I refused to get riled. "Nice of you to spell it out."
"Hey,Ithought so," she said. "And let's get one thing straight. If youeverplan to call me 'the help' in front of Willow, you might as well turn this car around,right now."
"It's not a car."
"What?"
"It's an SUV."
"I don’t care if it's a flying magical bus," she said. "I mean it."
I gave her a sideways glance.She wasn't bluffing.Maybe it was time to throw her a bone. "Fair enough."
"I mean it," she said again.
"Yeah. I heard you the first time."
"Well, maybe it bears repeating," she said. "Because if youevertreat me with that kind of contempt in front of Willow –andif I take it, which I won't –she'llhave contempt for me too."
"I doubt it."
"And why do you say that?"
"Because she's nicer than I am."
"Yeah," Cami scoffed, "Tell me something Idon'tknow."
There was a lot she didn't know. For one thing, she didn't know how beautiful she was, even now, when she looked like she wanted to slap the shit out of me.Maybe I deserved it.But I needed her to stick around for the full year, or eleven months, or whatever it was.
I'd been through five nannies in the past two years – four in the past year alone. This wasn't good for anyone, especially my little sister.
And the wayIsaw it, the odds of Cami sticking would be a lot higher if there were no complications between us.No knocking on my door. No lingering looks over breakfast. No subtle hints or sly innuendos.
Maybe she wasn't the type. But I'd been surprised before, and never in a good way.
When I replied with only a shrug, Cami said, "And youdorealize what will happen if youdon'ttreat me with respect?"
"What?"
She turned sideways in the seat and gave me a slow, evil smile. "You'll be stuck with Livia."
"The hell I will."
"Orsomeone equally willing to take your crap." Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, fudge!"
"What?"
"I don't swear."
I didn't get it. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I don't curse."
"Yeah, so?"
"So I just did."
I frowned. "Fudge?"