Page 60 of Love In Translation

He didn’t think they could work. How would they build a life, have a family, or grow old together? Resentment would eventually kill any love and affection. He wasn’t in love with Rheo—he was damn close, but he refused to fall. Why take the path that ended in pain? He didn’t want to experience the anguish of heartbreak, but he especially didn’t want Rheo to be miserable. She’d experienced enough emotional agony at the hands of her family.

No, it would be better to put some distance between them, to cool things down. He wanted to be a great memory—he didn’t want to be a source of pain. Besides, she practically had one foot out the door anyway. In ten days, she’d return to Brooklyn.

It made sense for him to spend a few more days in Portland, on his own, and when he returned to Gilmartin, Carrie would be there. He and Carrie would go on some overnight hikes, do the Little White Salmon run, and spend time out of the house. He could, by degrees, ease out of Rheo’s life, and hopefully, disengaging wouldn’t hurt too much.

He was bullshitting himself. Of course it would hurt, but as long as Rheo remained unscathed, he’d cope. Maybe. Hopefully.

Seb coughed and Fletch lifted his head. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you, Fletch?”

What was the point of denying it? “Yeah.”

“Fuck.” Seb released a long sigh.

“It’s a complication and I need to pull back.” Fletch raked his hand through his hair. “I’m going to distance myself before we get hurt. When I get back to Gilmartin, I’ll sign up for some hikes, some soloing and kayaking, things to get me out of the house. She’s not into any of that shit.”

Seb placed his hands behind him. “Do you want some company?”

God,yes. Fletch gestured to his messy desk. “Can you take time away?”

Seb worked as a specialist expedition doctor and only worked with individuals who put their bodies under extreme duress. He didn’t have a heavy book of appointments, but when he did consult, he charged a fortune. “I can take a couple of weeks. I’ll have to find somewhere to stay.”

“Stay at the Pink House,” Fletch told him. “I’m renting it and there are lots of bedrooms.”

“Excellent,” Seb replied.

As they made additional plans, doubt rolled over Fletch, cold and relentless. It was the right thing to do—there wasn’t a hope for him and Rheo working long-term. He was trying to protect her, protect himself.

It was the right thing to do.

Wasn’t it?

But it wasn’t like he had a long list of choices. Or any at all.

Twelve

The sound of a growly engine pierced the silence of the afternoon and Rheo flew to the study’s bay window. Fletch was back! Kneeling on the seat, she felt her heart sink as she watched an F-150 trundle past the Pink House and turn left at the T-junction.

Rheo sat on the window seat and stared at the hardwood floor, cursing her burning eyes. Where was Fletch? She’d thought he would be in and out of Portland, but this was day four and he was ignoring her messages. They’d never really defined their relationship, discussed what they were becoming to each other, but didn’t she deserve just one “not sure of my plans, will be back when it suits” message?

Damn it! She would not slide back into that mental morass of second-guessing and overanalyzing herself. She was better than this! She wasn’t someone who stressed about where her lover was, who spent hours thinking about what he was doing.

Or, God,whohe was doing.

On those all too rare occasions when Callum told her he couldn’t see her because of work pressures, she’d relished the freedom of uninterrupted time. She’d enjoyed her first Fletch-free day but missed him that night. Then missing turned to longing, and doubts and insecurity steamrolled her.

What was he doing in Portland? Was he sleeping with someone else? They hadn’t made any promises to be exclusive.

But the truth was, part of herwantedto be exclusive.

She was in love with the man.

The realization hit her the second night she spent alone in her bed. She wanted to sleep with Fletch for the rest of her life.

He was the only person she would make sacrifices for. She didn’t have a clue how to reconcile their vastly different lives, didn’t have the faintest idea where to start or what a life spent together would look like, but she knew she wanted to try.

Her happiness simply lay with Fletch.

But judging by his lack of contact, his future didn’t include her. And, God, it hurt more than anything else she’d felt since losing everything.

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