"Think you can handle this cowboy?" Mercedes asked seductively.

Sam squinted at her before pulling her in close and looking down at her, "I know I can, Songbird. The question really is, are you going to let me?"

Now, Mercedes wasn't immune to the optics of the situation. On one hand, Sam was a dick to her, and he did hurt her feelings. So much so that she was willing to walk away from the country oasis knowing she couldn't get a refund. However, he did end up apologizing, and deep down, she knew how grief worked. It caused you to lash out at a person even if they didn't do anything that was considered wrong. Aside from that, he also apologized and stuck up for it when Anthony was trying to cause chaos.

So when she looked at Sam in those gorgeous green eyes and that cocky smile on his face, she knew she couldn't let him think he won. She turned so his front was to her back and dropped her ass to the ground to the beat of the music. She knew what would have happened if someone was to record them. The tabloids would be all over her and her seemingly new beau, and while she should have cared more, the alcohol was definitely doing its job. She wanted to be in the moment, and in this moment, she wanted to bring Cowboy Sam Evans to his knees.

When Sam told Mercedes that he could handle her, he wasn't sure what to expect. He thought she would slap him and call him a pig or kiss him. But ever the surprising Songbird, she simply turned and bounced her very bountiful ass on his pelvis. He smiled as she rose back up, and he pulled her in by her midsection as he ground on her. He moved her hair to one side of his neck so he could nuzzle his face comfortably in his neck. His arm rested against her midsection as their bodies moved in tune with the music.

He forgot about his barn chores, the numerous responsibilities, and the small silent battles he was facing, and he became present in Mercedes. Her movement, the way she smelled, and how relaxed and right her body felt against his.

Once the song changed into something slower, gently, Sam turned Mercedes in his arms. She draped her arms around him, and he swore he saw a slight twinkle in her drunken eyes. Eventually, she rested her head on his shoulder, and Sam wrapped his arm around her waist tighter as if he were scared to let her go.

THE NEXT MORNING

Mercedes groaned as the piercing sunlight shone into her bedroom window. The one con of staying at Evans Estate was the massive floor-to-ceiling windows that shone in the massive sun. She swore to herself as if she had forgotten to shut the curtains last night. She rubbed the sleep out of her eye as she got up and shut the curtains; when she returned back to the bed, it hadn't hit her that there was another body in her bed. She peered over the sheet and saw the shirtless cowboy lying with his torso on full display and his wild hair askew on her pillow.

Mercedes took a look at her own self and was happy to report that her matching bra and panties were still on, but all of their clothes and shoes were thrown across the room. She tried to piece the parts of last night back into her brain when Sam turned around towards her.

"Mmm, Songbird, can you please come back to sleep? Your body was very warm." He grumbled, his deep sleep still laced in his voice.

"Cowboy, um, you do realize that you are in my bed, right?" Mercedes replied.

"You and Jane went overboard with all of those shots, so Connor and I carried you both to your rooms to make sure you guys were okay. I left to go get you a glass of water and some ibuprofen, but you were jumping on the bed like a toddler. So, once I got you to take the pills and water, I had to make sure you weren't sleeping in your party clothes, but you refused pajamas, and you wouldn't let me leave. Which explains why I am in bed with you. We didn't have sex, Songbird."

Mercedes sighed a sigh of relief as she gratefully took the medication and swallowed them with the water, before she got back in the bed. She cuddled up close to Sam because his body was a nice touch to the drunk sleep.

"Besides, when we do have sex, Songbird, I want you to remember everything." He mumbled.

Mercedes's eyes popped open, "And what makes you sure we are going to have sex? I barely like you."

"But you're warming up to me, Songbird. Now get some sleep."

Three hours later, Mercedes woke up to Sam, who brought a tray of breakfast to her bedroom. He was fully dressed in a flannel and grey sweatpants as he walked in and put the breakfast beside her.

"Connor made you guys both some food. He and Jane are taking a dip out in the lake right now if you want to join them." He explained.

"Thanks, and no, I think I am good." She joked as she moved to eat the food.

"Well, I'll be around if you need something," Sam spoke.

"Actually, do you think you can stay with me, Cowboy?"

"Sure." He chuckled.

"Thank you again for everything last night. The last thing I expected was for Anthony to be there."

"There is a reason as to why I never liked him, quarterback; now I have even more reason. The guy is a huge dick."

"Who are you telling? Did you have fun last night?"

"Yep, especially after I apologized to you and actually enjoyed the company. You are a pretty good dancer, by the way. I can't believe you were dancing on a table and didn't fall."

Mercedes's mouth dropped open, "I was on a table. Oh my God, Sam!"

Sam laughed as he pulled out his phone and went to the photos. He tossed her the phone, "Jane took the bar, you took a table, and you guys had an amazing time. No one got hurt. Nothing got broken at all."

Mercedes flicked through the photos and internally groaned at a few of the raunchy videos, "God, my publicist will kick my ass."

"For having fun?"

"For being drunk and having fun. But that's another problem to deal with."

"Tonight, the stars will be their brightest, and typically, I head to the lake and start a fire, eat smores, and listen to music. Think you wanna join me if you are up for it?"

"I'd love to."