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tbloves2read · 9 years

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Ordered to Marry

Chapter Three

Sam was relieved that he was back in his office after a morning spent in court with the Honorable Roz Washington and after the horrible meeting with a client for lunch that lasted for four hours because he had a client who wouldn’t agree on the critical placing of a wall. The only good thing that happened today was Mercedes had shown up in a black leather dress with a peplum top that Stacie said was all the rage in fashion and stiletto heels. He was sure the black was symbolic of her mourning her state of singlehood, and he could feel her pain. Sam hadn’t been in a committed relationship since his girlfriend Marley left him to move to New York. Not that he was serious about the model, but she was kind and gorgeous something that was not common with the people he had met since becoming a millionaire. He normally dated two women at a time, but as far as he could remember the last time he was serious about a woman was when he was dating Quinn seven years ago when he was young and stupid. His future marriage would be something that would be very difficult for him considering his wife was hot and he couldn’t touch her, and he apparently couldn’t touch another woman during the length of their marriage.

Sam couldn’t keep his mind off of Mercedes, and he was upset when Noah came into his office bragging about the banging babe that was in the office. “Sam, my man, if you could see this goddess, I tell you she has more curves than a Nissan ad, and all of them are begging for my special touch. I would try every sexual position in the world with her and would still choose doggie style as my favorite because that ass oh that ass what I wouldn’t do to tap it. Why did I have to marry Rachel?”

“Probably, because you fell in love with her.”

“I know I did love her. But I love beer and I didn’t marry it. Our marriage started out great, and now after three kids who keep us busy as hell, she is like ‘no Noah I have a headache or my favorite I’m just too tired, I had my weekly hike today.’ Rachel is so high maintenance and always tired, and she expects me to do everything for the kids while all she does is sits on ass all day watching Dr. Oz and making us follow the latest health craze. I barely have sex as it is.”

Sam just wanted Noah to shut the hell up, but he humored him as always. “Didn’t you just tell me that you had sex three or four times last week?”

“You know that Kitty in interior decorating doesn’t really count her legs are open for anyone, so having sex with her is like having sex with a bottomless hole and neither does Brittany giving me head twice a week. I don’t count oral as sex. Or do you mean Sugar?”

“Sugar, is that the name of the stripper?” Sam asked not believing they were having this conversation even though he had known Noah since college; they had gotten their degrees together, and Sam convinced his father to hire Noah who had years of construction experience as well as having an artistic flair for interior design.

“Who knows Sugar could be a stripper, she wasn’t smart enough to be able to have a full time job doing anything else that is for sure. But who cares about these members of the little bitty titty club when a fine, foxy, stacked woman shaped like a Coke bottle is out there. She is in a whole other league. She’s dressed in this all black leather outfit that screams dominatrix, and I am like here is your whip spank me, please. She is like a Brick House Barbie, and she is out there talking to your dad right now. Do you think he has hired a new secretary? If so, you better hurry up and knock boots with her before she becomes your new step momma.”

Sam knew by Noah’s description that he was describing the one and the only Mercedes Jones. What was she doing here besides probably turning every straight male in the office on as well as Brittany? He had no doubts that his secretary would be trying to get in her pants before the day was over to see if she taste like chocolate. What was his father thinking in bringing her here? Even though the office was full of males who didn’t listen to R&B music, she would still be recognizable because she was one of the most famous people to have ever lived in Lima, Ohio.

“Sam, I was just showing Mercedes around the office. Her dad and I decided to take her out to lunch today to cheer her up, and as we were leaving the restaurant I asked her if she wanted to look at the place where you and I both worked since it’s not that far from her home.”

“Hi Sam,” Mercedes greeted him trying to ignore the way he eyes swept over her body. He had just seen her this morning, and he was acting like this was the first time he had seen her all day Mercedes thought as she stepped inside Sam’s office.

As soon as she was fully in the office, Noah got up and stood as close to her as socially acceptable and introduced himself to her. The smile disappeared from Mercedes’ face as she tried to maneuver herself to put as much space as possible between them. She knew enough not to be rude and told him that it was nice to meet him.

Unfortunately for Puck he couldn’t take a hint and dropped his voice to the tone he would use in a club and asked for her name. Mercedes never liked giving out her name because if people didn’t recognize her, then she was able to live her life normally. However once people found out her name, they were usually able to connect her to her singing career. Mercedes evaded the question by looking at Sam and telling him in her sultriest voice, “Sweetie, why didn’t you tell me that the Noah you worked with is so sociable and charming?”

She was calling him sweetie in the sexiest voice he had ever heard, and Sam didn’t now if he should kiss or spank her for turning him on without any hope of him getting any satisfaction. “Darling, you will have to forgive me when I am with you thoughts about other people just leave my head,” Sam said as moved closer to Mercedes to hug her leaving one arm draped across her shoulders. Sam could feel her body melting into his embrace. He turned attention back to Noah and introduced her as Mercedes his fiancée. Now it was Noah who was suddenly wearing a shocked open mouth expression.

“I can’t believe that you are getting married. Mr. I will never settle down has finally been taken off of the market. I can see why you waited you lucky dog.” Noah couldn’t help but take one more salacious look at Mercedes before turning around an offering his hand to Sam to shake in congratulations.

Sam didn’t want to remove his hands from Mercedes, but he do so reluctantly accepting Noah’s hand in his own as they did their version of their bro handshake.

Mercedes focused all of her attention on Sam intentionally dismissing Noah by keeping her eyes on Sam alone. After he finished shaking hands with Noah, Mercedes met Sam’s gaze and then placed her hand on his chest. “Sweetie, please don’t forget that Mike and Tina are coming by tonight for our barbecue around six.”

Sam’s brain went south when he felt the touch of her hand on his body through his clothes. Even though she was in high heels, the top of her head barely reached his shoulders. He felt so protective of her. “Don’t worry honey I promise to be on time. Just make sure my dad doesn’t keep you here to long, you know how he is.”

“Don’t you worry about Mercedes, she is in good hands. I would never let anything happen to my future daughter in law even though she is trying to convince me to take her to a site we are working on. I told her she couldn’t wear those heels on a construction site, but I know she would look cute as a button in a construction hat.” Dwight said as he waited for Mercedes to leave Sam’s office.

As soon as Mercedes lifted her hand from his chest and stepped away, Sam wanted to pull her back because he now craved her touch as she walked with his dad towards the door. Mercedes said her goodbyes, and Sam realized it was going to be an exasperating year and half.

As soon as she left the office he heard Noah saying, “You are marrying the Brick House Barbie! I can’t believe this.”

Sam realized that Mercedes did everything right to convince Noah that they were a couple; she had truly covered for him when he was at a loss. He could get used to her calling him pet names, none of his other girlfriends had ever called him ‘Sweetie’ it was unbelievable mushy but when she said it in her deep seductive voice the word went all through him. He had to pay attention to Noah before he further convinced his friend that he was a lovesick fool with his actions. “I most certainly am marrying her, and if you know what is good for you, you will never refer to my future wife as Brick House Barbie again. If I hear you referring to any part of her anatomy, I will kick your ass first, and then kick you in the face, making you sure that you will swallow all of your teeth. Now leave me alone, I have a ton of work to do since I have plans for the evening.

“Thanks Tina for convincing me to have lunch with my dad and Mr. Dwight. They both apologized for their wives’ behavior, and I apologized to them for getting upset and being disrespectful. My parents didn’t rear me up to be a ratchet hot mess. However, they were both so charming that I didn’t feel any guilt at all. My dad treated me like I was his princess again, and when Dad had to go back to work, Mr. Dwight took me to his job to show me where he worked, what he did, and of course we ran into Sam and his wretched friend Noah Puckerman.” Mercedes discussed her afternoon with Tina while the two of them prepared the barbecue.

“I knew that going out with the two of them would be just what the doctor ordered. I could tell by Mr. Evans’ face last night that he didn’t approve of his wife or your mom’s behavior, but he was obviously smart enough to stay out of it. And your poor dad was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was angry with the both of you, and he could publicly correct you without rancor but correcting his wife would have resulted with him probably sleeping on the couch.”

“You are so smart and wise as always. Why am I not in the least bit surprised? You could read them like you have always read me.”

Tina looked her best friend in the eyes, and said “I also know something else is bothering you. So, tell me what’s up with you besides being forced into an arranged marriage and dealing with your normal mama drama?”

Mercedes didn’t know where to begin so she just poured out her feelings regarding Sam. “Sam Evans is driving me up the wall. You and I know it’s been forever since I’ve dated or even been interested in a guy. After I became famous most guys wanted to date the superstar and not the person.”

“Well that explains why no man has gone out more than twice with you. I don’t think you have been in relationship since that loser who went by the name of Rank,” after hearing Mercedes wanting to interrupt, Tina continued with, “Oh, please excuse me, he wanted to be called Tank. After your relationship with him failed, you began to devote yourself to your music career and then charities. And later when you had gotten over him, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then you completely stopped going out on dates at all.”

