“See how he watches you?” Gloria said. “He’s been doing it all day.”
Sure enough, Jim’s gaze flitted to her. She smiled, he smiled back, and he returned to his work.
“Is she watching me?” Gloria said in a fake masculine voice. “Did she see me flex my muscles? Better do it again, make sure she sees.”
Jim did seem to flex his muscles a lot more than required for his work.
Hope and amusement bubbled into a giggle. “Stop it, Gloria.”
Jim rested one hand on the mast and looked Mary’s way, a long look, as if studying her, querying her, and it pressed her heart hard against the polished wooden deck.
In high school Jim had loved vivacious golden girl Quintessa, but maybe he could grow to like Mary’s subdued silver ways. Perhaps he already had.
How could she encourage him? What did she know about flirting or romance? She’d had so few boyfriends and hadn’t dated for almost two years. Yet something natural flowed through her, took over, and raised a soft smile.
He flipped up a grin, spun around, and grabbed a line, back to work.
Gloria groaned and flopped onto her back. “Arch used to look at me like that. More so. He was enthralled.”
Mary didn’t want to offer false encouragement. Who wouldn’t notice the tension between them this weekend? “I’m sure Arch just has a lot on his mind.”
“What good is a great figure and a killer-diller swimsuit if I can’t snag a rich husband?”
Although she cringed, Mary kept her voice gentle. “Maybe he doesn’t want to be snagged. Maybe he wants to be loved for who he is.”
Gloria sat up and leaned close, her golden hair falling over one golden-tan cheek. “I do love him for who he is. Can I help it if ‘who he is’ owns this spectacular estate and this yacht and an enormous thriving business?”
Mary’s stomach soured. “He gave up the business to join the Navy.”
Gloria shoved back her hair. “That won’t last. He says he’ll stay in the Navy forever, but he won’t. He’ll miss all this. Who wouldn’t? His Navy salary won’t satisfy him. How could it when he’s used to having everything he desires?”
Mary studied the perfect symmetry of Gloria’s face. “What if he doesn’t miss it? What if he’s satisfied with a simpler life?”
A startled look raced through Gloria’s eyes.
Just as Mary thought—Gloria planned to make Archer Vandenberg quite dissatisfied with Navy life.
“All right, ladies.” Arch stepped closer, pulling on a khaki shirt. “Time to head ashore and dress for dinner.”
Mary rummaged in her bag, pulled out her one-piece playsuit, stepped in, and buttoned it up, still tickled to have found a playsuit in navy-and-white polka dots to match her swimsuit.
Gloria sauntered down the length of the boat, hips swaying, swinging her bag, and she sang the new hit song “You Made Me Love You.”
Arch hopped to the pier, reached out a hand to his girlfriend, then retracted it. “Do you have something to put on over that? Shorts and a blouse like Mary has?”
Gloria put one hand on her hip. “Are you ashamed of me?”
His shoulders sagged. “Come on. I told you my parents are old-fashioned. Please put some clothes on and don’t make a scene.”
Without a word, Gloria threw her bag to the deck and opened it.
“Mary?” Jim stood on the pier, his hand outstretched, and he tilted his head as if to say, “Let’s get out of here.”
Mary took his hand, hesitated as she studied the watery gap between boat and pier, then jumped across.
He leaned down, his face only inches from her ear. “Let’s give them some space.”
How could she breathe with him so close and his hand still wrapped around hers? She wouldn’t let go. He might, but she wouldn’t. “All right.” Her voice came out too breathy.
