THAT FRIDAY EVENING Felipe smiled across the table at Emilia and poured the last of the wine between their glasses. Unlike his last date, when most of the conversational burden had fallen to him, tonight’s conversation had flowed non-stop from the minute he’d collected her from her neat two-bedroom house in a taxi.
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt so excited by a new connection. Maybe it was because they were on the same page when it came to their relationship expectations, but he and Emilia seemed to just effortlessly click, the invigorating camaraderie they shared at work spilling over into their date. Except he needed to remember that it wasn’t a real date, that they were just friends and colleagues.
‘So what type of wine does your family’s vineyard grow?’ she asked, her deep brown eyes accented by the sapphire blue dress she wore, the neckline showing a tantalising glimpse of her tanned and freckled chest.
He was having a hard time keeping his stare from her sensational body. She looked elegant and relaxed, her make-up subtle and her long, dark hair swept over one tanned shoulder. Felipe forced his gaze away from the curve of her lovely lips back up to her playful stare. She really was stunning. And intelligent and interesting.
And a friend...
‘We specialise in Syrah and Malbec, of course,’ he said, naming the most famous of the Argentinian grape varieties, ‘but we also grow Chardonnay and Semillon. My parents are retired now, so my brother has taken over and also added a sparkling wine to the estate’s production line.’
‘Ooh...’ Emilia said, impressed. ‘Do they have an open cellar door? I might have to visit the region sometime. I haven’t been to Mendoza since my twenties.’
‘Of course.’ Felipe smiled, eager to give her a personal tour of the Castillo Estate Winery. ‘There are tastings and wine tours and, thanks to Thiago’s vision and hard work, a brand-new restaurant with a world-class chef.’
‘Sounds amazing,’ she said, licking her lips in a distracting way that, despite his best intentions, made him desperate for a taste of that lovely mouth.
All night he’d secretly toyed with the idea of how to say goodnight. A cheek kiss, as was standard among Argentinians, seemed too impersonal, but if he brushed her lips with his, he might not be able to stop himself taking it further. Perhaps it was best to let Emilia dictate their goodbye.
‘So Thiago is the brother who’s getting married?’ she asked.
‘That’s right. He’s ten years younger than me,’ Felipe said, grasping the topic of conversation to distract himself from how badly he wanted to kiss her—right there and then—but couldn’t. ‘Fortunately for me,’ he continued, ‘Thiago wanted to work for the family business when my parents retired.’
Why had he suggested a platonic date when they’d admitted they were attracted to each other? Yes, he’d friend zoned her and wanted her to feel comfortable after her first date failure, but enjoying her sparkling company knowing he couldn’t take it further was like a form of self-inflicted torture...
‘You didn’t?’ she asked with a curious frown, twirling the stem of her wineglass as she watched him thoughtfully.
She seemed genuinely interested in his personal life and the feeling was mutual. They’d been at the restaurant for almost two hours and hadn’t once talked about work.
Felipe shook his head, the old familiar rumble of guilt lodging under his ribs like a stitch.
‘At the time, when I told my parents I wanted to go to medical school at UBA,’ he said, glancing down at the table, ‘that caused quite the upset, as you can imagine. I think my parents dreamed of both their sons running the family business together, but I was drawn to the big city lights and to medicine. I’m not sure they’ve ever quite forgiven me.’
He grinned, his light-hearted tone hiding how his career choice still felt like a bone of contention between him and his family. Felipe had always felt protective of Thiago, and the pursuit of his surgical career had inadvertently placed a responsibility for the family business on his younger brother’s shoulders, especially as their parents grew older.
The consequences of Felipe’s decision had also spilled into his private life. He’d felt compelled to make his career a success, almost to prove to his family that he’d made the right choice. And while he’d worked long hours to build up his professional reputation in Buenos Aires, he’d unwittingly neglected his marriage.
‘I’m sure they’re proud of you both,’ Emilia said, her stare moving over his face as if she was figuring him out and somehow knew that, for him, this was a touchy subject. ‘How often do you get home for a visit?’
‘Not as often as I’d like,’ he admitted. ‘You know how demanding our work can be, but Thiago and Violetta’s wedding will be a chance to catch up with all my family in one hit. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that...’
Emilia eyed him intently. ‘You’re really dreading the wedding, aren’t you?’
Felipe added fearless and intuitive to her growing list of positive attributes.
‘Not the wedding itself...’ He shrugged, sitting forward to rest his forearms on the table. ‘Just the look of disappointment in my mother’s eyes. She’s desperate to be an abuela, and I’m afraid I’ve failed her miserably.’
He smiled, his regret that he wasn’t a father only momentary. He had a great life—a comfortable home, a full social life and a challenging job he loved.
