Lucy had the windows open and the warm breeze cooled her heated skin while the gentle night sounds soothed her. It was after dark and she was still steadily working on the last details of the woodwork in the study. If Thomas knew that she was working by herself in the house this late he would kill her. She had locked all the doors behind her and, unless a person was skilled in wall climbing, she was safe even with the windows open on the second story.

It was hot and since she was by herself she had lost her ballcap and dropped the top of her overalls so that the air could cool her core better. She would be happy when Thomas finally got the HVAC installed. She was kneeling in front of one of the glass fronted cabinets that covered one entire wall of the study, applying a final coat of stain, and she didn't hear the footsteps until they were in the room. Pausing, she took stock of her situation, trying not to panic. Whomever it was most likely had a key and hadn't yet bothered her. It was probably Thomas, and he would probably be angry.

Slowly, she eased herself out of the tight space, setting her brush to the side, before turning to look behind her.

It wasn't Thomas, it was Zebadiah Abbott, and he towered over her holding a very large box. He didn't look angry, he didn't really look as if he felt anything as his cold eyes took in her appearance, lingering on her silver hair.

She cleared her throat as she stood, not sure what she should say, or if she should say anything at all. In her experience it was always best to let the other person speak first.

"Isn't it a little late for you to still be working?" he asked as he set the box down. "I didn't approve overtime pay?"

"I don't get paid by the hour, I get paid by the job." She stood as still as a statue, watching him warily.

"Still, I can't imagine that it's safe for anyone to be working on a job site by themselves? I'll have to discuss this with Thomas." She noticed that his hand was clenching and unclenching, as if he was trying to expend his energy in that one movement as opposed to expressing it through a look or his voice.

"Thomas would agree with you, which is why he doesn't know I'm here."

He waited still not saying a word, and Lucy's usually strong resistance to pressure failed.

"I lost two days this week due to personal reasons, and sometimes it's easier to do the staining when the others aren't here. There is less dust in the air."

"But you have the windows open? And you still have plenty of time until this job is finished before you need to start pulling all-nighters." It was easy to tell that he would win this argument by simple logic.

"You're upset because I'm here." She nodded. She got it, she had wanted to be alone which is exactly why she was there as well. The only difference was that it was his house not hers and he had a right to be there

"No, I'm upset because it's not safe for you to be here on your own? Do you do this kind of thing regularly?"

She bit back a bitter smile. "I'm almost always on my own. The doors were locked so I'm as safe as I would be in my own house?"

"You live alone?" He was using logic again.

"No." She shook her head. Realizing that she wasn't going to win the argument, she looked down at her supplies. "Can I have half an hour to finish up here. Thomas mentioned that you wanted to start moving your things into this space, and I wanted to have it done sooner rather than later. If I can finish this up this evening, it will be all yours." She should have led with that and the thought must have shown on her face because she swore she saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly she very well could have imagined it.

"Please, finish. If I continue to move boxes up here, will it stir up too much dust?" he asked, and this time Lucy's eyes sparked with amusement.

"Perhaps, but go ahead anyway." She nodded, turning back towards her work fighting a grin. She had a feeling they might share a similar sense of humor.

"I appreciate your permission," he said drily before he left the room, and as soon as he was gone Lucy didn't bother to hide her grin.

He hauled five large boxes up the stairs and he was even breathing heavily by the time he was done. He asked her which shelves he could use, and she told him, watching out of the corner of her eye as he started to unpack books and other items.

"So, your boyfriend, fiancé, or husband is alright with you working by yourself up here after dark?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't have a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband to object," she said as she smoothed out a streak in the stain.

"Then who do you live with?" he asked absentmindedly, as if he was only trying to make conversation.

"My grandmother, and she doesn't mind either," Lucy assured him.

"Thomas-"

"Look, please don't tell him. I promise I won't do it again." She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him.

He regarded her silently for a moment before nodding his consent, and they both went back to work. "If you do get behind and need to pull a late night let me know, I'm planning to spend more time here, and if I am here then there is no reason you couldn't do that."

His offer surprised her, and she turned to stare at him once again. He must have felt her gaze because he stopped what he was doing and looked over at her.

"I didn't expect that." She shook her head.

This time he did smile. "Neither did I."

Lucy returned his smile and looked away shyly as she remembered the vision she had had of them together.

