Love story: Elizabeth & Guillermo Martinez

Elizabeth Hardoon Martinez and Guillermo Martinez of Great Neck met and fell in love at work. Elizabeth tells their story.

I am a veterinarian, and with the predominance of women in that field, I never expected to meet anyone at work. But fate would not have it that way.

In September 2007 I began working at the Great Neck Animal Hospital. I went around introducing myself to everyone there and met my soul mate, Guillermo. He jokes about how I shook his hand very professionally and introduced myself as Dr. Hardoon instead of Elizabeth. I remember noticing his dark eyes and handsome smile and wondering whether he was single.

Guillermo, a licensed veterinary technician, and I worked together frequently. He basically showed me the ropes. I noticed how good he was with animals and what a kind and caring person he was.

Working in close quarters, we quickly learned each other's strengths and weaknesses, and an attraction began to grow between us.

The first hint I received from him was when several co-workers offered to help me move into my new apartment. Guillermo was going to be out of town then, but he left a note on my car with his phone number, saying I should call if I needed any help after he returned. Another time, I was working the late shift and he showed up, on his own time, to bring me coffee.

Then in October we went to Croxley Ale House in Garden City with some of our co-workers. Guillermo bought me a beer, and while talking to him I literally forgot everyone else in the room. His smile was captivating, and he was so passionate about life and the things he loved. I really felt like I could be myself around him, as if I had known him for a long time. We began seeing each other outside of work.

At one point in our courtship, Guillermo was bitten in the hand by a dog and asked me to remove his stitches. As I touched his hand we both felt butterflies in our stomachs and had to admit that we were in love.

In January 2008 we were engaged while on a cruise in the Caribbean. It was very romantic. We were married on July 2, 2010, at Land's End in Sayville. It was the fairy-tale wedding of my dreams. I never thought I would find someone I loved so much, someone I could call my soul mate. But I found it in Guillermo.