Penny spent the next week running errands and cooking in between her classes. She had to cancel the study sessions because there were too many people in the house and she didn't want to inconvenience anyone.

Sam had not been around that much, and the few times she had seen him he had looked stressed so Penny had been focused on making things as easy as possible for him. She didn't know what had been said between him and Celeste but she looked pleased about something, and they had gone out to dinner, just the two of them, a few times that week.

She would remind herself that it was none of her business and continue on like she had for the last two years. It was harder now than it had been, since she knew what a kiss from Sam was like she wanted more, but he acted as if the whole thing had never happened. He hadn't even bothered to ask after Sentry the few times she had seen him.

Penny looked out at the rain as it came down in sheets, there was an awesome lightning storm happening and Sentry was cuddled close in her bathrobe pocket. The house was quiet since everyone had gone out to dinner, and it was the first time that Penny had truly been alone that week.

She watched the storm for a few more minutes and then decided to call it a night, taking her cup of tea into the house she rinsed it, then turned out the lights, and moved into her room to study for an hour. Her night gown was simple cotton and covered her from her neck to her toes and her bathrobe was a thick terry cloth. She had buried her silk robe deep in her underwear drawer not wanting to risk getting caught in it again.

She had been studying for only half an hour when she heard a loud bang and glass breaking in the kitchen. In her rush to see what had happened she had neglected to grab her robe and slippers as she threw open the door to see Billy leaning against the counter swaying and bleeding.

"What on earth happened?" she asked as she moved towards him only to step on a piece of glass, whimpering she looked down at her foot then turned around and went to put on some slippers to protect her feet.

As she hobbled over to him she realized that the bleeding wasn't as bad as it had appeared, and she moved him to the chair by the desk where she sat him down before getting the first aid kit. Glancing around she noticed the cabinet with the glassware was open and four or five glasses lay broken on the floor.

"I tried to clean it up," Billy said, looking over at the mess, then he looked down at his hand and saw the blood. "I'm going to be sick, I can't handle the sight of blood," he said as he reached for the trash can. Penny waited as he threw up his dinner, which seemed to smell mostly of alcohol, and then she approached him, kneeling down in front of him to look at his hand.

She grimaced at the shard of glass that was in his palm, pulling it out since it wasn't very deep, she then cleaned the cut and wrapped the hand as best as she could. By the time she had cleaned up the mess Billy had rallied and was watching her with a gleam in his eye.

"So what's between you and my cousin? A cute little thing like you has to be more than just his housekeeper. Don't get me wrong, you play the starched up little maiden very well, but I can't imagine you and Sam living here all alone and not getting up to something."

Penny just ignored him and finished putting away the broom before walking over to her bedroom door. "You seem to be feeling better so I'll say goodnight."

He was over to her like a shot, keeping her from closing the bedroom door. "Come on Penny, you have to be a little mad at him for cozying up to Celeste. I know I am. She was supposed to be my date, but as soon as we got here she changed her tune, 'Hands off Billy, not here, not with Sam so close.'" Billy mimicked Celeste's voice. "It's not like she cared when they were married, so I don't know why she would care now?"

Billy reached out and grabbed Penny's arm. "Come on Penny, we could have some fun."

Penny tried to push him away. "No thanks." Her heart was racing but not in a good way. His touch was giving her the creeps.

Billy yanked at her arm harder. "Is that how you got Sam, by playing hard to get?"

"Let me go!" Penny said forcefully.

"Let her go Billy." The light in the kitchen came on suddenly and Billy and Penny both blinked at its brightness. When Penny's eyes adjusted she looked over to see Sam standing in the kitchen doorway looking relatively calm.

"Oh, come on Sam," Billy's arm tightened around Penny's arm, "you never minded about Celeste and she was your wife."

Penny couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped from her as she watched Sam. He didn't seem to care about the comment. "That's because she had already been through half of Savannah's upper crust by the time she got to you."

"That's a lie." Billy laughed and Sam just shrugged not caring if he believed him or not.

"Either way you'll let go of Penny now please. This is her home and she doesn't need you accosting her in it."

