get away without insulting him? He finally seemed to trust her—Gloria didn’t want to lose that.
How ironic. A year and a half ago, it would’ve been a dream come true to have a handsome man take her out on his yacht and lean in for that big Hollywood kiss. Forrest was the sort of man Gloria had always wished Bastian could be.
But now she had Jerome. And as kind, handsome, funny, and clever as Forrest was, he would never win Gloria’s heart. It already belonged to Jerome. Now and forever.
Gloria took her hand back. Forrest could go ahead and be insulted. He could kick her out of his villa, even, and send her back to Hank with nothing. A lifetime in prison would be better than betraying Jerome like that. “We should probably get back to the others.”
“Gloria …,” Forrest said. “Listen. I know what it’s like.” His intense eyes were fixed on the blue sea that stretched out in front of them.
“What what’s like?”
“To follow your heart and damn the consequences! We understand each other, you and I, far better than you know.”
“Forrest, I don’t—”
“What are you two up to over there?” Glitz called out.
If Gloria spent another moment alone with Forrest, it wouldn’t be long before Glitz and Glamour started flapping their gums about the two of them to all of Long Island.
Gloria quickly walked the last few steps to the foredeck, and Forrest followed. “Forrest was teaching me how to steer the ship,” she said, and sank into a deck chair.
“And I had to get Gloria alone to talk about her career,” Forrest added. “I still can’t get over how much everyone adored her Saturday night.”
“I’m absolutely green with envy, Glo,” Glitz called. “I wish I were that good at something.”
“Don’t be silly, Glitz!” Glamour said. “You and I are both terrifically good at doing nothing. I challenge anyone to do nothing as well as we do!”
“You were wonderful, Gloria,” Ruby said from the other side of the deck. Even though she was giving Gloria a compliment, there was something acidic in Ruby’s tone. “I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t able to perform, wasn’t it?”
Forrest stared at Ruby for a moment; the two seemed to have a silent conversation with their matching eyes. They did this a lot—it made Gloria wonder how long they’d known each other.
Then Forrest turned to Gloria. “Yes, well, I plan to make Gloria an enormous star.” He winked. “If she’ll let me.”
“Are we really talking about work?” Glamour turned over on her chair. She pulled off her black swimming cap and ran her hand through her short gold curls. “Glitz and I are bored.”
Forrest sat on the empty chair beside her. “Well, we can’t have that. What would you ladies rather be doing?”
“I want to drink!” Glitz said. “And dance. Possibly at the same time.”
“Hear, hear!” Glamour said. She winked at Gloria. “Enough of you lovebirds puttering around the bay.”
Damn, Gloria thought. That wink meant that gossip about Gloria and Forrest was sure to be churning through the high-society rumor mill by morning.
Forrest looked out at the sun, which was beginning to dip in the pale blue sky. “I guess it is getting a little late. I’ll go tell Otto to bring us in.” He stopped by Gloria’s chair and pointed at her. “You better save me a dance, doll.”
Gloria reddened and looked across the foredeck to where Ruby was sitting with her husband. Marty was still asleep; his graying hair flopped over his lobster-red forehead and his white suit was rumpled.
Ruby was his polar opposite in a black halter dress and a wide-brimmed white hat with a black scarf tied around it. The starlet was watching Forrest. Once he was out of sight, she shifted her gaze to Gloria. Her eyes were narrowed and she was frowning.
Gloria rose from her chair and walked over to Ruby’s. “So, how’s it been going down here?”
Ruby shrugged. “Just work, work, and more work.” She smiled, but again, something that was supposed to be friendly came off as bitter instead. “I certainly haven’t been having as much fun as you and Forrest.” Ruby’s gaze turned wistful and Gloria followed it up to the foredeck, where Forrest was talking to Otto. From her vantage point, Ruby could see the steering wheel perfectly. And she’d probably had a better view of Gloria and Forrest at the railing than any of the others.
Now it was clear: Forrest hadn’t developed sudden, inexplicable feelings for her. He’d simply