From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 148

“I guess I’m the sheriff of the Pacific now, huh?” Nannie Bruce stood with her arms crossed, glaring daggers. “Can’t stand people like you—no shame at all. If you’d just stay away from Olivia, I wouldn’t even bother, but you just have to show up here. If I don’t give you a piece of my mind, I might as well change my last name.”

Lavinia Bennett had never met anyone like this before. She closed her eyes, jaw clenched so tight she thought her teeth might crack.

“I’m here because Olivia and I scheduled a photo shoot—she agreed to it herself. Honestly, you’re way out of line.”

She finished, then glanced up at Daniel Gill, her eyes shining with tears, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Daniel hesitated for a split second, then reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “It’s okay,” he murmured.

Nannie’s eyes narrowed; the sight of it made her stomach twist with anger. “I don’t care if you’re here for a photo shoot or a parade. Both of you better stay away from Olivia, or I swear, I’ll give you an earful every time I see you. Now, get out.”

She jabbed a finger toward the front door, making her point crystal clear.

Every word made Daniel’s face grow stiffer, his lips pressed into a thin line, and Olivia looked like she might melt into the floor.

Lavinia leaned against Daniel, fuming inside, her nails digging into her palms.

A flash of spite flickered in her eyes. If Daniel wasn’t here, she’d have put Nannie in her place by now. One of these days, she’d pay her back for every word.

Daniel glanced briefly at Olivia, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable. He sighed, wrapped an arm around Lavinia, and said quietly, “Let’s just go.”

Wait, what?

Lavinia froze, her face going rigid with disbelief.

After a beat, she looked at Nannie and said, “I’ll let it slide for Daniel’s sake, but next time, don’t think I’m some pushover you can boss around.”

With that, she slipped her arm around Daniel’s waist and muttered, “Let’s go.”

He was right. They’d come here for the shoot, mostly just to get under Olivia’s skin.

She wasn’t even sure if they’d succeeded, but Nannie had sure managed to ruin her day.

Olivia hadn’t said a single word, just watched her get chewed out. She was probably celebrating inside.

She’d thought spending a thousand bucks on this shoot was a waste—now it felt like she’d just thrown her money out the window.

No, worse. She’d paid for the privilege of being humiliated.

Suddenly, she felt Daniel’s lips press softly against hers.

Lavinia looked up, and met the deep, dark gaze in Daniel’s eyes.