Boom, boom, boom!

The pounding at her front door frightened them both. Aiden straightened up, nearly knocking Antonia off the counter. She screeched as she pitched forward, but he managed to catch her before she fell to the floor. “Jaysus, Mary, and fucking Joseph,” he shouted. “Who is it?”

Antonia quickly found her footing in the dark, breathless from part fright and part arousal. “Goddammit,” she muttered, brushing the curls from her face.

Before she had time to gather her thoughts, Aiden stormed off toward the door. When he swung it open, a flash of lightning brightened the sky, revealing his heaving bare chest. His face was tense with thin-lipped irritation. “What?”

“Oh! Dr. Byrnes... I’m a, erm, where’s the young woman...” Antonia heard a familiar voice stammering from the kitchen. It was old man Creely.

“Mr. Creely,” Aiden said in a softer tone. “I’m sorry, please come in.”

Antonia searched the dark kitchen with her feet, feeling around for her discarded sweatshirt. She swooped it up and slipped it over her head before running to the front door. Mr. Creely regarded the both of them with a curious stare.

“Mr. Creely,” she said, still out of breath and slightly disheveled. “Please get out of the rain, I’ve got a fire going.”

She pulled the elderly man inside and closed the door behind him. He stood in the foyer and shook out his umbrella, his hand still gripping the neck of his raincoat. “I won’t be stayin’ fer long,” he said.

“Would you like a drink?” Aiden suggested. He was shirtless and standing at an awkward angle. Antonia looked down at his groin and guessed why. Jesus, he’s trying to hide an erection.

“Oh no, I’ve got something at home,” Creely said with a chuckle. “I was just checking on the lady. It’s a powerful gale out there and with the lights out, I hoped you weren’t too afraid.”

She gave a nervous laugh and waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing to be afraid of,” she said. “Dr. Byrnes was thoughtful enough to stop by with whiskey.”

“Yes, yes, I see...” Creely looked around at their intimate scene. Aiden’s shirt draped over the fireplace rack should have been a good reason for his half-naked appearance. “Well if you’re okay, I’ll see m’self out. The power ought to be back by the morning.”

“Yes, well, please be careful out there,” Antonia said. She certainly appreciated the thought behind his visit, but was anxious for him to leave. There was plenty of unfinished business between her and her first guest.

“Well,” Creely said slowly. “If you’re alright...”

“Doing pretty well,” she said in a chipper tone.

Aiden walked him to the door and closed it behind him. With both of his hands planted on the door, his head hung in embarrassment. “Jaysus,” he muttered.

Antonia sank into the couch and burrowed into the cushions with shame. “What do you suspect he’s thinking right now?”

Aiden gave a wry chuckle and made his way back to the living room. “If he likes you, and I reckon he does, he probably thinks I’m a lech.”