EARLY THE NEXT morning Felipe entered Café Rivas and instantly spied Emilia waiting in the coffee queue near the espresso machine.
His pulse galloped with the kind of excitement that had been totally lacking from his date the night before. Emilia looked sensational, smartly dressed in a grey blouse and black skirt, her hair clipped back at the nape of her neck and small gold hoops in her ears.
What was it about her simple, sophisticated elegance he found so appealing? Was it just that they had so much in common? That he admired her intelligence and sense of humour? She even had an obviously close relationship with her delightful daughter, and it couldn’t have been easy raising a teenager alone.
She was so intent on her phone that she didn’t notice him approach.
‘Did you enjoy your meal last night?’ he asked, startling her so she placed one hand over her heart and laughed up at him with shock.
‘Oh... Hi. Yes. It was delicious, thanks.’ She pushed her glasses up onto her head the way she had last night. ‘Eva wanted us to celebrate the first proper day of our new life.’
‘Eva has her priorities set right, I think. Casa Comiendo is one of my favourite restaurants.’
She tucked the phone into the pocket of her skirt, a sheepish look on her face.
‘Are you having trouble with the coffee app?’ he asked. ‘I’d be happy to help you set up a standing order for your favourite drink if you want. Cappuccino, right?’
‘No... I, um...’ She flushed prettily, glancing away so he noticed the berry-coloured sheen of gloss on her full lips. ‘Well, the truth is, Eva signed me up to a dating app last night, and I was trying to turn off the notifications. My profile has only been live for fourteen hours and I keep getting hits or swipes or whatever they’re called. It’s very distracting and I have clinic this morning.’
Felipe’s stomach took a disappointed dive, but he kept his smile fixed in place. So she was dating?
‘I’m sure it shows,’ she said, inclining her head in his direction and lowering her voice, ‘but it’s my first time on a dating app. I had no idea it would be so...overwhelming.’
Another wave of disappointment struck. No wonder her phone was going nuts. She was gorgeous and smart and sophisticated. She’d be beating men off with a stick. He swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth, wishing he could be the one to take her out and show her the best Buenos Aires had to offer. But he was supervising her. And her personal life—who she dated—was none of his business.
‘If you want my advice, and I’ve been doing this for fifteen years,’ he said, sticking his nose in because he felt somehow protective of her, and she was looking up at him expectantly, ‘is to take your time. You don’t have to feel pressured to meet anyone unless it feels right.’
She’d been off the market for what, over twenty years? Things had changed in that time. He knew exactly how it felt to relearn all of the dating rules.
At her relieved smile, a fresh surge of protective impulses shook him. Crazy. She was an intelligent grown woman with an adult child. She could take care of herself. Although they were colleagues, and she didn’t yet have any friends in town...
She nodded, her brown eyes curious, as if she was appraising him every bit as much as he was her. ‘Try telling Eva that. She seems to think that five years alone is long enough, which is why, despite my better judgement, I’m meeting some stranger called Santino tonight.’ She stared at him, imploring. ‘Help—what should I expect?’
Felipe stood a little taller, happy to take her under his wing, both in and out of the operating room.
‘Things have certainly changed since we were in our twenties,’ he said, trying not to think about this lovely woman with some lucky guy named Santino.
‘Tell me about it.’ She rolled her eyes and then sobered. ‘I’m tempted to cancel, but I worry about Eva. She’s been through a lot, losing her dad and now moving away from all her old friends. I don’t want her to worry about me.’
Felipe nodded, his heart going out to her and her daughter. ‘Well if you do meet this guy, make sure it’s in a public place.’
She nodded intently, urging him to continue.
‘A bar or a café is good, but not one that you frequent regularly,’ he said. ‘If you don’t like him, or it doesn’t work out, you don’t want him showing up at your favourite haunts all the time.’
Emilia’s eyes widened in horror. ‘I didn’t think of that, thanks.’ She looked at him as if he’d just rescued her from a burning building. ‘Anything else?’
Felipe fought the urge to tell her to forget other guys and date him instead, but he already felt invested in her happiness. ‘It’s better to suggest drinks rather than dinner for a first date. That way, if it’s not going well, you can just cut the night short.’
‘Another awesome tip,’ she said, looking, if anything, a little more nervous.
‘I’m sure it will be great,’ he said, hoping to boost her confidence. If Santino had any sense, he’d realise what a great catch Emilia was and hold onto her, tightly. She was beautiful and intelligent. She had everything going for her.
She shrugged and then changed the subject. ‘So, how was your evening last night?’
Felipe considered sugar coating it, but he didn’t want to lie to her when she’d asked for his advice. ‘Not great, to be honest.’ He sighed, wishing he’d gone to his favourite restaurant alone last night. Who knew how the evening might have unfolded differently if he hadn’t been on a date.
