If your S.O. is that good, then the best way to learn would be to have her teach you. But in the meantime, there are a few things you can do as a beginner:
1. Train tactics. There is a wonderful site called chesstempo.com where you can solve as many puzzles as you want, practice, and recieve a rating without having to pay. This will help you massively.
2. Play slow chess. Being able to develop your board vision and see threats can only be attained at slower time controls, like the "Online Chess" (correspondence) here at Chess.com, or even games with G/30 or higher time controls.
2 1/2. Look for free instructional videos about chess - some are very good. When I was a beginner, I watched videos from thechesswebsite.com and thus was taught concepts like basic checkmates & endgames, tactical motifs, and was also introduced to my first few openings.
3. I would say that once you get your "Online Chess" rating here to about 1300, the first book I would pick up would be The Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman. Great book on strategy.
I need some help to learn chess.
The problem is: my parter is an excellent chess player (I think she came third in a national chess tourney once) so you understand. REALLY GOOD.
I, basically know the rules and the idea of the game. We'd like it if we could play together in the evenings but she is so much better than me it is no fun for her.
I'm a clever man who learns quickly could you guys suggest good books to read or something else I could do to learn to play better?
So I can at least be competitive: so that it is harder for her to beat me. I'd like to make her work for it and maybe someday beat her.
I think we would enjoy playing chess together in the evenings.