Page 20 of Love In Translation

“Don’t let me stop you,” she told him. “There’s a great deli on Main Street that’s owned by my friend Abi, and the store around the corner stocks pretty much everything.”

“What do you live on?” Fletch demanded, dumping the cheese into the trash can and turning to the sink to wash his hands. “Fresh air?”

Rheo gestured to a door behind her. “In the walk-in pantry, there’s a chest freezer stocked with meals Abi makes. I’m a genius at peeling, pricking, and pinging. And I’m great at ordering takeout.”

Fletcher closed his eyes and shook his head. “To thank you for letting me stay, I’ll cook and you’ll eat.”

No problem there, given that she possessed the domestic skills of a houseplant. “Deal. Are you a good cook?” she asked, curious.

Fletcher sent her aget reallook. “Since you only have moldy cheese and a couple of cans of soda in your fridge, I can only be better than you.”

Excellent point.

Five

In her childhood bedroom, Rheo pulled back the covers on the old-fashioned brass bed and slid under the cool sheets. She inspected the fan above her head. Like everything else, it needed a good dusting. Paddy normally hired a team to spring-clean the house in April. Did her normally on-the-ball grandmother forget to do that this year, or was it another sign Paddy was losing interest in the Pink House?

Normally, she’d ask, but since Paddy didn’t know she was here...blah blah blah.

Honestly, Rheo was surprised her presence in Gilmartin had remained a secret for so long. Sure, she’d been an infrequent visitor since she graduated college, but she’d expected someone to recognize her by now. Then again, according to Abi, the neighborhood had changed over the past five years. There was a huge demand for holiday houses in Gilmartin, and many older residents chose to cash in and sell. The residents Paddy knew well were either dead or had moved on, so Paddy couldn’t be that influential or well-known anymore.

The town was so different now, and Rheo was grateful. The last thing she needed was a nosy neighbor sending Paddy a message, updating her on Rheo’s every move. She could only hope the gazebo crashing didn’t raise anyone’s suspicions. Thank God the yards were big, and the houses were spaced far apart. She might’ve gotten away with it—at least she prayed she had.

Rheo recalled Fletch’s disgust over her handiwork. Okay, so carpentry wasn’t her strong suit. Yes, she vaguely remembered something about placing the pillars in concrete, but it sounded like a lot of work, so she skipped that step. Her lazy mistake could’ve resulted in someone getting seriously hurt. The next time she attempted a project, she’d follow all the steps. Do it properly.

Or, a far better idea, get a professional, as Fletch so rudely suggested.

Fletcher Wright...another adventurer. Why couldn’t her unexpected roommate be someone who worked in accounting or banking? Someone with a steady income, a healthy 401(k), a homeowner, and someone who saved ten percent of his income since he’d started working?

She had enough nomads in her life, thanks bunches. He was a complication and a distraction she did not need.

Rheo yawned. What a day! It was the most eventful one she’d experienced in months. She needed sleep but doubted she’d get it. Her brain was in machine-gun mode.

Her phone beeped with an incoming message. Abi.Shit!She’d forgotten to contact her. Her messages hit her screen, one after the other.

Well? Who is he?

What happened to pizza?

Why don’t you tell meANYTHING?

Ah, because, in between Fletch’s arrival, face-planting, kissing him, and the gazebo collapsing, updating her friend had dropped down her priority list. Rheo decided to mess with her a little.

He’s spending the night!

Excellent!

Damn, she’d forgotten Abi was unshockable.

Do you need me to do an emergency condom run?

No, Abs, he’s sleeping in the guest bedroom.

Disappointing.

Rheo saw the dots on the screen and waited.

Tell me everything!

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