Her eyebrows rose with surprise.
‘The food was delicious,’ he said with a shrug, ‘as it always is at Casa Comiendo. I ordered a world-class bottle of malbec—my family own a vineyard in Mendoza so I’m a bit of a wine snob, I’m afraid—but I won’t be seeing my date again.’
Emilia paled a little. ‘Oh...that bad, huh? I’m sorry.’ Her expression was genuinely sympathetic, but he wanted to convince himself that he saw a flicker of excitement in her stare.
‘Now I’m regretting the impulse to be brave and give dating a try myself,’ she added with a wince. ‘You have way more experience and there’s still the possibility of failure. What hope do I have, a complete beginner...?’
‘Don’t be put off.’ Felipe said, internally cursing fate that he was encouraging her to date other men when he was so attracted to her. ‘I’m sure you’ll have a great time.’
Why couldn’t he meet someone like Emilia? Someone on his wavelength who wanted the same things—just some casual, fun dates. Although some instinct warned him that Emilia might only want that for now, but once recovered from her grief, she might one day want more.
‘It’s just that the trouble with dating apps,’ he continued, ‘is that someone can seem great on paper, but when you meet in person, you realise you have less in common that you thought.’
Emilia nodded vigorously. ‘That’s what worries me. I’d much rather meet someone the old-fashioned way. You know, face to face.’
‘I agree.’ Felipe nodded, thinking of how they’d met, instantly clicked, effortlessly got along.
‘I’m not interested in commitment or marriage,’ he continued, ‘but no matter how many ways I make that clear on my profile, I still seem to attract women who want something serious after two dates.’ Last night’s second date had asked him where this was going over dessert.
‘Hmm... That is tricky.’ Emilia’s lips twitched playfully. ‘I guess some women look at you and see the whole package—good job, tall, handsome...’ she peered closer, mischief in her eyes ‘...your own teeth and hair.’
He laughed, shooting back, ‘As opposed to someone else’s.’
She chuckled and, once again, Felipe railed against the fact Santino had beat him to Emilia. She really was easy to talk to. Perhaps he should ask what app she was using and do a little swiping himself...
He sobered, dragging in a breath. ‘I just wish people were honest about what they’re looking for from the start. I have no time for game playing.’
Emilia tilted her head, regarding him thoughtfully. ‘Maybe you’ll meet someone at your brother’s wedding. Apparently, weddings are, according to my daughter, a great place to meet people.’
‘Yes...’ he drawled sarcastically. ‘Flirting with someone while my entire family eagerly looks on. Talk about overwhelming.’
She pressed those full lips of hers together, hiding a smile. ‘Yes, I can see how that might be awkward. Poor you.’
Felipe grinned, decidedly pleased with himself that yet again their conversation was light and playful. Except she was going on a date with some other lucky guy.
‘Have you reviewed Luis Lopez?’ he asked, changing the subject to one that didn’t twist his gut with envy. He didn’t want to think about some guy named Santino enjoying Emilia’s sense of humour and her sparkling smiles. He definitely didn’t want to think about her going home with the man...
‘Yes,’ she said, taking her takeaway coffee from the barista. ‘I came in early and popped up to the NICU. He’s stable. He’s lost a little weight, but that’s only to be expected. I spoke to Isabella and Sebastian again and they seem as happy as can be expected with the way things are going.’
Felipe’s coffee arrived. He scooped it up and they left Café Rivas together.
‘Do you want to review him together tomorrow morning?’ he asked, pausing at a fork in the corridor as they were headed in opposite directions. ‘First thing, before we take him to Theatre?’
He’d only known her a day, but it felt as if they’d been friends and colleagues for years. Except he couldn’t ignore that unrelenting attraction...
‘Sure,’ she said taking a sip of her coffee and holding out her phone with her number displayed. ‘Here’s my number, text me when you arrive and I’ll meet you on the NICU.’
Felipe stored her contact in his phone, an excited flutter in his gut. They had a date. A work date, but he’d take it.
‘I’m on my way to the ED now,’ he said. ‘I’m on call today. Good luck tonight, with your date.’
‘Thanks.’ She winced. ‘Somehow it feels like sitting an exam I haven’t studied for.’
Forcing himself to step away from her easy and enchanting company, Felipe said, ‘Just be yourself and you can’t go wrong.’
She shot him a dubious look and walked off in the opposite direction.
He watched her depart for way too long. Why couldn’t he meet a woman a bit more like Emilia Gonzales? Not exactly like her, because if her grief was any indication, she was obviously a lifelong commitment type, whereas he was a steadfast bachelor. Maybe the best plan of action was to forget his attraction to her and focus on their professional relationship—and what could be a highly rewarding friendship.