“Tina, I couldn’t bear to see you sick and fighting cancer, and even though I knew Mike was with you, Mike was not himself. I am positive if you would have died, then he would have died of grief along with you because he loved you so much. You were scared, Mike was scared, and I was scared as well. I could understand Mike’s pain because even though I don’t have romantic love for you, I love you like a sister, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You know my parents; I need you and will always need you in my life because you love me unconditionally.” Mercedes had to struggle to hold back her tears. She withheld her tears from Tina throughout her friend’s battle with cancer. Tina and Mike thought she was being strong and optimistic, but her mother had ingrained in her that tears were for the weak, and that Mercedes Marcia Jones was a strong black woman.

Tina, on the other hand, was one who would cry at the drop of a hat. Tears were rolling down her face as she remembered her illness. “I can’t believe that you gave up so much for me. You cancelled tours, appearances, and put back your album’s release date, so you could spend time with me. You moved back to Lima a place you said you would never come back to because you didn’t want to be near your mama. You did it all for me.”

“I had no choice Tina. At the time Mike was a ball of emotion, and your mom dealt with your illness by turning to alcohol to numb her pain while your dad was so stoic. I knew you needed me, and there was no place that I would rather be than with you during that time.”

“That’s my mom and dad. She is the eternal optimist and he is the eternal pessimist. When she found out the cancer was stage four and that she would more than likely lose me she was so supportive until my dad having already given up and all but buried me convinced her to accept my death. She really couldn’t cope, so she just turned to alcohol and continued to drink out of guilt for not being there for me.”

“Well, I used to be jealous of your mom and your relationship with her until your cancer diagnosis. I don’t even think that the doctor thought you were going to survive because you were so petite and frail. I was so terrified that every phone call I would get would be someone telling me that you had died. You truly inspired me to never lose hope and write songs about how even in the darkest hour there is a light, and we must hold on and keep the faith and never let go. And look at you now. You are married to the love of your life and you are in complete remission, so I have nothing to be upset about.”

“Mercedes you can try to redirect the conversation as much as you like, but you are still not telling me what is wrong and has placed those bags under your eyes indicating that you are not getting proper sleep. Please don’t shut me out.”

“It’s my feelings for Sam; I don’t know if I am going to be able to fight off my attraction towards him.”

“Girl is that all. I think any female over the age of 12 who is straight forget that some even batting for the other team would be attracted to your husband, even though I am happily married, I still think he is hot.” Tina said laughing at Mercedes as she began to chop of the vegetables for the salad.

“Tina, I mean more than like him physically, he is beginning to turn me on emotionally, too. His mom and my mom are so similar and our dads are similar, too. I’m about to be his wife in name only, and I am seriously doubting my ability to keep my hands off of that body. I made a mistake and touched is chest today, and I swear he has a minimum of a six pack and that smile of his; those lips make me imagine all the ways he can use them to give me pleasure. And did I mention those arms and those big hands. You know when he hugged me today, I could tell that big hands, big feet, also equal big d! How in the hell and I am going to go through a year and half of marriage and not climb that man like a tree?”

“Mercedes, I don’t know what to tell you, but I think you are worrying too much. We are not promised tomorrow, so it’s best to just focus on today and its concerns.” Tina tried to give her friend good advice seeing how conflicted she was. Tina really wanted to tell Mercedes to forget the annulment and work out her sexual frustration on Sam, but she knew her friend wanted to save herself for marriage and that was the reason she and Tank broke up, and if Sam wasn’t her happily ever after, she would feel awful giving up her virginity to a man that she was only married to for a year and a half.

“Look at me Tee! After talking to my dad and Mr. Dwight I have decided to pretend to have a “real” marriage so that our mothers are not embarrassed. I am standing in my kitchen dressed like, cooking like, and being neurotic like a black Martha Stewart all to impress some guy that has to marry me anyway. I am wearing make-up for two days in a row look I even have eyeliner on.”

Tina turned around and saw Sam and Mike approaching, and she tried to interrupt Mercedes, but Mercedes continued on, I have on an outfit my mother bought me for the summer we spent in the Hamptons. I have over 30 freaking recipes for salad that range from casual to haute cuisine, and I am wondering which salad would go best with steak. What if Sam hates everything that I am preparing?”

Tina finally had a chance to enter the conversation. “I really think that you should change the subject,”

“Hell to the no, Tee! You were the one saying I needed to talk and now I am spilling my tea. You wanted me to confess why I have been tossing and turning and not getting sleep, and it is all because I am so stupid to be attracted to my future husband; someone who I hated on sight. Now I am worried about whether or not he has food allergies, and if my cooking will kill him, then Judge Washington would use this as an excuse to say I was avoiding marriage to him and have me convicted for murder one.”

“Mercedes! Shut up the hell up! I mean it stop talking.”

“Tina what is your problem you act as if Sam is standing behind me. Oh rub a duck; he is standing right behind me isn’t he?”

“Honey, I am home.” Sam said, and Mercedes wish she could melt and disappear through the vent on the floor.

“How the hell did you get in?” Mercedes asked him thinking it would be rude for him to just walk up in her home even if he would be moving his belongings into two of the rooms that very weekend.

“Sam called me to come over his place and put some boxes that he will be moving over here that he didn’t want the professional movers to be responsible for. He needed my SUV as well as he car to bring them over with his clothes, so that is why we both arrived at the same time, and I figured I would show Sam where you keep your spare key which I am assuming you need to go ahead and give to him and make another copy of. I figured you and Tina would be so busy with food preparation that you wouldn’t mind if we came on in.”

Mercedes looked at Mike as if he had lost his ever loving mind and mouthed really to Tina who could have interrupted at any time to let her know that Sam was listening to every freaking thing she was saying. Mike saw the look that Mercedes was giving to him and his wife, so he decided to play it safe and leave the room before she went off on the both of them, “Babe why don’t you help me unload the boxes that are in the SUV?” Mike said as Tina quickly agreed and left Mercedes alone with Sam.

“Mercedes you have never been this quiet for this long are you okay?” Sam asked noticing that she was avoiding his eyes and not looking in his direction in general. When she shook her head indicating she wasn’t, Sam couldn’t stop himself from drawing her into his body into a hug. He missed her scent, the feel of her hair underneath his chin, and the feel of her curves close to his body. “You don’t have to worry about me the only thing that I am allergic to is shellfish, so steak and salads are fine.” He tried to distract the both of them, but he could feel the sparks that they generated whenever they were close to one another and it was feeling that he was reluctant to let go even though he knew he would have to end the hug.

“Would you like something to drink?” She asked and when Sam nodded, she told him where the beer was. “Did you know that other than Mike, you are the only person that I know who drinks beer?”

“I also drink scotch, bourbon, and have been known to sip on a little whiskey, too.”

“I just think that this entire situation is so weird. We are marrying each other in less than three days, yet we really don’t know much about each other.” Mercedes said as she resumed chopping the vegetables for the salad.

Sam had stepped over to the fridge to get the beer and while he was walking he couldn’t help but noticed how her hair was beginning to curl again and it was swept back with a headband allowing him to see her beautiful eyes. Sam wanted to stop gazing at her, but after hearing her confession about wanting him as well the only thought that was going through his mind was how in the world he was going to keep himself from trying to seduce this sexy woman. He had to get his hormones under control and while he was trying to do so, he couldn’t help but reveal to her that he’d wish they had met under different circumstances.

“I wish we would have too.” Mercedes said concentrating on the salad because she could get lost in the intensity of his green eyes.

“Do you want to know a secret?” He said wanting to tease her and bring a smile to her face. After she nodded that she did want to know, Sam couldn’t stop grinning and told Mercedes, “I am seriously attracted to you to as well.” And when Mercedes gave him an answering smile, he felt as if all the air was sucked out of the room. Her smile truly made her beauty luminescent. Sam realized that by temporarily marrying a woman that could rob him of his breath may not be his wisest decision. Instead of telling her this, he tried to reassure himself by saying, “As far as this mutual attraction that we have going on between us, we will both be okay as long as we don’t act on it.”

“We won’t be able to get our annulment if we do, and I believe that we can handle our attraction now that we are actually getting along with each other. The only thing that that makes me wonder about your sanity now is your taste in friends. I don’t know how much of Noah Puckerman that I will be able to tolerate if you plan on spending as much time with him as I spend with Tina and Mike.”

“You mean the famous Puckerman charm didn’t make you want to risk going to jail for 30 days so you could get with him?” Sam asked pulling her chain. He could tell how Mercedes tried to distance herself from Noah that she was definitely not feeling him.

“Hell to the no Sam, I would prefer if I had to be in his presence, that it will be for as little time as possible.”

“Well, he is a college friend, and we will be expected to entertain him and his wife when it comes to company dinners with my family, but as for us doing what we do with the Changs, you don’t have to worry about us doing it with the Puckermans. They have three children and believe me I try to avoid going over their house as much as possible.”

“I will just do my best to keep my distance from him when we have to be around him. Taste this piece of steak for me. I used a homemade marinade, and I want your honest opinion before serving it to you all for dinner.” Mercedes cut him a tiny portion of the steak and placed the meat on the fork so he could taste it.

