Daisy replayed the interaction with Gabe's brother as she drove home from Canelo's. She didn't miss Mr. Reyes' heated gaze when she approached; what went wrong?
God, she'd noticed Robbie as soon as she entered the Body Shop; the proud way he carried himself and his handsome face. She'd practically tripped over her own feet watching him but thankfully the owner -Mr. Canelo- was in the lobby to steady her.
"Something caught your eye?" he'd teased with an approachable grin and Daisy warmed up to the older gentleman immediately.
"Oh no, sorry," her cheeks were burning. "I'm looking for Mr. Robbie Reyes? I'm from Gabe's school."
"Is everything okay with Gabe?" Mr. Canelo had queried. He eventually gestured to Robbie after she'd assured him with a smile, that yes, Gabe was doing wonderfully.
And as she approached Robbie, praying to make a good first impression, she didn't see Canelo examine her, and then Robbie, assessing their reactions to each other.
No, she was busy crashing and burning with the sexiest man she'd ever seen.
Daisy was now at a stop light, feeling mortified all over again. Maybe she should call and apologize to Mr. Reyes; it was unprofessional to drop in unannounced at his workplace. And wasn't that the story of her life? Getting ahead of herself and then trying to make amends?
He blew me off so intensely, Daisy mused. And she felt a spear of heat low in her belly wondering how intense he would be in other activities.
"Get it together, girl," she chided herself. Grabbing her phone, she called the shop, praying Mr. Reyes didn't answer.
"Canelo's Auto, Canelo speaking," the accented voice of an older man answered.
"Hi, my name is Daisy Johnson," she breathed a sigh of relief. The light turned green and she hoped she didn't get a ticket for talking and driving. God damn, she needed to learn to think things through.
Canelo had answered the phone, wondering if he'd made the right decision with Robbie when the caller introduced herself.
Madres. This was fate.
"Daisy! Hola chica!" and the wheels in Canelo's head were turning madly. It was a sign that she was calling now, just as he told Robbie he couldn't get time off. She was asking for Robbie, but he knew this was a prime opportunity that he had to seize. For love. Por amor.
"Lo siento, Robbie's not available," he tried to sound apologetic. Robbie was actually waving him over, but Canelo ignored him. "And please excuse Robbie's behavior when you were here, Ms. Johnson," he continued. "He got bad news before you came in. Gabe has some important event on Friday but we need Robbie here. I'm short staffed."
That wasn't technically true, but Ms. Johnson didn't need to know that Robbie was normally that grumpy. If her smile at Robbie was any indication, she'd be head over heels in love in no time and would overlook those character flaws.
"Oh no!" Daisy exclaimed. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, could the signs be any clearer?
With a sly smile, Canelo made plans with Daisy, assuring her that absolutely, he would talk to Robbie. They'd be married before the year's end, he could feel it.
He should probably start planning for Robbie needing time off for his honeymoon. Maybe he should promote the part-timer?
"Manny!" he called, going out to the garage, still avoiding Robbie. Manny, a kid just out of high school, jumped and a wrench clattered to the floor. Canelo sighed. Hopefully, the pretty lady played hard to get because it would take some time with bring this one up to scratch.
And hopefully when Daisy Johnson showed up on Friday night to drop Gabe home, Robbie will go with the flow.
Daisy saw Gabe in school the next day and happily told him that yes, she'd be glad to take him to the debate finals. Gabe, who knew that Robbie under no known circumstance in this life or the next, would have agreed to that, was dumbfounded.
"You talked to Robbie?" he finally asked.
"Oh no, I spoke to Mr. Canelo," Daisy explained. "He felt bad about telling Robbie he couldn't get off, so we worked something out for you."
Feeling bad and Canelo never went in the same sentence, but Gabe wisely remained silent.
He had a debate final to attend, and if Robbie couldn't take him, he needed another way. Robbie would be at work, none the wiser, and when the shit hit the fan, he would just say he had no idea, he was just doing what an adult told him.
"Thanks so much, Ms. Johnson!" he grinned. "Listen, Robbie's been really busy with work, so no need to worry him with the details. You and I can work it out."
"Funny, Canelo said the same thing," Daisy observed.
Gabe shrugged his shoulders. "What a coincidence, huh?"
They chatted for a bit, Daisy getting Gabe's address and schedule.
Too bad the elder Reyes brother couldn't make it, Daisy thought. She'd love to try to loosen him up. But she shook her head as soon as the thought crossed her mind. She was here to get her student loans forgiven, not fantasize about a parent .
"Is everything okay, Ms. Johnson?" Gabe was asking her, concerned.
"Everything is perfect!" she assured him, with a pang of unease. How could she keep her attraction to Gabe's brother under control?