‘But at least Thiago has time to redeem himself and produce a grandchild,’ he added. ‘His wife-to-be is younger than him and has already told him she wants at least two children, so it seems my mother will get her heart’s desire after all.’
His smile widened with mischief. ‘And I’ll get to be cool uncle Felipe who spoils them with sweets and inappropriately expensive gifts.’
Emilia’s tinkling laughter eased the restless ache in his chest that came when he thought about Thiago, the wedding and his family’s expectations.
After dinner, they headed outside. The restaurant opened onto the buzzing Plaza de Luco, a favourite gathering place for Argentinians keen to enjoy the abundant nightlife on offer. It was a balmy autumn evening with lots of people out and about, frequenting the city’s many restaurants, cocktail bars and dance clubs.
‘So, what did you think of your second date in twenty years?’ Felipe asked, casually strolling at her side across the square. ‘Please tell me it went better than the date with Mr Horny.’ He’d definitely made Emilia relax and smile tonight, and hopefully negated her bad experience with that other guy.
‘A hundred times better.’ She laughed, her stare sweeping over him from head to toe. He walked a little taller. ‘Tonight’s date lasted two hours instead of twenty minutes, for one,’ she said, stepping a little closer.
‘Good food and wine are worth savouring,’ he said, desperate to take her hand or offer her his arm, but he held back. He didn’t want to make any moves on her, given how he’d promised they could be just friends.
‘Secondly,’ she added, ‘you’ve asked me plenty of personal questions and seemed genuinely interested in me.’
‘I am genuinely interested,’ he said, trying not to appear too smug that he’d bested Mr Horny.
‘And thirdly,’ she concluded, her twinkling gaze full of playfulness, ‘you didn’t once stare at my chest.’
Felipe kept his expression neutral as he nodded. Oh, he’d looked all right. He’d simply been subtle about it.
‘But seriously, thanks for suggesting tonight.’ She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling. ‘You have no idea how much you’ve set my mind at ease.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he said, glad he could restore her faith in men. ‘Take it from your dating coach—a date shouldn’t feel like a trip to the dentist.’
‘Well, you’re the expert,’ she said with a curious expression on her face. ‘Fifteen years is a long time to date without falling into a serious relationship.’
‘I guess,’ he said with another shrug, because he’d never before considered how his lifestyle choices might appear from the outside. ‘What can I say—I enjoy the company of beautiful, intelligent women.’
And until Emilia had walked into his life, he’d never once questioned his behaviour. Dating was a means to an end. He enjoyed socialising and eating out and had a healthy sex drive. But now that he’d met her, he realised how many of his other dates had been empty somehow, although it was his choice to keep things superficial. There was something special about her that left him unsettled, as if he knew he could be happier. But perhaps it was just this inconvenient attraction to her that he had to constantly battle.
‘Plus, what’s a single person too young to be all alone supposed to do?’ he asked, playfully. ‘I’m always safe and responsible, and I think I show my dates a good time. I’ve certainly never had any complaints.’
‘I should hope so.’ She laughed, stepping aside as they passed a large group of people—her arm brushed his.
Felipe reflexively offered her his arm, and to his relief, she accepted, sliding her hand through his elbow. He hid his body’s shudder of excitement.
‘At least now you have some tips and pointers for the next time you go on a date, and can easily dismiss anyone who doesn’t make the grade.’ Hopefully, he’d set the bar nice and high. Except the idea of her dating other men only intensified that restlessness in him.
He wanted to take her out again, but it was complicated. As she’d pointed out they worked together. He’d have to provide a report on her for the Argentine Medical Council. She was still grieving, vulnerable and he genuinely wanted to be her friend.
‘Shall we take a taxi,’ he asked, as they arrived at the taxi rank. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to see you home? No strings, I promise. I’m just a bit old fashioned like that.’
Emilia looked up at him, an enigmatic look in her eyes that gave nothing away. ‘Isn’t it out of your way?’
Her teeth dragged at her distracting bottom lip as if she was waiting, thinking, maybe even plotting. Felipe couldn’t stop staring, still arguing back and forth with himself if he should kiss her goodnight. Would their chemistry be as hot as he imagined, or would a harmless kiss ruin their budding friendship?
‘It’s worth it for a little longer in your company, if you don’t mind,’ he said, holding up his hands in supplication. ‘But it’s totally your call.’
She hesitated, wrapping her arms around her waist as if she was cold. Felipe shrugged off his sports jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
She smiled up at him. ‘Thank you.’ She blinked, something conflicted shifting behind her eyes. ‘I’d like your company for a little longer too, but I have a nosy teenager at my place.’ She stepped closer, vulnerability in her eyes that told Felipe how uncertain and out of practice she was when it came to interacting with men. ‘You could, um...invite me back to your place for a nightcap?’
