“I didn’t accuse you of stealing my food.” He shook his hands in the air as if he wished he could wrap them around her neck in frustration, a faint hint of color rising along the ridge of his chiseled cheekbone. “This is why I requested a male assistant. Aren’t so damned emotional. All I did is ask a civil question—”

“Civil? You banged on my door at”—she glanced at the clock on the stove—“eight twenty-four p.m.—”

“I didn’t accuse you of stealing anything,” he roared. “I said, ‘There’s no food in my fridge.’ ” He smacked one hand against the other for emphasis. “When we had our meeting, I specifically said I wanted ‘food in the fridge.’ And I came home to nada.”

“I hate to break it to you,” she replied calmly. “But if you want food in your fridge, you’ve got to leave cash with your gofer.” There was a time when the sound of a raised voice would have caused her to crumple, but the last few years had toughened her up. Sarah Rainsford would be a punching bag, emotional or otherwise, for no man ever again.

“Good God, woman.” He threw his hands in the air. “This is not some sophisticated ploy to rip you off. Buy the damn food, bring me the receipt, and I’ll reimburse you.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “That’s not possible. If you require me to purchase something, I’ll need you to pay for it up front.” Unfortunately, her stomach chose that moment to growl like a ravening beast.

His eyes narrowed. She made herself meet his gaze, stand tall, and not fidget.

“You’re broke.”

She felt her face flush, tried to push the feeling of shame back down deep into her gut, where the inner goblins resided. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, lady.” She opened her mouth to protest. “Can it. That East Coast hoi polloi accent won’t work with me. You’re dead broke.” He stated it as fact. “Makes total sense. Only reason a classy act like you would be willing to work for someone like me. Must be pretty hard up to accept a position, room and board in the home of a well-known hell-raiser.”

“Shut up.” Her voice snapped out like the crack of a whip.

Remarkably, he did.

They stared at each other in silence, the sound of the tree frogs deafening in the stillness.