“Wow, that is the most succulent and flavorful piece of steak that I have had off the grill in my life. Are you a professional chef as well?” Sam asked ready to eat his meal and get far away from Mercedes as possible. Her smell made her just as appetizing as the food. She was almost the perfect woman: brilliant, beautiful, sassy, and could cook. He tried to spend the rest of the evening without focusing on her and instead enjoying the barbecue with her friends who were quickly becoming his close friends as well.

On Sunday Mercedes had been on pins and needles waiting for Sam to pick her up to join him for his family’s Sunday dinner. The barbecue had been a success, and they had emptied the boxes that Mike and Tina had brought into the house earlier as well as retrieved and unpacked the luggage that Sam had in the car. Tina, Mike, and Sam had left after midnight which prompted Mercedes to sleep late that morning.

Now she was walking hand in hand with Sam up the drive of his parent’s home. The pins and needles feeling hadn’t left but seem to increase the closer they got to his house.

Sam could feel Mercedes’ nervous energy, so he tried to calm her by reminding her that it was only Sunday dinner with his parents and siblings and that she would be okay. He saw her fidgeting with her dress and told her she looked beautiful which she did in a short royal blue dress and killer heels. Sam could think of all the things he wanted to do to her while she was wearing those heels, but cleared his throat when Mercedes mentioned all the cars that were parked along the street.

“Somebody must be throwing a party.” Mercedes guessed thinking it was unusual for people to throw parties on Sunday afternoons.

“Well, I thank God, that my parents are sticklers for our family dinner tradition, so I know that we aren’t going to have to go to their neighbor’s party.”

Mercedes noticed her father’s vehicle and the two others parked on the driveway. “Whose cars are the other two vehicles that are parked by my dad’s car?”

“Oh, that is my brother Stevie’s car and the car that my dad recently bought my sister Stacie for her 17th birthday.” As the neared the front door, Sam put his arm around her waist, and the tingles he felt when he held her hand multiplied.

Mercedes knew her butterflies and nervousness was a result from the last meal she shared with their parents. “I am just hoping and praying that this dinner will not be as horrible as the first dinner we all shared together at Tina and Mike’s.” She had been avoiding her mother successfully since the dinner, and this would be the first time they would be face to face since that disastrous night.

“Just think on the bright side, I don’t think there is any possibility of it being any worse, and this time we are not battling each other. We are a unified team, and the only problem that I think we will have is my little brother.” Sam admitted as they approached the front door.

“A team I like that idea. I will have your back and you will have mind. Why would your brother be a problem?”

“Yep, Team Samcedes those mothers of ours don’t stand a chance. Stevie will be a problem because the first thing I bet he is going to do when he meets you is hit on you.”

“Sam didn’t you tell me that Stevie is just 19, I am over a decade older than him, and I’m your fiancée. I doubt he will be that bold to flirt with me in your face.”

“Mercedes, according to my mother, Evans’ men come out of the womb flirting. You have even said how charming you find my father. Well, my brother is at the time in his life that he has more hormones than common sense, and when he sees you that body that God broke the mold of once He made you because I have yet to see anyone as sexy, he will be unable to stop flirting with you for the entire evening. Just don’t smile and tell him he’s cute, or you will have to deal with him dogging you throughout our marriage.”

“Thanks Sam,” Mercedes said sarcastically. “Now I don’t only have to worry about our mothers, but I also have to watch out for your brother who may or may not become my stalker.”

“Now that our mothers have an audience of my siblings, I assure you they will be on their best behavior because I don’t think they have told them that we’re being court ordered to marry, and my brother is harmless; he won’t stalk you just flirt with you every chance he gets. I am sure both our dads and yours truly will be able to keep him in check.”

As soon as Sam rang the doorbell, his mother rushed to open door smiling as if she was the happiest woman in the world. “Oh Sam and Mercedes come in. Mercedes I simply adore that dress. You are beautiful as always.”

Mercedes was shocked to see this version of Mary Evans. So, she accepted the compliment with a thank you and followed Sam into the grand foyer that had double staircases on both sides similar to her parents’ home except their double staircase extended from the great room not the foyer.

As they went into the home, Mercedes was shocked to be greeted by her own mother who called out their names and hugged Mercedes before asking, “How are my beautiful baby girl and handsome future son-in-law doing today?“

Mercedes didn’t know how to answer her mom. She felt that either she was dreaming or that she had stepped into the twilight zone. Sam, appearing to be not the least bit shocked by their behavior, replied that they were doing fine and asked how Mrs. Jones was doing as well. Her mother was interrupted by Mary who grabbed Sam’s arm and ushered all four of them through the house saying that everyone was waiting for them.

Sam unable to remain optimistic had to question his mother, “By everyone you mean only our families right?”

“Uh no not exactly Sam we sort of meant it by saying that you two were going to have to pretend that this marriage was for real, and in order to do this, Melanie and I…”

Before they could step towards the end of the foyer and before Mary could finish talking a great many people shouted “Surprise!” causing Mercedes to stumble back in shock, and Sam had to react quickly to catch her from slipping on the hardwood floors with her heels. “Oh, hell to the no.” she whispered as she felt Sam’s arm around her waist.

“What the hell is this?” Sam asked the moms, and Mercedes’ mother laughed at him.

“This is your engagement party silly. Mary and I know you both didn’t want us to make a big deal because of how much Mercedes values her privacy and doesn’t want the media to know her personal business, but we just couldn’t go without having a small party with a hundred of our closest friends and a couple of your friends.” Melanie explained as hugged Sam then Mercedes again.

Mary congratulated the kids on their engagement and then left the two, so they could mingle hurrying away from them before Sam’s loose lips could say anything and before Mercedes could explode in anger. Mercedes told Sam that she could kill their mothers before she spotted and waved to Mike and Tina.

Sam promised to help Mercedes hide their bodies, before telling her if they decide to commit the crime that night that she would have to change her shoes. This caused Mercedes to remember her almost fall from earlier and caused her to laugh. While they were laughing a camera flash went off, and Mercedes knew without a doubt the press was there, and they would have to put on a show as a loving couple. “Okay Sweetie lets go interact with a couple of our friends while avoiding the hundred of our mothers’ closest acquaintances.” Sam agreed and steered her towards Mike and Tina.

#samcedes fanfiction #Orderedtomarry #Tickled Pink by JT Schultz

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tbloves2read · 9 years

Text

Ordered to Marry

Disclaimer: None of the story is original except for my OCs. The idea for the story is solely JT Schultz you can read Tickled Pink on Kindle Unlimited for free if you enjoy the story and of course RIB owns Samcedes and the Glee peeps mentioned in the story.

Chapter Two

Thursday night before they were due in court the next day, Sam had agreed to meet with Mercedes and Mike to discuss the details concerning the wedding that they were going to present to Judge Washington. They had agreed to meet in neutral territory which was the Changs’ home located in an upper middle class neighborhood of Lima. Although Sam was still incensed from having to enroll in and take a driver’s education course, he could tell Mike was good people and had taking a liking to the guy.

Sam got out of his car grabbing a bottle of wine that he had remembered to bring and stared at the cars in the driveway and was instantly depressed when he noticed his father’s Jaguar XJ parked near an Audi A8 which had a license plate that said #1ToothDoc which he assumed was Mercedes’ dad vehicle. The only other car in the parking lot was a candy apple red 1961 Ferrari Modena Spyder that he assumed must have belonged to Mike Chang since Mercedes Jones was against speeding and probably sports cars of any kind.

He wondered if Mercedes was even at the Changs’ home yet. His bride to be was many things and unlike any woman he had dated in the past. She was his complete opposite, and he wondered how his mom thought that she would be a good match for him when she thought of this preposterous sentence with Mercedes’ mom. Mercedes did not deserve his lousy attitude towards their pending nuptials. She was just a victim like him, and they would both be able to tell the tale of how their year and a half marriage began with the two of them being arrested together.

Sam rang the doorbell, and was not surprised to see Mike Chang opening the door. After exchanging greetings, Sam acknowledged the obvious addition of both sets of parents being invited that night.

“Yes, my wife Tina thought it was best to invite them because Mercedes is no longer speaking to her mother. She is hoping that tonight will provide some kind of reconciliation between the two. Her mother addresses Mercedes, but Mercedes sends her responses back to her mother by another person in the room. The two of them are both at their breaking points, and Tina wants to reduce the amount of collateral damage that could result if the two break out into a shouting match. Both of them are stubborn and have to have the last word, but according to the two of them, they are nothing alike.

Sam looked at Mike with his mouth hanging open. “I guess Mercedes is really something, she is sounding more endearing by the minute.” Sam said with sarcasm.

“She is actually more than words can express, but the term something else is just a minor description of the one and the only Mercedes Jones.” Mike said after chuckling at Sam’s response.

Sam didn’t want to disagree with his host, so he decided to change the subject. “I couldn’t help but notice your 1961 Spyder. That car is absolutely gorgeous.”

“Oh, that car isn’t mine, it’s actually your future wife’s.” Mike said laughing thinking he wished he could call Cedes’ Baby his.

