His temper was like TNT, once the sparks started to sizzle there was very little time to duck and cover. She knew she should just stay quiet and wait for the storm to abate, but she couldn't help sparring with him. Like trained boxers they circled one another, the kid gloves were off, it was fighting time. She traded slur for slur, insult for insult, dig for dig. When his temper blew hot and he started thumping the counter with his fist she knew she'd won. He'd never slugged her yet but she knew she'd pushed him harder than was wise. Still, she added: