After rumors of a secret romance, Eva Longoria confirmed that she is dating Ernesto Arguello from her reality TV show, "Ready to Love."  

The "Desperate Houswives" actress finally told People  that she and the Miami-based entrepreneur and philanthropist are an item.

"I think that's why our relationship is so special - we truly started as friends," said Longoria, 38, who met Arguello, 34, last year when he was cast for the short-lived NBC dating show, which she produced.

Arguello had ended a relationship with his on-screen pick, Miss USA Shandi Finnessey in 2012.

Though the show aired this Spring, the twosome did not turn their friendship into romance until recently. Longoria noted that she began to discover a different side of the hunky contestant.

"I guess we have the press to thank for pushing us to see something we didn't see!," she joked. Things are pretty serious, for Longoria just returned from Nicaragua after meeting his entire family.

The new couple have a lot in common, and seem to compliment each other very well, according to one of the twosome's friends.

"Eva and Ernesto are a perfect match," said a source close to the lovebirds. "They both speak Spanish, have the same religion and the same cultural background." And they both have a passion for philanthropy.

Recently, Longoria accompanied Arguello to his native Honduras, where they visited the school that he built in his community, and see the homes he built for impoverished families. Their compatibility is obvious, and it seems to be a promising union already. "Their friendship and similar philanthropic interests laid the foundation of their new romance," the source added. "They're very much in love." 

With so much chemistry and a blossoming love, Longoria is very happy. She retweeted the great news on Twitter.

Drop us a note on what you think of the new romance below!