Sam entered into the Changs’ home and as an interior designer noted the décor had a slight Asian influence and was very nice and classy as he followed Mike further into his home. “I called several lawyers about the case, and they…”

“Hung up on you.” Mike finished before adding, “I did the same thing with judges as well and as soon as they heard Jones and Evans they hung up the phone on me as well. No one is willing to go against your mothers and especially Judge Washington and ADA Sylvester. These are four of the most feared ladies in the Ohio judicial system. An ADA Sylvester is known for being less scrupulous and holding a grudge forever.” Mike noticed the bottle of wine in Sam’s hand and thanked him before commenting that he didn’t think Sam was much of a wine drinker.

“I am more of a hard liquor and beer man myself.” Sam admitted before being led into the great room where the parents were seated.

“There is my son the last to arrive as always.” His mother commented looking at him with disapproval in his eyes.

“And my future son-in-law, I have known your mother for years with the various trials we have worked on together and the charities that we both are part of. However, I am sure you haven’t met my husband. Honey this is Sam Evans, and Sam this is my husband Dr. Malachi Jones. He is a dentist here in Lima.” She said watching the two men shake hands. Dr. Jones was the complete opposite of his wife. He was a quiet man, about six feet and built like a linebacker. His handshake was firm, and although his wife was obviously the bulldozer in the relationship, Dr. Jones was obviously far from being a weak man.

After greeting the Jones and his mother, Sam went to give his own dad a big hug. After he finished greeting his dad, his mom told him that he was just in time to hear the details that she and Melanie were putting into the wedding. Sam quickly corrected her telling her that there was not going to be a wedding.

“Well according to Judge Washington, there will be a wedding son whether you like it or not.” His mother replied her aggravation towards him returning.

“Since it’s not going to be a real marriage there is no need to plan a fancy catered affair.”

“This is the first wedding for both our families’ children, and I don’t know about Mary, but I was beginning to wonder if Mercedes would ever settle down long enough to marry with all that singing and touring around the world the girl has never stayed in one place long enough to have a relationship nevertheless get a chance to become somebody’s bride. We have been looking forward to this day for years.” Judge Jones responded in umbrage to Sam’s lack of regard towards his pending wedding.

“I know that Mrs. Jones, but we don’t have time to plan a fancy wedding. We want to be married as soon as possible, so we can have the marriage annulled as quickly as we can.”

“Sam, we are not stupid. It would take at least 6 months to arrange a fancy society wedding, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take the time to give you a nice wedding.” His mother responded ready to chew Sam up and spit him out.

As always Sam couldn’t keep his mouth shut and continued. “I don’t care what you would like to do mother, but I refuse to have a huge fiasco consisting of parties, a big tent, doves, bows on pews, and a big cake taking up half a table. There is no way in hell that will I participate in such a grandiose affair when this marriage is not about love but about being court ordered to marry.”

“Samuel James Evans watch your mouth!” His mother scolded him looking at him while shaking her head in disgrace.

Mike seeing that things were about to escalate between Sam and his mother decided to interrupt reminding Sam of the wine in his hands and urging Sam to go to the kitchen with him to get a drink and to be introduced to his wife Tina.

Sam followed Mike into the kitchen and noticed the bridal magazine in his mother’s hand. “You will need to throw that magazine in the trash while I am gone.” He told her as he exited the room. He turned towards Mike and told him that he wasn’t going to survive this sentence.

As soon as Mercedes saw Mike and Sam enter into the kitchen. She asked Mike had he mentioned the prenuptial agreement that she had him draw up to Sam.

“Yes, Mercedes, Sam and I discussed the prenup when I gave him directions to the house this afternoon. Sometime before you guys wedding, you will both need to sign it, and I will make sure that everything is in order. Sam has assets to protect as well with his comic books, and so the agreement will protect the both of you. Now let me introduce you to this lovely lady who I love with all of my heart, Tina this is Sam, and Sam this is Tina.”

Tina stepped forward and shook Sam’s hand telling Sam it was nice to meet him and welcoming him into her home. Sam looked at Tina and exchanged pleasantries thanking her for having the get together, but he didn’t look at her long because he couldn’t keep his eyes from being drawn to Mercedes who was standing next to Tina in a printed black dress with silver words written all over it. The dress was accentuating her hourglass shape. Her hair which had been in a curly ponytail when he first met her was now straightened and fell down her neck past her shoulders. Sam couldn’t believe he had forgotten just how gorgeous she was.

Mercedes noticing Sam staring at her greeted him. Her fun and laughter that she had been previously experiencing with Tina evaporated from her face when she realized he was just going to stare at her and say nothing which prompted her to be the bigger person and ask how was he doing.

Hearing Mercedes’ voice brought Sam out of his daze. He could tell she was forcing herself to be polite, so he decided to be honest as possible and tell her he was doing the best that he could, considering their situation. Sam could feel Mercedes’ gaze on him as she finally focused on his appearance perusing his body from head to toe, and the light that briefly lit up her dark gaze turned him on.

Mercedes turned her attention to Mike, and she asked, “Is my mother behaving?”

“If looking at wedding magazines with Mrs. Evans and planning the social event of the year for Lima means behaving, then yes, she is being impeccable.”

“Oh hell to no! Has my mother lost her ever loving mind or Tina have you spiked the lemonade and gotten her drunk?” Mercedes planted her hands on her curvy hips drawing Sam’s attention to her small waist and the hips that those tiny hands rested on. Sam tried his best to keep his eyes above her neck but he couldn’t stop his eyes from staring up her body and stopping at her breasts which the material of the dress clung to. Mercedes Jones was what his dad would call a ‘brick house’ and her hourglass figure was built for sin. He had to get all of his thoughts off of that hot body, so he looked at the glass of wine that Mike had poured for him and began to drink it.

“Yep, Mercedes I think she was talking about letting you wear her old wedding dress which was passed down to her mother from her great grandmother. She is just hoping that you will still be able to wear white” Mike said teasing Mercedes. He had known her throughout law school and he knew how serious Mercedes Jones was about her clothes.

“Oh double hell to the No! Tina, you better keep me away from that woman.” Mercedes started to count down from twenty a coping mechanism she had to use often when dealing her mother the Honorable Melanie Jones.

“Is hell to the no some sort of catchphrase or something for you?” Sam asked Mercedes realizing that this wasn’t the first time that he heard those words come out of her mouth. When they were being arrested was the first time he had heard her whisper the phrase, when she found out her mother was the judge was the second time, and when they were sentenced was the third time he said reminding her of how often she said the words.

“Oh, if you knew my mother, then you would now why I say those words. She used to wash my mouth out with soap because I apparently had a potty mouth when growing up, and I try not to curse too badly in public because I can still remember the taste of soap in my mouth, so I say that phrase to keep me from saying other four letter words that according to my mother are impolite for a lady to say in public.” Mercedes threw her hair over her shoulder and giggled causing Sam to be even more turned on by her. She was not flirting with him but her girlish giggle was sexy as hell, and Sam began to wonder how he was going to last eighteen months living with this woman. Oh well, cold showers would definitely be a reality in his future.

Sam’s focus for the rest of their respite in the kitchen away from their parents consisted of him finally being able to take his eyes off of her chest, and he was now busy looking at her plush lips that her pink gloss emphasized the softness and fullness of. Sam could picture himself kissing her lips and removing all the gloss so he could see what her lips looked like without any color added to them. If his attraction to Mercedes continued to grow every moment he spent with her then he was going to be a walking a hard on. He needed to get laid because all he could think of right now was sex with Mercedes which they had both agreed was not happening because they wanted to get the marriage annulled as soon as possible.

Mercedes tried to enjoy the Changs and Sam’s company, but as Sam continued to talk about his comic book side business, Mercedes couldn’t keep herself from teasing him about his interests. She was an accomplished actress because living with her mother for eighteen years and pretending to care about being a lawyer for six years had given her much practice in the art of deception. When Sam finally figured out Mercedes was joking, she had succeeded in stopping him from eye sexing her up in her friends’ kitchen of all places. She finally decided to step outside and get some air to clear her thoughts and to dispel the feeling of upcoming chaos from her mind.

Mercedes didn’t know what she had done to make God punish her with Sam Evans as her future spouse. Sure Sam was gorgeous but just because he was hot didn’t mean she wanted to spend a year and a half of her life with the goofy playboy. She hadn’t wasted time after their sentencing to go home and Google Sam Evans, and what she found out hadn’t surprised her at all..

According to the information online, his mother’s side of the family was from old Southern money, and Sam was now a sought after interior designer having won the coveted American Society of Interior Designers “Design Innovation Award” two years ago which was impressive because he wasn’t a full time designer. According to his website, Sam worked 30 hours of week for his father and 30 hours of week on his comic books. His work in comics kept him on the road traveling to San Diego, Denver, and New York, and other places where comic conventions were held. He worked hard and played hard according to the social pages which had him pictured with beautiful tall white women at various events which had given him the reputation of playboy by gossip columnists and were the only images she could find of him on the internet. She was obviously not his type, but that hadn’t kept his eyes from devouring her figure earlier.