A few moments later he stood and walked out onto the dark veranda that was at the opposite end of the room. The study was massive and ran the length of one side of the house. Lucy had felt the atmosphere between them change and she started to pack up, sensing he had had enough for one night.

She had packed her last tool when she once again heard footsteps behind her. Turning she saw Joel Bradley looking at he from the shadows. Not saying a word, Lucy continued to pack her things.

"Lucy, are you trespassing again?" he asked in his slow drawl.

"No Joel, I'm working. Thomas already explained this to you." She did her best to sound unconcerned.

"But it's after hours," he walked up to where she was kneeling down placing here things in her bag, "I'm sure that's not allowed." His manner was definitely aggressive as he lifted his toe up and sat it on the tool she had just reached for.

"I'm allowed to be here Joel," she said tugging on her tool, but he refused to move his foot as he knelt to her level. He reached out and swatted one of the shoulder straps for her overalls.

"Why are you only half-dressed Lucy, is that an invitation?" he reached up and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Back off Joel!" she insisted as she yanked her tool out from under his foot and he fell backwards.

She watched as his face turned red and then purple in anger.

"Why you little witch!" he ground out, reaching for her arm and twisting it.

"Let me go!" she hissed, trying to jerk her arm free.

"Is there a problem here?" Zebadiah asked from the veranda's doorway.

Lucy closed her eyes in silent relief at the sound of his voice, she had forgotten he was there. When she finally chanced a look at him he was as still as stone and just as cold. His eyes were dark hard pools as he looked down on Joel.

Lucy watched as Joel jumped to his feet, looking from one to the other. "So, this is where you're bringing them?" he said, his voice full of contempt. "I should arrest both of you!"

"On what charges?" Zebadiah looked at him with a false calm, but Lucy noted his fist clenching and unclenching next to his leg.

"Solicitation!" he spat.

Lucy closed her eyes in mortification. Who knew what Zebadiah had thought of her before for this, but now...

"Stop it Joel! You know you're making that up!" she hissed.

"No, I don't know. Everyone knows about you Monroes, the apples don't fall very far from the tree." He grinned, thinking he finally had her.

She wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

"I don't know who you are or why you're here in my house, but I'm asking you to leave now," Zebadiah said calmly.

"Your house?" Joel asked, looking unsure as his gaze moved back to Lucy, who sat on the floor with her head bowed in embarrassment.

"Yes, my house. Lucy is working on the restoration of the woodwork, that's why she is here so late."

"You're Abbott?" Joel looked unsure.

"Yes, would you like to see some identification?" His voice had steel in it, as if daring him to ask for such a thing.

Joel must have finally picked up on his mistake because he swallowed then looked towards the door while the silence stretched on for what felt like forever.

"No, that won't be necessary, I saw a light and thought that someone might be trespassing, I only wanted to check and make sure everything was as it should be," he insisted as he moved towards the door. At the continued silence he nodded once more then left quickly, and Lucy listened to his fading footsteps, wishing she could make as quick a getaway as he had.

"How long has that been going on?" Zebadiah asked, walking to the window, watching what Lucy could only guess was Joel leaving the property.

Lucy shrugged, not wanting to go into the details. There was no point, it wasn't as if it was going to stop anytime soon. She packed up the last of her tools then adjusted her overalls before reaching for her ballcap and pushing it onto her head.

"I'm sorry," she stood, "I'll get out of your way now." She started for the door but halfway there she felt his hand on her arm, stopping her, and her eyes closed at the sensation of fire that coursed though her veins at his touch.

"How long has that been going on?" he asked once again.

"My entire life in one form or another." She moved away from his warm touch, a touch that she wanted to move towards not away from. "I think I'll take your advice and only work on the site during regular hours from now on." She nodded and started down the stairs and he followed behind her.

"I can see myself out," she insisted.

"I'm sure you can, but I want to make sure you make it to your car safely. You are on my property after all, and I would be responsible if anything happened to you." He followed her out to the car and waited while she stored her stuff.

Lucy couldn't help but compare her little car to his very expensive one, and he stood back as she slammed her door and rolled down the window.

"Thanks for the save," she said once more before she started the engine.

He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he must have changed his mind because he stepped away from the car and started back towards the house without a backwards glance.

Feeling sorrier for herself than she had in a long time, Lucy started the short drive home, wondering what Zebadiah thought of her after that little encounter. With her bad luck, he probably believed every word and would treat her the same as everyone else in town did from now on, like an outcast.