I just got in a relationship with a woman. It went from strictly platonic to hot and heavy, then inexplicably back to strictly platonic in a couple of weeks. I don't know what happened. I'm 43, she's 39, both no kids and never married. She lives in my neighborhood. We initially became aware of each other through Crossfit.

She claims she doesn't need or want a boyfriend. Conversations revealed something darker. Years ago, she was in a relationship where she fell "head over heels" for some older guy who turned out to be married. She was ready to drop everything and move across he country for him when she found out he was married, literally the day before she was going to move. He told her he was visiting his kids, but in reality he was traveling back home to fuck his wife while having her on the side. She even stayed in the relationship for some time after that and became "friends" with the guy's wife. She claims he ruined her.

When I met her, she had been dating someone else for a couple years, but conversations revealed that she was only dating this guy because he was an engineer and made a lot of money and was able to fix things for her and buy her gifts. I mean, this guy is the very definition of a beta. She's still buying stuff with this guy's credit card, even while taking me to bed. She said she was more physically stimulated by me than him. Yet this guy still wants her to move across the country where he will support her on his salary and she won't have to work anymore. She desperately wants to get out of this town, and was contemplating "using" him for that, although ultimately decided against it.

I've been reading about the concept of "alpha widow." This seems to fit the bill, no?

Any advice here? Is there any hope? Can I bring her around, or should I just give up? I know "one-itis" is bad, but the truth is, there just aren't a lot of women around here that I find appealing--fit, fun, attractive, single, and aren't after the white-picket fence lifestyle (neither of us wants kids). Is there any way I can get those feelings going, even if just for a brief fling? Should I withdraw affection? Treat her like shit? I'm not sure what game to play here. I want to be honest with her, but it just doesn't seem like it's going to work. Can she be fixed? Or is it hopeless? Thanks.