Mercedes was jostled out of her thoughts by Tina’s appearance outside bringing her a glass of the wine from the bottle that Sam had brought. “I thought you might need a drink to help you deal with Sam and your mother.” Tina said as she handed the glass to Mercedes.

“Well thanks for having us over, but I really can only deal with one of the two without losing my temper, and you invited not just my parents but his as well.” Mercedes said with a grin slowly slipping the wine.

“Alright, I agree that that may not have been the wisest decision on my part, but I can’t say I am upset about inviting your future husband because he is one gorgeous, hot, and sexy man; you have to admit that if you were forced to marry someone at least he is not a troll.”

“Well, I was doing okay with his attractiveness until he start looking at me with bedroom eyes. I swear if eyes could shoot sperm, I think I would be six months pregnant with twins now. Seriously, I can’t believe I am attracted to him when we have agreed to no sex so we can have the marriage annulled.”

“I am sure something good is going to come out of the situation Mercedes. His mother and your mother have a crazy, illogical, and demented reason for doing this, and you two are just going to have to hope that it’s worth it because I can’t be visiting you whenever I want to see you in jail; furthermore, I don’t doubt that your mom would stop Judge Washington from having you put in there so that it could damage your singing career.”

“Tina, I just feel like all of this is my fault. That Sam is being punished because I decided that I didn’t want to go into law. My mother is such a control freak, and any way that she can get back at me, she will. Also, I can’t imagine living with Sam; we are complete opposites. I can only see us being miserable together which to my mother would be a fitting punishment. I have made her life miserable by being a singer and not a lawyer, and she is going to make my life miserable by punishing me into marrying a man whose car window I burst out with a softball, caused to go to jail, and to go to driver’s education which he sorely needs anyways.”

“Mercedes, you are way too hard on yourself. You can’t shoulder all the blame for this fiasco. I don’t think your mother was the only one behind this marriage idea. It seems as if Sam’s mom is more into the planning of your wedding than she is. I think they want to see their children settled and figured this was the only way they could get the two of you to settle down.”

“Oh so being court ordered to marry is the new way to go about arranging marriages?” Mercedes asked thinking what Tina was saying made sense. Her mother and Sam’s mother were friends, and she couldn’t help but to think that Tina could be half right.

“Come on Cedes show me that million dollar smile that lights up a room. You know this marriage will be over before you know it. And look on the bright side at least your dad didn’t have to pay the dowry of silk, livestock, and cash to seal the deal.”

Mercedes burst out laughing. “You are one twisted woman Tina Chang, and I love you. I don’t know what I would do if you were not in my life.” Mercedes sobered up when she realized how close she was to losing her best friend to cancer. Tina was a fighter a true survivor, and when Mercedes thought of all her friend had gone through the chemo, the radiation, the matching pink wigs they wore to support and recognize breast cancer victims and survivors, Mercedes knew her life could be worse than being force to marry Sam Evans for one year. “Thanks for being the best friend a girl could ever dream of having.” Mercedes said already filling a little tipsy for drinking a glass of wine on an empty stomach.

“Don’t thank me yet, I didn’t give you the message that I originally came out to tell you which was Sam and Mike are both waiting for you in Mike’s office.” Tina told her friend with a grimace.

“Thanks for spoiling my appetite then friend. I don’t want to think about this marriage any more, but apparently I am not going to be able to escape my reality.”

“Don’t worry, we have wine to drink tonight, and you are welcome to stay the night or we can force Mike to be your designated driver, so let’s turn up if things get too messy.”

“Don’t you know that according to my mother ‘messy’ is my middle name? Please tell me that we are having some chocolate to go along with the wine. I need something to boost my mood.”

“I have a chocolate cheesecake for dessert with both of our names written on it.” Mercedes followed Tina back into the house and overheard Mike and Sam talking about football a sport that she had absolutely no interest in whatsoever. “Am I interrupting?” Mercedes asked the two as she entered into the office stopping to stand in front of Mike’s desk beside Sam.

“No, of course not,” Mike replied as he motioned for Mercedes to have a seat.

“Okay Mercedes, Sam has looked over the prenuptial agreement and has already signed off on it. It is basically stating that you two will leave the marriage with what you brought into it, and that neither one of you will sue for intellectual property or gains that were made during your marriage. Since the marriage will not last over two years, I don’t think we need to worry about adding custodial arrangement for kids and the division of property.”

“You are right about the kids there will be no kids because we will not be consummating the marriage.”

“Mercedes is right, having kids will be impossible because instead of going through a divorce we are going to have this marriage annulled.”

“Well, you two don’t need to wait, you can go ahead and read and sign off on the prenup. Have you two decided on a wedding date yet?” Mike asked as he handed the copy of the prenuptial agreement that Sam had already signed over to Mercedes.

Sam answered Mike’s question. “No we haven’t even seen or spoken to each other since that mockery of an arraignment until we met up in your kitchen this evening.”

“Do I have to remind you that we meet with the judge, who has the least bit of patience, no sense of humor, and has the reputation for not tolerating bull, tomorrow morning, and if you don’t have a wedding date, the both of you will be facing a jail sentence of 30 days? Do you understand that you two are going to have to communicate with each other, make decisions, and live with each other for over a year? This is a serious situation that is not to be taken lightly.”

“None of this is our choice Mike. It’s our parents and their cronies’ fault. I don’t want to marry Sam, and I am sure he doesn’t want to marry me either.” Mercedes said tired of having to defend her attitude towards this court mandated travesty of a marriage.

“The both of you need to understand that this marriage will be what you make of it. It could be an okay time or the worst time of your lives, but only you two have the power to make it be something undesirable. It’s not like you have both been sentenced to death.” Mike’s words were falling on deaf ears. He could tell both Mercedes and Sam were too stubborn to realize that their marriage sentence was not the end of the world for either of them. He couldn’t help but utter out the words ‘unbelievable’ after looking at the two.

Sam couldn’t help but ask, “What’s so unbelievable?”

“You two because I feel you haven’t even looked at the judge’s official ruling that smells of both of your mothers’ influences. You two are to be married for exactly 548 days. During these 548 days you must live together and have no more than three consecutive days a part. You two are not allowed to spend three days together and then three days apart because you are only allowed the maximum of twenty-two days apart during the entirety of the marriage. You two are not allowed to conduct extra marital affairs, and if you are caught cheating or breaking any of the terms of the marriage, you will have nullified the judge’s order and will end up back in court in front of the judge who is known for not having any mercy.”

“So, much for any tours that my management team have booked for me that are overseas. I will have to cancel them and pretty much be stateside and work around Sam’s schedule for any engagements that involve lengthy travel.” Mercedes hadn’t toured since Tina’s diagnosis, and her management team were busy trying to get her on the road as soon as possible to promote the upcoming release of her sophomore album.

“I am sorry Mercedes. You two are going to have to decide on a residence and a wedding date before leaving here tonight.”

“I would prefer that we live in my house since I have a home studio downstairs in which I record in. I don’t think it is far from where you live since you drive by my house daily on your commute to work.” Mercedes could picture Sam’s bachelor’s pad in her mind and knew that she would have to leave every day to visit her home to get the creativity needed to write her songs and that she would end up spending more time at her house than his house and if her mother found out, she would threaten to send them back to the judge.

“Well, I guess it would be easier to move my art supplies and my home office then to try to move your studio, so I am willing to move in your house since I already know where it is located. What do you have four or three bedrooms?” Sam asked her looking perturbed at having to be the one to give up his home for over a year.

“It was initially a four bedroom home, but I use one of the bedrooms as an extended closet for my entertainment clothes. My studio is located downstairs, and you are more than welcome to use one of the bedrooms to sleep in and the other to use as your office or you can use the small study as your office if the space is sufficient. When do you think we should tie the knot?” She asked since she decided their living arrangements, she thought it would be only fair for him to decide when they get married.

“As soon as possible, the quicker we get married, the quicker we can have it annulled and get back to our lives.”

“Finally something we agree on. If we are going to do this, then we are going to have stand firm and be united against our wedding crazy mothers.”

“The two of them are acting as if this is a love match made in heaven and not the courtroom, but I don’t care what they say or how they act, I am free this weekend except for Sunday night. My mom makes all of us come to her house for a family dinner preferably after church, but church attendance is not required.

“Well, I am an only child, so we don’t do big family meals. I am only required to show up at the dinner table on Christmas, or if she does some fundraising gala throughout the year that doesn’t conflict with my schedule. Although she hates my career, she doesn’t mind using it for her advantage for her many charities. My weekend is clear except I need to be in Vegas on Monday to discuss a possible show that I can’t cancel at this late date.” Mercedes grudgingly admitted.

“You have to be in Vegas on Monday. That’s perfect. We can move my stuff in your house over the weekend, and on Monday I can fly to Vegas with you and after your meeting we can get married there.”

Just like that Sam had organized their future, and Mercedes couldn’t stop the sinking feeling that she felt in her belly. Her whole world was being turned upside down, but at least she would be able to gain a little control of her life over her mother and rob her of the wedding that she was busy planning with Mrs. Evans. “Okay,” she said looking at Sam before looking to Mike. “I guess we have everything that you need to present to the judge tomorrow.” She told him as she finished reading the prenup and signed it; somehow feeling as if she was sealing her fate.

