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only
explanation was that he pushed her buttons.  She didn’t want to analyze
why.
    She sighed, and
looked him in the eye.  “I’m not usually this argumentative.  I
didn’t mean to insult you.”
    He
smirked.  “A snob wouldn’t offer a damsel in distress a ride in the middle
of the pouring rain.  That had to have earned me some points.”
    “Is that what I
was?”
    He skimmed over her body with his
warm gaze.  “Well, you’re definitely a damsel,” he said quietly, “and you
seemed to be distressed.  Wouldn’t anyone who was broken down on the side
of the road be distressed?”
    She gave him a
look.  “Would you have been distressed?  Have you ever even been broken down on the side of the road?”
    “Of
course.”  Pause.  “And it’s quite distressing,” he said with a
twinkle in his eye.
    “I’m sure it is distressing to you, Jeremy,” she said patting his arm, returning the
patronizing tone he used with her earlier.  “Especially when you have to
spend all that time waiting for a tow truck, in a limo ,” she said
sweetly.   
    He leaned in
close, his eyes glittering.  “Ah, now we’re getting down to the nitty
gritty.  I’ve just figured you out, Ryann.  You’re a worse snob than
you’ve accused me of being.  I work very hard for a living, and I’m
not going to apologize for choosing to employ a man to drive me when I need to
be driven somewhere, rather than take the subway or a cab.”
    “Nor should
you.  If you have the money, you should be able to use it any way you
like.”
    “Thank you for
your permission,” he said drolly.
    She
sighed.  What was wrong with her?  Why was she continuing to act this
way?  She didn’t hold it against people if they had money. 
Especially when they used it wisely and to help others.  She was
disappointed in herself.  She didn’t like being a bitch…it didn’t suit her
at all.  He just…made her anxious.  She looked up at him.
    “I’m
sorry.” 
    He looked at her
in surprise.
    “I don’t know
why I’m insulting you.  I’ve had a very long week, and an even longer day,
and I’ve apparently decided to take it out on you.”  She looked away and
cleared her throat. 
    With a surprised
look on his face, he grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips.  After
kissing it briefly, he leaned in close and placed his hand on her back
again.  “Thank you.”  He looked at her with warmth in his eyes. 
“I think we just had our first fight,” he said quietly.
    Ryann smiled
nervously.
    At that moment,
Robbie arrived back with his tray of food.
    “Here ya go,
Mrs. T.  At your service,” Robbie said with a smile as he whirled up to
her, showing her the newly loaded tray of food.  He glanced at Jeremy, at
the hand that was now moving away from her back, and returned his gaze to
her.  “Take as many as you want.”
    She felt the
loss of Jeremy’s heat immediately as he stepped away from her.  Finally,
she could breathe again.
    “Thanks,
Robbie,” she beamed, and grabbed a brie and caramelized onion tartlet, popping
it into her mouth, trying to take the moment to compose herself. 
    Jeremy’s warm
expression had turned grim as soon as Robbie had greeted her. Robbie looked at
Jeremy questioningly as if he was about to say something. 
    Jeremy beat him
to it. “You haven’t spilled anything on anyone, have you?” he asked
sarcastically.
    Robbie grimaced
at him.  “No!  Ha, ha.”
    Ryann couldn’t
believe her ears.  How rude could Jeremy be?  “That’s not a very nice
thing to say,” she said protectively.  “He’s doing a fine job. 
Especially given the fact that he has to keep a smile on his face for hours,
while serving all of the people here…the nice ones and the
…snobs.”  She said that last word with a challenge.
    Jeremy gave her
a look.
    Robbie jumped
in.  “Yeah, you tell him, Mrs. T.  I’m doing a fine job.” 
    Was she
imagining things, or did Robbie just stick his tongue out at the