Billy looked from her to Sam and shrugged. "No problem." He dropped Penny's arm and left the kitchen pushing past Sam as he did.

"I'll be glad when there all gone tomorrow," Sam said as he leaned heavily against the doorjamb. "Hopefully this marriage will stick for Aunt Maureen, and if it doesn't maybe we can talk her into choosing a destination wedding next time."

Penny smiled then shifted on her foot taking her weight off of it. She was just about to say goodnight when Sam spoke.

"What's wrong with your foot?"

"Nothing, I just stepped on a piece of glass?" She shifted again.

He motioned for her to take a seat and she hobbled over to the kitchen table's bench. When he moved to get the first aid kit Penny couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.

"What's so amusing?" he asked, walking over to her. He looked handsome in his suit with his tie still tied, but she watched as he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. At least she wouldn't have to iron this tie.

"What are you thinking?"

"That that's one tie I won't have to iron."

He looked down at his tie. "That's what's so amusing?"

"No, I was amused because I was injured giving first aid to Billy and now you're having to give first aid to the first aider."

Sam smiled as he picked up her foot and put it in his lap poking around where the glass was. "It's pretty deep, when was the list time you had a tetanus?"

"A few years ago."

He looked at her. "You're sure?"

"Yes Doctor, would you like to see my medical records?"

"Not unless there's something wrong with your heart." He smiled.

It took all Penny had to give a little chuckle at his joke.

"This is going to hurt." Penny closed her eyes not feeling what he was doing to her foot at all because all she could feel was the warmth of his hands as he held it still in his lap. "So how did you have to help Billy?" Sam asked. She figured he was trying to distract her from what he was doing.

"He was drunk and broke some glasses then cut his hand. You might want to look at it tomorrow before he leaves." Penny cleared her throat as he moved one hand up her calf to turn her leg and foot towards the light. "I didn't know what had happened and when I stepped out of my door I stepped on a piece of glass."

"Amateur," Sam joked. Penny forced another smile as he set her foot down and reached for the other one his hand sliding down her calf as he checked the bottom of the foot.

"I was trying to go to bed when he decided to...accost me, I believe that was your word." Sam had rested both of her feet in his lap and had started to clean up the first aid kit.

"Yes, that was it. Did it surprise you what he said about Celeste?" Sam asked without looking at her.

"Everything about Celeste has surprised me, but I don't think it surprised you."

"No, that was old news. Celeste is old news." He closed the lid to the kit and stood up walking it back to its cabinet.

"But the hurt isn't," Penny said softly.

"No the hurt isn't, but it's not as bad as it used to be surprisingly."

"Time heals all wounds, or so they say." Penny rose and tested her foot.

"Yes, time and other things." He sounded distracted as he looked at her. His gaze took in her appearance from head to toe. Well at least this time he couldn't say that she had dressed to catch him.

"Such as first aid." She smiled at him. "It feels much better, thank you."

"What are doctors for?" They stood staring at each other for a few moments before Penny broke eye contact first.

"Thanks and goodnight," she said as she moved towards her bedroom door.

"Do you have some free time tomorrow? I would like to take you to meet Colten."

It was Sunday and everyone would be gone so she would be free.

"Sure." Her heart leapt at the fact that he had remembered. It meant that he had thought of her at some point during the week and that was something.

He nodded still looking distracted. "Good. I'll see you in the morning."

Penny nodded and closed the door behind her before she walked over and started to clean up her books and things, when she caught a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror on the back of the closet and groaned. She had forgotten her bathrobe and her nightgown, while not see through, showed her silhouette very well. She lifted her hands to her cheeks, she hoped he didn't think she was trying to trick him again. What if he thought she was trying to trick Billy? She raced to the door to open it only to find the kitchen empty and dark. Should she track him down and try to explain?

"Everything's fine Penny go back to bed." His voice said from the darkness and the direction of the desk. "But if you do have to come out of your room again please make sure your wearing a robe."

Penny looked down and noted that with the light behind her she was even more visible so she ducked back into her room closing the door quietly. Sam had noticed, and Penny couldn't help but feel a little thrill that he had been bothered by it.