Tina came back in while Mercedes was signing the prenuptial agreement. “Excuse me for interrupting but dinner is ready.” Mercedes looked at her friend and gave the paper and pen to Mike and got up telling Tina that she would help serve since they were all finished.

Sam had to admit that the five course meal that Tina had put together was incredible. The starter, soup, salad, and meal were mouthwatering, but he just couldn’t find his appetite to enjoy any of it even the fabulous looking dessert served with coffee. He spent the majority of the meal sneaking looks at Mercedes than he did focusing on the conversation going on around the table. His mother’s grating voice soon captured his attention when she said his name.

“I am just saying as horrifying as it would be to have Samuel as a jailbird ex-con being known as my son; it would be just as awful as having the true state behind his marriage being revealed to society. This could negatively effect Mercedes’ singing career and both my and Melanie’s careers in law and our future careers in politics if we decide one day to run for governor or become a federal judge.”

“Mary you are absolutely right. Sam and Mercedes, it is imperative that you make everybody believe that this marriage is for real. It will be bad enough when your divorce comes through, but I am sure Hollywood is used to celebrity marriages ending in divorce. It is always a surprise when those marriages last.” Melanie Jones added looking at her daughter with judgmental eyes.

“Annulment you mean,” Sam corrected Mercedes’ mother. “We have both agreed to have the marriage annulled not that it is any of your business.” Loose lips Sam was back at it again. Mercedes may be hotheaded, but Sam’s impulsiveness was equally as exasperating to the mothers.

“Oh it will definitely be everybody’s business. You keep forgetting Mercedes is a celebrity, and her marriage to you will pique the media’s attention whether you both want it to or not. Plus, Mary and I are well known throughout this great state of Ohio. What our children are doing will be of interests. And if you two cannot pretend to be happily married, then I will let Judge Washington throw the book at the both of you and blame Hollywood on Mercedes’ erratic behavior tell everyone she is having a Britney Spears’ meltdown, but you I am sure I will leave for your mother to handle. If you make my daughter a laughingstock, then I will hope she will deal with you appropriately, or I will not rest until you feel the weight and wrath that accompanies going against Melanie Marshall Jones.”

“Sam, how could you be so disrespectful? Dwight, you see we should have sent him to military school. The boy has no manners or Southern gentleman decorum. I am sure my grandparents are rolling over in their graves to think that a son of ours would not mind being arrested or publicly embarrassing our names by admitting to be in a fake marriage by confessing that he was sentenced to be married. I just don’t know. I am about to wash my hands of him and prevent him from being around his younger sister and brother. He truly needs to realize that his actions are the reason why he is in the situation he is today.”

“You two need to stop jumping down Sam’s throat when he is only guilty of speaking the truth, and mother I am so tired of you looking down your nose on me because I am a professional singer. Sam and I are being punished because you two can’t seem to fucking let go. We are adults. We are going to make mistakes but that doesn’t give you two the motherfucking right to dictate what we do, when we do it, or even how we do it!”

“Mercedes, that is enough I know you are upset, but we are guests in the Changs’ home, and I will not tolerate you speaking to your mother or Mrs. Evans in this manner. If you could pretend to go to law school and waste all that tuition money for a degree you never used, then I know you can pretend to be happily married to Sam for less than two years.” Mercedes’ heart broke when she heard her daddy take her mother’s side.

Her dad always supported her when it came to her mom, but now it was like even he thought faking wedded bliss was her best interest. Mercedes counted down from twenty before addressing her father. “Sam and I both have professional careers that we have been recognized by our respective industries for our accomplishments. Even though we are 100% sure that our mothers convinced Judge Washington to order us to marry, we have done what we have been legally ordered to do even though I am sure that they are all involved in violating the Civil Liberties Act as well revoking the concept of freedom that this country is based upon, we have not made a big stink, but in the privacy of our friends’ home we are entitled to voice our opinions, and if you don’t like it, then stick it up your ass. Not that any of you care, but I have to put off tours overseas for this marriage to work and I have accepted a Vegas act that will be a bitch to commute to, but none of you seem to care about my career at all.”

Mercedes’ mom looked at her daughter with no compassion or even shock. “You wouldn’t have these problems if you would have pursued a normal job.”

“Don’t pretend as if I would have decided on being a doctor or a dentist like dad that you would be any different. You are just pissed off that I decided not to follow in the long line of Marshalls that descend from Thurgood Marshall who had the audacity to decide not to be a fucking lawyer like you and the rest of your bourgeoisie family.”

“Mercedes you are my baby girl, but I will not tolerate you speaking to your mother like this.” Mercedes’ dad could tell that both the women in his family were at the point of throwing words like daggers and this was not the time or the place.

Sam was enjoying seeing the spitfire that his future wife was. She was intelligent, passionate, and obviously a lot more than the sexy body and beautiful voice that he initially thought she was. Tina fortunately got up to diffuse the situation before it became more volatile and began clearing dishes with Mercedes quickly volunteering to help her. Sam hadn’t thought of all Mercedes was giving up to being his wife, and he stopped Tina from going into kitchen, but chose to grab the dishes out of her hand and join Mercedes himself.

As Sam entered the kitchen he was not prepared to see that ass as she was bending down placing dishes in the dishwater. He had to stop himself from cursing out loud as he let out an internal wolf whistle at his appreciation of the ass that could launch one million ships. He couldn’t help the strong surge of arousal that poured through his veins as he appreciated every facet of his future wife’s killer shape. The only thing that stopped him from licking his lips and standing their appreciating the view was the faint sounds of sniffling he heard coming from her direction. Her muffled cries lured him to come closer to her to comfort her not to just hand her the dishes.

Without turning around, Mercedes heard Tina enter the kitchen. “I know what you are going to say, and I know I was wrong for losing my cool and showing my ass off at your dinner table.”

“Hell no, I agreed with everything you said and more. If I could have co-signed while we were out there I would have, but neither you nor your mother or father would allow anyone else into the conversation.”

Mercedes turned around in shock when she heard Sam’s voice saying the words that she needed to hear being said. “You are not Tina,” were the only words that Mercedes was capable of uttering.

“No, I am about a foot taller than she is. Not to mention that I don’t think I have the legs to carry off her dress; look at my legs and see if you don’t agree.”

Mercedes appreciated Sam’s attempt at humor. “I usually never cry, my mom convinced me as a child that it was a sign of weakness.” She admitted to him as she dried the tears from her face and eyes.

“Believe me I understand completely where you are coming from. My mom hated the fact that I didn’t go into law like she wanted me to do, but I followed more in my father’s footsteps, and when I didn’t even want to become a prestigious architect but wanted to design the interior of buildings instead you should have been around for the fight, and when I earned enough to write and publish my own line of comics, the shit really hit the fan then.”

“It seems we have more in common than I initially thought which has equipped us with an automated response to defend and comfort each other against those two women out there who think they should be Mother of the Year.” Mercedes looked at Sam for the first time and didn’t see the irresponsible jerk but a man who grew up in a household similar to hers.

Sam looked at Mercedes and nodded his head in agreement. This was the first time he had seen Mercedes in make-up, and even crying hadn’t disturbed her beauty it was if possible her enlarged dark eyes made her look even more beautiful. “I think we should pretend that this is the first time we have met and start over. Hi, my name is Sam Evans, and I enjoy fast cars, drawing, and watching movies with heroes.”

“Hello, Sam Evans, my name is Mercedes Jones, and I enjoy writing and singing songs that bring people hope, inspiration, and joy. I also enjoy watching superhero movies as well, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She said reaching out her hand to his.

Sam couldn’t believe the heat that traveled through his skin on touching hers in the innocent hand shake. It was if a short burst of electricity traveled throughout his body. He couldn’t stop the smile from appearing on his face as he told her it was nice to meet her as well.

�

#samcedes fanfiction #Orderedtomarry #tickled pink by jt schultz

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tbloves2read · 9 years

Text

Ordered to Marry

AU Samcedes Romance Based on JT Schultz’s Tickled Pink.

Mercedes Jones age 30 is the singer daughter of Dr. Malachi Jones a dentist and Judge Melanie Marshall Jones. Melanie is a distant relative of Thurgood Marshall, and every person in the Marshall family goes into law. Mercedes went to Harvard as a pre law student and later to Middleton Law School in Philadelphia. She graduated with her degree but has failed to take the Bar Exam choosing instead to become a professional singer much to her mother’s dismay.

Samuel “Sam” Evans age 32 interior designer/comic book author son of architect Dwight Evans and Assistant District Attorney Mary Evans. When Sam was young, his father lost his job which prompted his mom to go back to school and get her law degree. Mary tried to encourage Sam to go in to a stable career like law so he wouldn’t have to experience the loss of his home and standing in their community like they had when Dwight lost his job. Sam totally ignored his mom and combined his love of art with his love of architecture and went into design and works for his father’s architecture firm as head designer as well as having his own profitable side business of publishing his own comic books. Mary was disappointed in her son, and is more disappointed in his playboy ways and his spending time at Comic Cons not seeming to want to settle down and bring honor and dignity back to the Evans’ name as well as being a poor role model for his younger siblings Stacie and Stevie.

