Page 22 of Thiago
Simon placed his coffee cup in its saucer. “Okay, so you know I like to fish because it relaxes me,” he began.
“And bike ride for cardio, which you would never convince me to do,” India added.
He laughed. “Why not?”
“I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I never learned to ride a bike, unless stationary bikes count,” she added with a hopeful lilt in her voice.
He laughed. “It does not.”
She shrugged. “Oh well.”
“I can’t believe your dad never pushed you down the street on a bike with your little helmet on as you wobbled to stay upright. It’s a rite of passage for every American kid.”
“Not every single one. My dad never did it, and my mother was too busy working to worry about whether I could ride a bike.” India took a sip of coffee.
“Oh.” The smile evaporated from Simon’s face the moment he noticed her reluctance to discuss her parents. “Enough about me. What do you like to do in your spare time?”
India finished chewing the piece of pie she had lifted into her mouth. “Well, you know I have lupus, and I took up yoga years ago to help with the pain. I worked with a trainer initially, and now I’m to the point where I can do it alone at home. I likewalking, usually down the street outside my building a few days a week.”
His eyes turned sympathetic. “You stick to low-impact exercises to avoid a flare-up.”
“Exactly. For the most part, I’ve been lucky, but years ago, a bad one landed me in the hospital. My boss at the time was very kind and gave me all the time off I needed.”
She would forever be grateful for Benicio Santana’s patience when she was hospitalized. He had held her job for her. That’s what made Benicio so special. It had taken more than two months for her to fully recover and get back to where she could work a full day. Even then, he insisted she ease into her schedule, starting with half days before allowing her to put in more time.
India’s phone vibrated in her purse on the table. “Excuse me,” she said apologetically.
“Go ahead,” Simon told her.
She checked her phone and saw a text from Thiago.
On my way to your place. I wanted to review the numbers for the retail stores CPC campaign.
She couldn’t believe what she was reading. He had left the engagement party and wanted to come by her place to work. Even more incredible, he thoughtshewould be available and willing to do so with him.
“You’re frowning. Bad news?” Simon asked.
“Sorry, this is my boss.”
“On a Friday night? The same boss who gave you the generous time off?” Simon asked, sounding surprised.
India glanced up at him.No, actually, his handsome son who makes my skin tingle with the mere brush of his hand against mine, she thought.
“His replacement. His son. He’s a bit of a workaholic.”
An understatement. He was consumed with success and power and had been angling to take over his father’s conglomerate for years. Truth be told, he was doing a helluva good job. His business acumen was one of the traits she admired about him, but she had no desire to work tonight. She was turning over a new leaf. Besides, she was busy.
“Let me respond to this text right quick, and we can get back to our conversation.”
Her thumbs flew over the letters as she tapped out a reply:Out to dinner. The review will have to wait until Monday. Talk to you then.
“There.” India shoved her phone back into her purse. If it vibrated again, she would ignore it. “Now, where were we?” She smiled across the table.
“You were telling me about your kind boss, and before that, you were telling me about the yoga and walking you do, which explains the great figure you have,” Simon commented.
India laughed softly. “You’re full of compliments, aren’t you?”
He shrugged, grinning.
