FELIPE OFTEN HEADED to Café Rivas for a fix before a routine Theatre list. But with Emilia’s fascinating company, there seemed to be an extra spring in his step today that was in no way related to the promise of caffeine.
‘So what can I get you?’ he asked as they entered the sun-filled café, which was situated at the front of the main hospital foyer and serviced both staff and visitors alike.
‘A cappuccino,’ she said, ‘but I can get it.’
‘Please, allow me,’ he insisted, noticing the appealing slope of her exposed neck and the rich brown of her tied-back hair. ‘Until you’ve had a chance to download the app,’ he pressed, hoping to convince her. ‘That way we can bypass the queue at the till.’
That the new neonatal surgeon was so stunning had caught him completely off guard. The hospital scrubs were forest green, a colour that complimented her skin tone and the golden brown of her eyes. As standard issue, they weren’t that flattering, but he didn’t need to be medically qualified to know her slender athletic build ticked every box for him. She was exactly his type.
‘Okay, thanks,’ she said. ‘I owe you one.’
Felipe inclined his head, hoping there’d be plenty of opportunities to share drinks in their future.
‘So, I realise that I bombarded you with questions earlier,’ he said as they loitered near the espresso machine. ‘Now it’s your turn to ask me anything while we wait.’
‘Okay...’ She smiled, her studied observation raising his body temperature a few degrees.
‘What drew you to neonatal surgery?’ she asked. ‘Do you have your own children?’
‘No, I don’t.’ Felipe shook his head, loving her directness—a woman who knew her own mind. She didn’t strike him as someone who would play games. And after fifteen years of casually dating, Felipe had seen every game in the book.
‘Luckily I love kids,’ he continued, ‘given our work. I just never quite got around to having one of my own. My ex-wife didn’t want children, and I was content to see them every day here.’
He shrugged, thinking of his younger brother, Thiago, and Castillo Estates, the family vineyard business that Felipe had refused to take over in favour of selfishly pursuing his medical career. Now that Felipe was committed to staying single, and had just turned fifty-five, the burden of producing the next generation of Castillo children was solely down to Thiago and his soon-to-be wife, Violetta.
The same single-mindedness that had driven Felipe to pursue his own profession had probably also led him to neglect his marriage, while he worked to prove to his family that he’d made the right decision in pursuing medicine. Not that his divorce was solely his fault...
‘How about you?’ he asked, shoving his ex-wife of fifteen years, Delfina, from his mind. ‘Just the one daughter?’
He’d rather talk about the fascinating and sexy new consultant than think about his failed marriage. Or how he’d also let down both his brother and his parents. Emilia Gonzales was surprisingly down to earth, clearly intelligent and utterly gorgeous. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was seeing anyone...
‘Yes, Eva.’ Emilia smiled, maternal pride shining in her eyes. ‘She’s just started law at UBA.’ Her smile deepened to reveal a charming dimple in one cheek.
‘Not medicine?’ he asked, surprised. ‘The University of Buenos Aeries has an excellent medical school. That’s where I trained.’
Emilia laughed, shaking her head so her ponytail swung. ‘No—I managed to somehow put her off. Instead, she’s following in her father’s footsteps. He studied law at UBA, too.’
Felipe could instantly tell that she and Eva were close. No wonder she’d made the shift to Buenos Aires when her daughter moved there to study. But starting over in your fifties could be...isolating.
‘Eva sounds scarily smart,’ he said, newly intrigued by the woman with whom, at first glance, he had heaps in common.
‘Oh, she is,’ she agreed, tilting her head to observe him in a way that saw him clenching his abs.
Now he was grateful that he worked hard to keep in shape. There was obviously a spark between them, a mutual attraction.
‘So, how long have you been divorced?’ she asked.
‘Fifteen years,’ he confessed, wincing when her eyebrows shot up with surprise. ‘It was a perfectly amicable split,’ he continued, feeling, as he always did, that he needed to justify his divorce. ‘We’d just drifted apart.’
And over those fifteen years, he’d carved out a great life for himself, finding the perfect balance of work and social life, punctuated by the occasional casual date. Only no matter how many years passed, he couldn’t seem to shake off the guilt that, because he’d pursued his career so diligently, he’d been a second-rate husband. No wonder he was content to date casually. Unlike Thiago, who was about to walk down the aisle.
Emilia eyed him a little more closely, as if trying to figure him out. ‘Do you have a new partner?’
It was a logical next question, but he couldn’t help hearing a hopeful curiosity in her voice.
