Once Upon a Star

by Lorana Hoopes

  It had been where she had spent many Friday nights, belting out karaoke until Denny decided he no longer wanted to go out. He had never insisted she not go, but there had been a silent request coupled with a heaping of guilt, and she had eventually stopped showing up.

  Lanie paused with her hand on the door handle. What if this was no longer the hangout? What if she stepped inside and recognized no one there? Squaring her shoulders, she decided she didn’t care. It couldn’t be any worse or feel any lonelier than her empty house.

  The darkened club looked exactly as she remembered if a little emptier, but a check of her wristwatch revealed the hour was still early. She sidled up to the bar for a drink, not because she was much of a drinker, but because she needed something to do.

  “What’ll you have?” the bartender asked. His bald pate contrasted with a full, thick beard, which formed an interesting contrast. Large gages created gaping holes in his ears, but his kind smile softened the hard image.

  “Can I have a sprite please?”

  The bartender raised one eyebrow at her, but turned and grabbed a glass.

  “Lanie? Lanie Hall?”

  Lanie looked to the left where the voice had come from, and her breath caught. Azarius Jacobson, a blast from her past, stood there dapper as ever in grey jeans and a darker grey shirt that accentuated his finely-toned arms.

  They had once worked together at the radio station, though he had quit and done something else shortly after her marriage to Denny.

  “Azarius? How have you been?” The words were barely out of her mouth before she threw her arms around him. They hadn’t been close when he worked at the station years ago, but he was a familiar face on a day she needed one.

  He chuckled as her weight knocked him a step backwards, and his arms surrounded her to keep them both from falling over.

  Though purely innocent, she hadn’t had a man’s arms around her in so long that it ignited a flame deep inside her, and a heated flush crawled up her face as she registered his touch. “Sorry, I’m just excited to see someone I know, and I haven’t seen you for what? Six years?”

  “Eight,” he said, dropping his arms. “You look fantastic. Just as I remembered.”

  Just as he remembered? The flush climbed higher up her face. She had only a vague memory of him from when he worked at the radio station, but he appeared to have a much better memory of her.

  “You look great too. Why don’t you get a drink and join me? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to.” Why did the simple thought of him joining her send her heart racing?

  “Sure, I’d love to catch up with you.”

  He ordered a Vodka Tonic and led the way to an empty table.

  “When did you get back to town?” she asked as they sat. The light above bounced off his dark skin, creating a glittering caramel effect.

  “About six months ago,” he said. “I’m not working for the radio station this time though.”

  She smiled as she sipped her soda. “I figured you weren’t. I’m still there, and I would have noticed if you were back.”

  “Would you have?” His dark brown eyes bored into her soul, and she dropped her eyes and bit her lip.

  “Honestly, I don’t know,” she said, stirring her straw in a circle. “Things have been crazy.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s been going on?”

  His gaze never wavered from her, and the intensity of it sent a shiver down her spine. When was the last time someone had looked at her like that? As if he really saw her? Years, she decided. It had been years, and the simple act not only made her feel beautiful but lowered her emotional walls.

  “My marriage fell apart,” she sighed. “I guess it had been going that direction for awhile, but we finally decided to stop fighting the lack of feelings and call it quits.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, but something about his expression made her wonder if he really were sorry.

  “So, what about you?” she asked, changing the subject. Her failed marriage was a topic she wanted to forget, not rehash. “How has life been for you?”

  He shrugged. “It’s been. I re-enlisted for awhile. You knew I was National Guard, right?”

  Lanie blinked and shook her head. She’d had no idea he was in the service. Wow, she really had been clueless about him. That was a pretty big piece of information to miss about someone.

  “Oh, well I needed a change, so I re-enlisted for a few years. My time just ended, so I’m back here as a civilian again, doing some contract work.”

  The shifting of his eyes led her to believe there was more to the story, but she didn’t press the issue. It felt like prying and that seemed rude after not having seen him for so long.

  “Do you sing?” she asked, gesturing at the karaoke book on the table in an attempt to change the conversation.

  A small smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “No, but I’d love to hear you sing. I always enjoyed watching you belting it out in the booth.”

  Unsure how to respond to that tidbit of information, Lanie felt her face flush again. Had Azarius had a crush on her? If so, did he still? And did she want him to? These questions circled through her brain, but all she could manage was, “You watched me?”

  “Only a few times,” he said. “You always looked like you were having fun, so go ahead and pick something. I’ll cheer you on.”

  Azarius kicked himself as Lanie’s auburn head dropped to scan the binder of songs. He had almost spilled how attracted he was to her. He had been for years. In fact, her marriage was what drove him from the station and to re-enlist. Though he’d never gotten up the nerve to tell her how he felt, seeing her married to another had been unbearable.

