"What the hell is going on between you and Abbott?" Thomas hissed as he led the way towards the kitchen which was at the rear of the house.

"Nothing is going on, I haven't even laid eyes on the man for over two weeks!" she hissed back.

Thomas muttered something under his breath as he stepped over the mess that included extension cords, saw horses, lumber, and even a few bricks. "Why didn't you bother to tell me what was going on here?" he grumbled, pushing a sawhorse out of the way so that he could get to the electrical panel.

"And have Hope kill me, no thank you," Lucy returned. "How is the baby by the way?"

"She's beautiful, perfect, wonderful!" Lucy could hear the smile in his voice even though his back was to her.

"Show me a photo," Lucy insisted and waited as Thomas pulled out his phone and pulled up the photos before he handed it over.

Lucy scrolled through the photos with a smile as Thomas flipped switches with no luck.

"I don't suppose anyone thought to turn the tools that were on upstairs off and unplug them?" she asked offhandedly while she flipped through the photos.

Thomas muttered an oath, and Lucy couldn't help but grin at his mistake.

"You're tired," Lucy reassured him. "But even if you do unplug everything she probably isn't going to allow the power on until the site is set to rights."

"Is there a problem?" Zebadiah asked from across the room, looking a the two of them.

"I don't suppose you remembered to turn off everything upstairs?" Lucy asked him over her shoulder.

"I just did, what does the power situation look like?" Zebadiah said, not missing a beat.

"Nothing, I don't know what the problem is?" Thomas said, scratching his head.

"I told you what the problem is, clean everything up tomorrow and try again." Lucy handed Thomas back his phone and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Thomas wanted to know.

"I'm off the clock, I'm going home," Lucy said

"I thought you didn't work by the hour only by the job?" Zebadiah quirked an eyebrow and Lucy bit back a grin at the move, wondering if the fierce look he was now giving her worked in the boardroom.

"Ok, then, electrical work isn't in my contracted job description," she parried as she pushed by him.

"You've discussed your job description with Mr. Abbott?" Thomas asked, shocked at the idea.

"Yes, I caught her working late one night and I was concerned about overtime, and her being here alone, but she reassured me it wasn't a problem," Zebadiah clarified.

"Lucy, you were here by yourself!" Thomas all but shouted.

Lucy shot Zebadiah a quelling look. "You promised you wouldn't tell!" she hissed.

"I don't believe I promised, agreed maybe, and only because it was convenient at the time," he explained.

Lucy's face turned bright red in anger and she stomped past Zebadiah, her movement's jerky as she gathered up her stuff because she was in a rage, and both Thomas and Zebadiah followed her into the room, watching her.

"Thomas, would you please excuse us?" Zebadiah requested.

Thomas looked from one to the other and nodded, moving onto the front porch and closing the door behind him. At his departure the air in the room grew tense as Zebadiah and Lucy stared at each other.

"I'm sorry Lucy, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm a sore looser and you had one upped me with your comeback," he said with all sincerity.

"And that was the best that you could come up with!" she exclaimed in disbelief.

He gave a very crooked and charming smile that made Lucy melt a little bit. "I don't like arguing you with."

"But you're O.K. with Thomas arguing with me?" She really didn't get the man.

Zebadiah took a step towards her and Lucy took a step back in self-defense.

"I only want to see your arm," he said, reaching for her hand and drawing her close.

Lucy held her breath as his hand trailed up her arm lifting her sleeve. The bandage was gone and so were the stitches, but the skin was still red and angry. He let his thumb trace the scar and she sucked in her breath at the sensation of his caress.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

"No," she assured him, shaking her head and licking her lips, watching as his dark eyes turned black with desire when he realized why she had gasped.

His gaze fell to her lips and he pulled her a little closer to him, forcing Lucy to tilt her head back to look up into his eyes. She didn't want to stop looking into his eyes.

His hand came up, tracing her cheek, then his thumb traced her lips while his other arm gathered her close, and all the time his eyes never left hers.

She could feel his breathing deepen to match her own as she waited for him to make his next move.

When the power suddenly came on they both blinked, and Lucy jumped back in surprise, looking around, expecting to see Thomas watching them.

"I guess the house decided to forgive," Lucy said softly, having to clear her throat.

"Or she's trying to save me from making a mistake," Zebadiah said, turning to look behind him as Thomas entered the house. He didn't see Lucy's quick look of hurt at his words.

Leaning down, Lucy picked up her bag and left while Zebadiah and Thomas were talking about the sudden return of the power. She had gotten to the end of the veranda when Zebadiah and Thomas stepped out on to it.

"Lucy?" Thomas called.

"I'm going home before anymore mistakes are made!" she said, forcing a cheerful note into her voice, ignoring the frown that crossed Zebadiah's face at her words. Perhaps he thought that she had said too much.

Well, that was just too bad, she would continue to say what she meant because she always had.

She held back the tears as she climbed into the car and started the engine, but before she could pull away Thomas was knocking on her window, forcing her to roll it down.

"Come by the house tomorrow night. I want you to see the baby."

Lucy shook her head. "I'll come when Hope issues the invitation and not before." Then with a soft good night she started to roll up her window, forcing Thomas to step away from the car with a frown.

She should let that be a reminder, if Thomas's wife Hope didn't want anything to do with her, why one earth would Zebadiah? She held back the tears until she reached the end of the drive. She was so sure he was going to kiss her. Stupid!

*******

"What was that all about?" Zebadiah asked as Thomas rejoined him on the veranda.

"I want her to come and see the baby, but she won't until Hope invites her." Thomas walked past Zebadiah and through the hall, towards the front where his car was parked.

"Why won't Hope invite her?"

"Hope is a few years younger than us, and she believes everything that she has ever heard about Lucy. She hates that Lucy is my friend, and she's jealous."

"Does she have a reason to be?" Zebadiah asked, no longer able to hold the question back. He had a feeling that his thoughtless words had hurt Lucy. He didn't think the kiss would have been a mistake, but the timing would have been.

"You mean the rumored affair that Lucy and I have been having?" Thomas shook his head with a sad smile. "Little minds in a little town," Thomas said opening his truck door. "I love Lucy and I always will, but if I had wanted to marry her I would have, a long time ago."

Zebadiah watched Thomas as he climbed into his truck and drove away. He had only answered the question of a current affair, he hadn't answered the question about a past one.

Zebadiah rubbed his face, taking in the fresh air that had been cleansed by the rain. Scanning the area and seeing nothing amiss, he entered the house and started to lock everything up as he went. He would have to at least get his bed cleared if he was going to stay.

It would be easier to drive back to the city and stay there, but he wanted to see Lucy first thing in the morning to explain. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out to look at the message. It was Summer and it was a 911; he had an early meeting scheduled. It was a crucial deal and the other side was trying to pull power plays and a last-minute meeting was their way of trying to catch him off guard and unprepared.

But he was always prepared, at least in business matters. Silver eyed witches were a completely different animal however.