Felipe froze, his heart racing with excitement, but his head applied the brakes. Just because she wasn’t ready for their evening to end just yet—and the feeling was definitely mutual—didn’t mean she wanted more than just his company. If anything more was ever to happen between them, he would need very clear signals from her. Except it was taking all his strength to resist the temptation to kiss her. Having her in his apartment would test him further, but more than anything he wanted her to be comfortable with him, his protective urges flaring to life.
‘I’d love that,’ he said, ‘but I only live a five-minute walk from here and it’s a beautiful night. Shall we walk?’
Emilia nodded, seeming to relax. They set off at a leisurely pace, side by side. This time she spontaneously looped her warm hand around his arm, her touch electrifying his skin through the thin cotton of his shirt, as her perfume wafted on the cool evening air.
Just like that his restless feeling evaporated.
But he needed to be so careful with this woman. Unlike the strangers he often dated while also keeping at arms’ length, there was so much more at stake: their working relationship, their budding friendship, Emilia settling into an unfamiliar city where she had no other friends. They couldn’t allow lust to cloud their judgement, and Emilia was new to casual dating. He didn’t want to hurt her somehow or inadvertently let her down after everything she’d been through.
‘So, tell me about your husband,’ he asked after a moment’s silence, the subject a timely reminder of another obstacle he needed to be mindful of. ‘What kind of lawyer was he?’
Emilia glanced up at him as if surprised by his interest. ‘He specialised in commercial law,’ she said, a small half-smile on her lips. ‘He and a friend from university started their own firm in Montevideo. He was very successful.’
Felipe nodded encouragingly and she continued.
‘Then, at only forty-seven,’ she said, ‘he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme.’
Felipe winced, regretting that he’d made her feel sad. GBM was the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
‘I’m sorry. That must have been hard on all of you. What a tragic waste.’ He squeezed her hand between his elbow and his side, letting her know that he understood her grief, which was so evident in her beautiful eyes.
She shrugged but then swallowed, as if with effort. ‘Within two years, he was dead. Eva was only thirteen, a real Papá’s girl, so of course, it hit her the hardest.’
Her voice fell. She ducked her head and Felipe wished he’d chosen a lighter topic of conversation. But a part of him wanted to know everything about her, even this.
‘And you lost the love of your life,’ he pointed out. ‘It’s hard on both you and Eva.’
As a solo parent, she was probably used to putting her needs last, but her grief was every bit as valid as Eva’s.
‘Yes,’ she admitted, watching him for a few seconds. ‘But I just got on with things. I had a teenager to raise, so I couldn’t afford to break down. I didn’t want Eva’s young life to be derailed by my grief. Besides, wallowing wouldn’t have brought Ricardo back.’
Felipe rested his hand over hers on his arm. ‘That’s understandable. You felt you had to set aside your own grieving process to focus on Eva. It’s not surprising that dating has been a low priority for you until now.’
She nodded, her eyes alight with what looked like gratitude. ‘Thanks for asking about Ricardo. It means a lot to me. Many people are scared to ask about him in case I find the reminder too upsetting, but that means it can sometimes feel as if there’s no one I can talk to about him.’
‘You’re welcome, Emilia. Any time you need to talk, I’m here.’ Out of nowhere, a fresh surge of protectiveness built inside him.
She was amazing. She had a busy and emotionally demanding career, she’d raised her daughter alone for the past five years, while also grieving, and now she’d moved to a new country.
‘This is my building,’ he said, pausing in front of a modern apartment block facing the park in Palermo, a fashionable central city district. ‘Dante and I are in the penthouse.’
She smiled, flashing her dimple. ‘Of course you are.’ But her teasing seemed to break the tension.
‘Hey, it has the best views,’ he said, scanning the building’s electronic lock with his key fob.
‘Another of your dating moves?’ she asked, pushing inside to the building’s foyer. ‘Wow women with your penthouse apartment?’
Felipe reached for her hand and tugged her towards the lift. ‘That’s rookie dating mistake number one.’ He winked, enjoying the laughter in her eyes. ‘Never invite a first date back to your place. If she turns out to be too clingy, then there’s no escape—she knows exactly where you live.’
Emilia shook her head as if in wonder. ‘Oh, well done you. But see, I didn’t even think of that. I have so much to learn.’ She stepped inside the lift at his side.
Felipe gently squeezed her hand and pressed the button for the top floor. ‘Well, that’s why we’re here. This is a practice date, remember?’
Only right then, he was struggling to think about anything but how much he wished it was the real thing.