Chapter One

Mercedes couldn’t believe that the maniac driving the Maybach was speeding passed her house yet again through a family neighborhood filled with young children and their pets.

She didn’t know what possessed her to move her career from LA to Lima permanently following her return home to be with her best friend Tina who had survived stage 4 breast cancer, but she knew at the time of her friend’s diagnosis that her husband Mike also a good friend was near death himself with worry, and they needed her and she needed to be near them as well. She was the one that had introduced her best friend to her classmate Mike when she met him in her Criminal Law 100 class taught by the sadistic Professor Annalise Keating. The two had bonded and were a part of her select group chosen to work as interns on cases with her, and that experience more than anything else convinced Mercedes that law was not the career for her.

Now she was in Lima a place she swore never to return to because of her controlling mother. The woman made her watch The Cosby Show reruns so that she would desire to be like Clair Huxtable. Mercedes enjoyed the show, but the episodes that she liked best were the ones in which the kids lip-synch to songs. She loved music and performing. Her mother told her this was a nice hobby but wasn’t her destiny. According to her mother, Mercedes’ destiny was to become the first African-American female Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Mercedes followed her mother’s plans for her life until she became Professor Keating’s intern. Her whole view of the law left her with a rotten taste in her mouth, and she wanted to do what she was passionate about and that was her singing.

Her singing career which she started later in life first consisted of doing background vocals and writing songs for famous artists at Sony. However, her big break came when Kanye came into the studio and was listening to a song she had written for Beyonce, and the rest was history. He convinced the label to sign her as an artist, and although she wasn’t a superstar, she had toured with other artists and was slowly making a name for herself in the industry. She had singles break into the top ten with her debut album and was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best New Artist. Even though she hadn’t won, her song collaboration with Pharrell “Happy Part Two” had become a top grossing hit earning Mercedes a lot of money and opportunity to have a successful sophomore album. Mercedes songs were all feel good, triumph songs that were written to bring smiles and joy to people who were experiencing or had experienced pain in their lives.

So, being the super positive person that she was she had to live in an environment that was filled with positive inspiration. Her house in the suburban community of Lima was surrounded by family homes with the cutest children and unfortunately for her and the neighborhood a lunatic driver who would speed through their street with rap music blasting out of his emerald green Mercedes Maybach S600 every day for the past month ignoring the speed limit and aggravating her to no end.

She had figured out the times he would come by, and it was not like the sound of his music wasn’t a warning either, and she had begun hitting softballs off the balcony of her house to slow him down diverting his attention from his music so he could see the ball flying by and slow down. However, he had obviously gotten used to her hitting balls across the balcony and continued to speed by without slowing down. This made her so angry that she waited until she could see his car before hitting the ball to divert his attention. When she watched the ball that normally would fly over his car before hitting the ground across the road smash into the passenger side backseat window, Mercedes knew then that the excrement had hit the fan.

Sam couldn’t believe that the psycho who had been hitting balls across his car whenever he drove to and from work was at it again and this time had actually hit his car causing glass to shatter inside his backseat. He didn’t stop to think but grabbed the ball and got out of his car to confront the lunatic. As he walked closer to her balcony, he could see a pocket size Venus with chocolate skin, a baseball cap over her head, big brown doe eyes, and curves that were threatening to burst out of her tights and tank that she wore. If he wasn’t so angry, he would have taken time to appreciate the view, but he was livid. “How dare you do something so dangerous and destructive!” He yelled at her as soon as he got below her balcony.

“Me…you are the one who keeps speeding through this neighborhood when they are slow kids are playing signs posted along this road. You are a danger to this neighborhood, and I felt it was my civic duty to stop you before somebody gets hurt.” Mercedes was not expecting the nincompoop to be so tall, so young, and so obviously manly that her previous thoughts that his car and taste in music were overcompensating for his small penis size or mid-life crisis were thrown outside the window.

“Listen here lady if anyone is a danger to this community, it is you hitting balls at cars. A child could have been in my backseat. You could have done permanent damage. As it is you are most definitely paying for the damages that you have done to my car.”

“I didn’t mean to hit your window. I have you know that my daddy coached my Little League team, and I was his best batter. I also played on my junior high softball team. My aim is 100% true. It was your fault that your window got smashed. If you wouldn’t disregard the law and all the signs posted, I wouldn’t have been hitting balls from my balcony to slow your roll down.”

“I don’t know what loony bin you have escaped from, but anyone crazy enough to be hitting balls from the balcony of their home over or at cars is certifiable. You need to be locked up and have a psych evaluation done to keep you and your menacing ways away from the general public.”

“Well, I am not the crazy one who leaves an almost $200,000 car running in the middle of the streets with the doors open and rap music blaring out of it. It would serve you right if someone came along and stole your car that you are obviously not mentally equipped to drive.”

“Why you listen here you little…” Sam began only to be interrupted with the sounds of a siren being emitted from a police car. He was so happy to see the arrival of the police hoping that this crazy lady would be arrested with reckless behavior and forced to pay for the damages done to his vehicle. Sam was so busy looking at the crazy lady that he didn’t see the law enforcement officer running his license plate number.

“Which one of you is the driver of this car?” The young male officer asked looking at Mercedes’ curves and recognizing her as one of his favorite singers.

”You are referring to him. The irresponsible speedy swine who endangers the lives of the pedestrians in my neighborhood on a daily basis.” Mercedes said pointing at the man who now had a smirk on his face.

“Well, you sir have several unpaid speeding tickets, and I am going to have to take you in.” The young officer took his eyes off of Mercedes long enough to look at the man grimacing at her.

“What the hell…I don’t have any unpaid speeding tickets. Look, this is the woman that you need to be arresting; she hit this ball with her bat and damaged my car.” Sam said not believing this was happening.

“You are the public nuisance, and I am not surprised at all by the unpaid speeding tickets. He comes through our neighborhood every day blaring that 80s rap music and speeding through, and I was just hitting these balls across the road not at his car mind you but to get his attention to slow down. I figured it was my civic duty to keep the little kids and small animals in my neighborhood safe.” Mercedes explained while batting her eyelids at the officer.

“I am sorry ma’am, but I am going to have to take both of you in. Destruction of property by launching items at a moving vehicle is against the law. I hate to do this, but you both have the right to remain silent…” The young officer continue to Mirandize the two as his partner led the tow truck in removing Sam’s vehicle from the street and then helping him to put the two of them in the back seat of the squad car.

Later on that morning Mercedes felt as if she was about to die. She was stuck in a cell with skanks who smelled of cheap alcohol, cigarettes, and funk. Her mother was going to kill her. She was in a holding cell. What if her fans found out? What would she tell her label, manager, and publicist if word got out? She hated that man who was the reason she was suffering in her cell now trying to keep her head low beneath her cap to keep from being recognized. She had used her one call to call her friend Mike who was a lawyer and married to her best friend Tina. Mike said that he would be on his way to post her bail and everything, but she couldn’t tolerate the holding cell for much longer.

Sam couldn’t believe he was sitting in a holding cell in a jail stuck with a freak who appeared to be stoned and a drunk because of that lunatic who thought it was a good idea to hit balls from her balcony. She was obviously a couple of fries short of a Happy Meal, and he regretted the law having to be called because who knew that leaving it up to his airhead secretary Brittany Pierce to pay his tickets would result in him being arrested and being taken to jail like a common criminal.

Sam was about to get a chance to make his one phone call when the officer who arrested them informed them that their arraignment had been pushed up. Judge Jones was ready to hear their case with his mother serving as the Assistant District Attorney. Sam knew he was screwed his mom was not his biggest fan, and she would be extra hard on him for embarrassing their family name.

When Mercedes heard the news with Sam she almost fainted. Her mother was hearing their case. This had to be a nightmare she thought as she tried to prevent herself from hyperventilating. When she and Sam neared the courthouse and entered into the place the hearing was to be heard, Sam heard a name that sounded familiar to him being called and saw her face and realized as the lawyer greeted her with a kiss on the cheek that the woman who had damaged his car was a Grammy nominated singer and the daughter of the judge who she appeared to be terrified of seeing.

“Mike, my mom is going to be so hard on me. You know how she feels about me. We have to get another judge.” Mercedes was telling him, and Sam overheard. He also informed them that the ADA was his mom, and that they were doubly screwed.

After their case was called the People vs. Mercedes Jones and Samuel Evans, Mercedes looked at her mom with horror as the judge fussed through the file; “Mercedes Jones, you have the same name as my daughter.” Judge Jones looked at ADA Evans and asked her was Sam related to her, and Sam’s mother looked at him in horror and recognition.

As Mary Evans read the reason why her son and her good friend Judge Jones’ daughter were in court, she was so mad that she couldn’t keep the anger from her voice. “Yes, unfortunately your honor he is my son.”

