Tornado storm, the roads were terrible, and no one was getting in or out of their homes without great difficulty. When Mercedes's mother went into labor, her grandmother, who went by Claudette, a registered nurse for over 30 years, delivered her. And while holding Mercedes in her arms, the warning bells went off. No one had time to as they cut the cord when the walls began shaking, and a tree burst through the window.

Claudette, who was in the process of handing Mercedes to her mother, immediately shielded the newborn and her daughter-in-law, taking all of the hits and protecting them both.

"If she saw the woman you would become today, why can't you see it?"

Mercedes looked at Sam. "Sometimes I really hate that you know me so well."

Sam stood from the table. "I'm not." He reached for her hand and pulled her up to him. "We will clean up later; I want to do something right now."

Mercedes looked at him curiously as he pulled her to her bedroom and in front of the mirror. "What are we doing, Evans?"

"Mercedes, me telling you how amazing you are is one thing, but you saying it to yourself is another." He turned her towards the mirror. "Try to see what I see, Mercedes. You are top of your field, you are strong and beautiful, you are…" Sam stopped talking, and Mercedes looked at herself.

She avoided doing it; she focused on everything else because deep down, she was afraid of who would be staring back at her, fearful that what everyone said about her was right.

"Mercedes?"

She looked up, staring at Sam through the mirror; in his eyes was an emotion she didn't know how to read.

"Tell me what you see?" He asked silently.

Hesitating a little longer, she looked at herself, her cornrows that fell over her shoulders, big black glasses, then she looked at herself, her eyes, lips, nose. "I see me, Sam."

"You know what I mean. Look at your eyes, your beautiful, expressive doe eyes." She looked at him as he continued. "I see your perfect nose and perfect bow lips. Mercedes, just because you hide your beauty from the world, so all they can see is your intelligence, doesn't mean it's not there."

Mercedes turned to face him, and Sam offered her a small smile. "You need to stop thinking so much about how others see you and start projecting the person you want them to see."

"I like the way you see me, Sam." She said with a soft smile.

Sam caressed her cheek. "I can only hope that one day you will see you, how your family sees you, how I see you."

Mercedes could feel her pulse quicken, she had never really thought of Sam in any way other than as a brother, but something changed staring at him in the bathroom. Neither speaking, just staring at each other."

"You know I am pissed off I wasn't invited to this French Toast party!" James said, walking into her room and seeing her and Sam. "What are you two doing?"

"Trying to teach your sister to be confident," Sam said, finally looking away from her.

Mercedes's eyes widened as she shoved Sam. "You big mouth!"

"Cedes, there is no secret that you are not confident in anything but your work. But hey, I won't intrude; point me to the french Toast."

"Rude, James, just rude!" She spat. "I don't think I want you to have any now."

Sam smiled. "I will make him a plate and me a to-go plate. I gotta head out but remember Quinn is stopping by around four; I will come by tonight to see the finished product."

Mercedes nodded. "Sure. See you later, Sam."

He smiled and ran over to her brother, shoving him as he ran out of the room. She shook her head and turned back to the window, looking over herself, and smiled as she started to see herself a little better now.

I wasn't kidding.. she coming with that smoke!