Page 19 of Love In Translation

Fletch turned back to face her, his expression imperturbable. “So, I guess we should discuss us living together for the next week or so.”

Rheo thanked him for her coffee. “WhyisCarrie coming here?” Carrie put everything on social media, including a rough schedule of where she’d be and what she’d be doing, frequently reminding her followers that she was a free spirit and liable to change her mind at any second. Since she was heading for Gilmartin sometime soon, that meant caving in Vietnam must be on hold. “I thought she had a full schedule until the end of the year.”

“She said she needs a break and wants to recharge. All the stuff we like to do for fun—hiking, trail bike riding, and free climbing—is easily accessible here. As I mentioned, we also want to kayak the Little White Salmon.”

“Sounds fun,” she lied.

He hit her with adon’t bullshit mestare. “Why don’t you want Carrie to know you’re here, and how do you intend to explain your presence when she gets here?”

Because we don’t speak much. Because I didn’t tell her or my parents I had a meltdown. Because we have different worldviews.

Rheo didn’t have any idea of how she was going to explain her presence in the house. Yet.

Rheo answered his last question and ignored the rest. “I’ll just tell her I made an impulsive trip to check on the place.” She shrugged, knowing he wouldn’t believe her breezy reply. Fletch looked laidback and easygoing, but his eyes moved constantly, taking in data and processing it.

“Why do I suspect you don’t do anything on impulse and your trips are planned months in advance?”

Ugh, he made her soundtoostraitlaced. “I can be impulsive,” she retorted. “I’ve made last-minute trips. I can be spontaneous.”

She hoped he didn’t ask her for dates and times, because she knew she couldn’t back up her heated statement.

“When?” he countered, moving her mug so she didn’t knock it over with her waving hands.

His eyebrows lifted and she caught the challenge in his gaze. She wasn’t someone who played games—she preferred to walk away from confrontation, especially when she was out of her depth. But something about this big, bold man made her want to go toe to toe with him.

“When were you last impulsive, Rheo?” he pushed.

“When I kissed you twenty minutes ago!”

Rheo bit her bottom lip, shocked she’d let those words fly. She normally enjoyed complete command over what left her mouth; it was the way she earned her living. She always chose the right words, theappropriatewords. Well, mostly. With one or two major exceptions.

Fletcher lifted his mug and looked at her over the rim, his eyes boring into hers. She held her breath, waiting for his reply. She stood on the edge of a golden, electrified cliff, teetering, about to fall into a miles-deep chasm. He made herfeel, and Rheo didn’t like it.

Emotions could be very annoying.

“We did kiss,” Fletcher replied in a nothing-out-of-the-ordinary-here voice. “I definitely didn’t anticipate liking it so much.”

Rheo sucked in her breath and planted her ass on the chair and her feet on the floor. He looked as tense as she felt. They both understood that if they moved, their clothes would start flying and Paddy’s table would see some action.

Knowing what the rest of her family were capable of, Rheo was pretty sure it wouldn’t be the first time.

Fletcher ran his hands over his face.

“You being Carrie’s cousin complicates things,” Fletcher quietly stated after a long silence. “I think it would be better if we ignore our chemistry so there’s no... awkwardness when she arrives.”

Because, sure, the world would stop if Carrie experienced some awkwardness. And of course there would be awkwardness; there always was when she and Carrie occupied the same room. They were oil and water.

But it didn’t matter. She had no intention of sleeping with Fletch. Sorting her life out was a priority; having sex wasn’t. She was crunched for time and couldn’t waste her mental energy on a man.

“I agree,” Rheo said.

And if she had anyI’d like to share the sheets with youthoughts while she worked out what to do or where to go, she’d just ignore them.

Fletch nodded, walked over to the fridge, and pulled open the door. He looked back at her, a little horrified. “Rheo, something is growing in your fridge.”

Rheo looked at the container in his hand, and through the clear plastic, she saw bubbles of black-and-green mold.Eeeww. She’d bought the cheese from Abi, never ate it, and forgot to take it out. She existed on pizza, takeout, and microwave meals, and because she didn’t drink milk, she rarely went into the fridge.

“I’m going to have to buy some food,” he said, sounding perturbed.

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