After hearing the charges, Judge Jones sensing Mary’s anger asked for Mike, Mercedes’ defense lawyer, and Mary to come to her bench. While the three of them were talking and looking at their children and shaking their heads, Sam and Mercedes knew that the toughest sentence ever was headed their way.

When Mike came back with a slight smile on his face, Mercedes couldn’t believe it. She also couldn’t believe that her mom had decided to recuse herself from the case along with the assistant district attorney who happened to be Sam’s mom out of all people. There was to be a short recess while the ADA and judge both had replacements brought to fill in for them to hear the case due to the conflicts of interest.

Sam couldn’t believe he was stuck in court longer than necessary and feeling his mother’s wrath from across the room as she discussed things with Mercedes’ mother. Mercedes and Mike were discussing her case when he heard Mercedes using legal terminology when she was discussing her defense with Mike like an expert. “Did you major in law or something?” Sam asked pretending still not to recognize Mercedes as a famous singer.

“She was a law major and could be practicing now if she had decided to take the Bar Exam. She thought the world needed more happiness instead.” God bless Mike for answering for her. Tina chose a winner when she decided to marry him.

Sam looked at Mercedes in amazement and uttered out his thoughts before filtering them, “You were smart enough to get in law school but stupid enough to think that hitting softballs at moving cars was a smart thing to do.”

Before Mercedes could comment back, she heard the bailiff say “All arise for the Honorable Roz Washington.”

“Oh, hell to the no!” Mercedes groaned as if in agony.

“What is your problem now?” Sam asked her sure that the singer was either on drugs or just plain crazy.

“She is one of my mother’s best friends and was just as disappointed as my mother when I chose to be a singer rather than a lawyer.”

“And?” Sam asked not understanding the problem. Judge Washington continued, “We are waiting on someone to arrive from the district attorney’s office, then we’ll proceed.” As soon as the judge finished her sentence the door burst open and a tall woman hurried down the aisle of the courtroom.

Mercedes turned around to see both of their mothers walking in with the tall woman. The three of the ladies appeared to be bosom friends and laughing before Judge Washington greeted her to join the court. Mercedes had heard the trio whispering about the legality of something and her mom whispered that ‘everything was perfectly legal’. Looking at the horror on Sam’s face, Mercedes questioned him.

“The new ADA is my mother’s mentor.” Sam muttered knowing that Sue Sylvester hated his guts and would do anything his mother suggested to pay Sam back from any an all misdeeds real or imagined.

Mercedes looked at the expression on Sam Evans’ face. He was handsome maybe too boyishly handsome for her taste, but his body was HOT! “Oh, this is going to be very bad! I think they are all friends look at their expressions towards one another. This does not bode well for us at all.”

“Something is going on Mercedes, my mom just winked at Judge Washington.” Sam said ignoring Mike trying to reassure the both of them.

“Order in the court!” Judge Washington yelled while banging her gavel after listening to the charges of the defendants. The rest of the courtroom fell silent. “Does the prosecution have anything else to add?” She asked looking at ADA Sylvester.

Sue Sylvester got up and looked at Sam with a smirk then said, “Ms. Jones and Mr. Evans could be given a fine and forced to pay it which would not be a hardship considering their wealth. The question remains would they learn from their behavior or will they continue to act irresponsibly and reappear in court on similar foolish charges.”

“She says that as if we have done a horrible thing like we have committed murder or theft. I don’t think we have done anything to justify that comment.” Sam muttered out loud once again forgetting to filter his tongue.

“Are you out of your mind that means you would continue to speed through my neighborhood like a bat out of hell?” Mercedes told him not believing the words that came out of Sam Evans’ mouth.

“Are you two finished with your discussion?” Judge Washington asked not a least bit amused. “Mr. Chang, are you capable of keeping your clients’ mouth closed this is a court of law not their personal living room?”

“Yes, your honor.” Mike said looking at Mercedes and Sam with a rebuking glare.

“You, see your honor that there is the problem. Because of their parents and Mercedes Jones’ celebrity status, these two believe they are above the law. They are both out of control and need to be stopped before something more destructive and or deadly occurs.”

Mercedes couldn’t believe she was hearing some of the same words especially the phrase concerning fame going to her head just the other day over breakfast. She looked at her mom in disbelief.

“Does the defense have anything else to add?” Judge Washington looked at Mike.

Mike who had been looking at the mothers and now the new judge and ADA with a perplexed expression on his face just decided to state what he and Mercedes thought was the rational and best defense to admit their guilt and agree to pay whatever fines given to them by the court without argument. “Ms. Jones is more than willing to pay whatever the amount is needed to repair Mr. Evans’car, and Mr. Evans agrees to pay all of his speeding tickets and attend driver’s education classes to avoid having his license to drive revoked.”

Sam couldn’t believe that Mike Chang had decided that he should attend driver’s ed. “Hell to the No, I am not attending a driver’s class like I am a 16 year old; I am 32 years old, and I refused to do so!” Sam continued to yell with Mercedes pulling his coat trying to calm him down, but she couldn’t stop herself from adding her two cents. “I am sure everyone in court is aware of your age, but Mike is trying to save your ass and your license.” When Sam looked at her as if he wanted to curse her out, Mercedes couldn’t help but say, “Sam you really need to learn how to use your speedometer, and this class maybe could teach you what those numbers on the speedometer mean.”

All that could be heard next was the sound of the gavel banging down masking the giggles of everyone in the courtroom. “Mr. Evans and Ms. Jones, that’s enough! You have both lost your collective minds acting the fool up in my courtroom. You both believe you are above the law, and I feel as if I should sentence you both to thirty days in jail.”

Mike stood up and begged the judge for leniency. “Your honor my client Mercedes Jones is a celebrity, and any sentencing to jail for such a long time would cause a media frenzy in our small town. Paparazzi would inundate our lovely town and speculation on the case and Mr. Evans and on both families would cause a major media sensation here in Lima. I ask that you reconsider imprisonment considering the damaging nature it would have on both defendants’ reputations.

“Noted.” Judge Washington agreed while looking towards Judge Jones and ADA Evans with a grin on her face.

Sam looked at the interaction and was wondering what the hell was going on. Mercedes had a similar look on her face but she tried to keep the look of horror from appearing on her face when she looked at the legal eagles who couldn’t keep the grins from the four of their faces.

Judge Washington asked for Mr. Chang to tell his clients to rise, and he followed her demands with a worried expression on his face. Then Judge Washington told the two, “Ms. Jones you will pay for all the damages that your softball caused to Mr. Evans’ vehicle along with a $3,500 fine. Mr. Evans if you don’t complete a driver’s education course in 60 days, I will have your driver’s license suspended. In addition I am sentencing you both to 45 hours of community service.

Mercedes was so relieved. She could easily afford to pay the damages and fine without blinking her eye, and she loved giving back to the community so the hours of community service would be no problem. She took a deep breath and was about to smile until she heard Judge Washington continue. “Because the two of you have shown me and the court and most importantly the judicial system and the law of the land such blatant disregard today with your disruptive, rude, argumentative, and disrespectful behavior, I think that the best punishment for the both of you is to spend time in each other’s presence. So, I am sentencing you to a year and a half of quality time with each other.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Sam asked once again not understanding court etiquette or how to keep his big mouth closed.

Judge Washington banged her gavel again. “Mr. Evans those big lips of yours are going to continue to get you in a world of trouble with all that yapping you continue to do. It means that you and Ms. Jones are ordered to spend a year and six months married to each other while living in the same residence, and by doing so you will leave my courtroom without being held in contempt of court, and the court will expunge any and all records of this arrest which will help Ms. Jones out the most considering her celebrity lifestyle. But listen to me closely, if the two of you fail to get married and live with each other for the appointed time, then you will both have criminal records and be forced to serve the 30 day sentence that you two rightfully deserve in jail. You two have three days to get your affairs in order and report back to the courtroom with a wedding date, Ms. Jones payment of the fine, and proof of Mr. Evans’ enrollment in a driver’s education program. Court is adjourned.” Judge Washington banged her gavel and walk towards the laughing mothers who were now laughing at their children so hard once the bailiff told all to rise.

Mercedes, who had been speechless until now, not willing to risk angering Judge Washington any further, looked at Sam who looked as if he was in shock and then at Mike and asked if they had just been sentenced to marriage.

Mike not believing anything that had happened today in the courtroom looked at them with horror and nodded his head in agreement.

Sam still in shock asked, “Could she sentence us to marriage?”

Mike replied, “She is the judge, and she can do pretty much anything. You can try to appeal this, but most of the appellate judges and the legal community are pretty close knit with both of your parents, and I believe they will do whatever your parents want. And judging by the looks on their faces, the two of them are enjoying your sentence too much to change anything about it.”

Mercedes and Sam looked at each other then at their mothers who both waved at them and blew kisses while wearing shit eating grins. Mercedes looked at Sam and asked him, “Do you think we were set up?”

Sam looked down to Mercedes and stared her straight in the eyes and replied, “Hell yes, they probably planned this the minute we were locked up.”

#samcedes fanfiction #Orderedtomarry #Tickled Pink by JT Schultz

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