‘No, I’m single. I date, but nothing serious. What about you? Do you mind me asking how long it’s been since your husband died?’
The curiosity was mutual. If she was on the market, he’d definitely be interested in something casual.
‘Ricardo,’ she said, supplying her husband’s name as pain dulled her stare for a second. ‘He’s been gone five years.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Why had he asked? They’d only just met and now he’d made her sad. ‘Starting again at our age is an adjustment,’ he added, trying to repair the damage, ‘and that’s without moving to a new country the way you have.’
It was difficult enough to meet new people, especially the right people. He knew. He’d had fifteen years of experience.
‘Oh, I’m not starting again apart from this new job.’ She self-consciously toyed with her long hair, avoiding his stare. ‘I’m too focused on making sure that Eva is settled here to worry about myself.’
Felipe’s stomach fell. So she wasn’t dating. He could understand why she put her daughter’s needs above her own. Her situation was very different from his. She’d clearly loved her husband to the end, and probably still did. That didn’t mean she was immune to loneliness though, especially given that her daughter was all grown up and would presumably be leaving the nest one day soon.
Maybe they could simply be friends?
‘Well, there’s no shortage of things to do in Buenos Aires,’ he said, hiding his disappointment that he couldn’t ask her out. ‘What do you like to do when you’re not working?’
Although given that he had to supervise her surgeries and make a report to the Argentine Medical Council, it was probably for the best that she was off limits. He didn’t want Emilia to be at the centre of any hospital gossip.
‘Gardening, reading, walks in the park with the dog. Nothing exciting.’ She laughed. ‘I get all the adrenaline I need from work.’
Felipe chuckled in agreement. Everything about her so far was seriously attractive.
‘What about you?’ she asked, watching him again.
‘The same, actually, minus the gardening. I live in an apartment, and I usually run in the park with the dog. He’s a border terrier. Dante.’
Excitement lit her eyes. ‘Mine’s a springer spaniel—Luna. Although she’s really my daughter’s dog, I always seem to be one doing the walking...’
‘Funny that,’ he grinned, knowingly. ‘So do you know anyone here in Buenos Aires?’
Emilia shook her head, a slight flush to her cheeks. ‘No. My husband’s family are from Córdoba.’
‘In that case, we should get the dogs together sometime for a doggy date at the park.’ Felipe held up his hands. ‘That’s not a line, just a friendly invitation.’
Emilia offered him a watery smile, failing to hide her horror at the idea.
Before she could politely decline, he jumped in. ‘But I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding the best dog parks in the city without my help.’
He’d heard the message—she really wasn’t interested. Just then, the barista called out Felipe’s name and held out their takeaway order.
‘Here you go,’ Felipe said, passing Emilia her coffee.
‘Thanks,’ she said, heading with him towards the exit. ‘I’m going to meet my registrar on the NICU and do a quick ward round, acquaint myself with the patients I’ve inherited from my predecessor.’
They paused at the top of the stairs where he’d be heading down to Theatres, while she went up to the third floor.
‘Page me if you need any help,’ Felipe said. ‘I’ll see you back in Theatre. We have a full list this afternoon.’
Before they could part ways, Emilia touched his arm, stalling him.
‘Sorry about just now, Felipe,’ she said, looking mildly embarrassed. ‘I’m just a little sensitive about the whole dating thing. Eva thinks it’s high time I got back out there and I’m really not keen. It’s something of a touchy subject at home.’
She’d just moved to a new country, a place that must hold painful memories of her husband. That would make anyone feel bewildered and reluctant to date.
‘No need for an apology.’ Empathy tightened Felipe’s chest that they had yet another thing in common. ‘I understand the well-meaning pressure from family. My younger brother is soon to be married, and my entire family think I too should remarry before it’s too late.’ He widened his eyes, mock horrified, and she smiled. He knew all was forgiven.
‘I’m glad I’m not the only one being...encouraged.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘At our age, we can’t possibly look after ourselves, can we?’
‘One of the best things that comes with reaching half a century is that we know our own minds, right? You’ll date when you’re ready.’ He shrugged. ‘Or not.’
‘I agree.’ She smiled, gratitude sparkling in her eyes. ‘But try telling that to my teenage daughter.’
They parted ways and Felipe headed downstairs, his spirits a little deflated. So he’d imagined the way she’d checked him out. Mistaken her friendliness for flirtation.
They could still be friends, though.
Except the dull throb of disappointment stayed with him for the rest of the day.