  Now here they were back in the same town and both single. He finally had the chance to show her how he felt, if he didn’t mess it up too badly.

  “Okay, I think I’ll try this one.” Lanie pointed to a song in the book.

  He smiled and nodded at her as she scribbled the choice on a piece of paper. Azarius didn’t care what she sang; she had the voice of an angel any time she opened her mouth.

  Lanie stood and made her way to the stage, handing over the piece of paper to the DJ. He scanned it and motioned for her to take the mic on the small raised platform that served as a stage. Looking a little timid, she stood in front of the microphone and offered him a small smile.

  Azarius flashed her a thumbs up and smiled as the music started. She probably had no idea the Duran Duran song she chose reminded him of her. He thought back to the day he had accidentally stumbled upon her singing it in the booth.

  * * *

  “Azarius, can you look at the board in control room three?” the station manager asked. “It’s been frizzing out again.”

  “Of course, sir,” Azarius said. He grabbed the tool box from the closet that housed it and headed downstairs to the control booths. Lanie was on in control room three, which made the job even more appealing. Azarius didn’t believe in love at first sight, but from the moment he had met Lanie, she had affected him in a way no other woman had. Now if he could just get up the courage to tell her.

  Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” was billowing out of the room as he approached. He knocked on the door, but when the music didn’t lower, he assumed she hadn’t heard his knock, and he pushed the door open slowly.

  Lanie stood behind the board in a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a red tank top. Her auburn hair flowed freely down her shoulders and bounced with the movement of her head from side to side.

  Her beautiful soprano voice belted out the lyrics, mesmerizing Azarius. He could have stood there all day watching her. “Can I believe you’re taking my... Oh!” Her voice stopped as she turned and spied him standing there. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “That’s okay.” He smiled and held up the tool box, so she would realize he wasn’t being voyeuristic. “I knocked but …” he shrugged. “I need to check out the control panel.”

  She lowered the music and
stepped back. “Of course. You have about two minutes until this song ends though.”

  “I’ll be quick.”

  “I love singing,” she said as if trying to explain her actions. “And since the booth is soundproof, I often test my range since no one can hear me. My singing doesn’t go out over the radio.”

  Azarius bit his lip to hide his smile at her nervousness. “Even if it did, no one would mind,” he said. “You have a beautiful voice.” He watched the soft pink color climb her face before turning back to the control panel.

  * * *

  “Was it okay?” Lanie asked as she finished the song and returned to the table.

  “It was amazing,” Azarius said.

  A rose color flooded Lana’s cheeks, and she dropped her eyes. “You don’t have to say that.”

  “No, I don’t, but you are an amazing singer.” Her eyes lifted, and he felt himself falling into the hazel depths. “Lanie, I’d love to hang out with you again,” he began. “Are you into eighties music?”

  Lanie blinked at him. “Am I into what?”

  “Eighties music. I know it sounds silly, but I love to watch old music videos, and I thought maybe you’d like to hang out and watch them with me.”

  “Like a date?” she asked, one eyebrow arched in the air.

  Azarius realized how silly that sounded. Yeah, come hang out and watch videos with me, but it was who he was. “Like two old friends reconnecting,” he said. “With the possibility of more.”

  She smiled at him and placed her hand on his, sending tingles down his arm. “I’d like that. I could use an old friend right about now.”

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  The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet

  A SWAT officer. A bored billionaire heiress. A bet that could change everything….

  Read on for a taste of The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet….

  The Billionaire’s Impromptu Bet Preview

  Brie Carter fell back spread eagle on her queen-sized canopy bed sending her blond hair fanning out behind her. With a large sigh, she uttered, “I’m bored.”

  “How can you be bored? You have like millions of dollars.” Her friend, Ariel, plopped down in a seated position on the bed beside her and flicked her raven hair off her shoulder. “You want to go shopping? I hear Tiffany’s is having a special right now.”

  Brie rolled her eyes. Shopping? Where was the excitement in that? With her three platinum cards, she could go shopping whenever she wanted. “No, I’m bored with shopping too. I have everything. I want to do something exciting. Something we don’t normally do.”

  Brie enjoyed being rich. She loved the unlimited credit cards at her disposal, the constant apparel of new clothes, and of course the penthouse apartment her father paid for, but lately, she longed for something more fulfilling.

  Ariel’s hazel eyes widened. “I know. There’s a new bar down on Franklin Street. Why don’t we go play a little game?”

  Brie sat up, intrigued at the secrecy and the twinkle in Ariel’s eyes. “What kind of game?”

  “A betting game. You let me pick out any man in the place. Then you try to get him to propose to you.”

  Brie wrinkled her nose. “But I don’t want to get married.” She loved her freedom and didn’t want to share her penthouse with anyone, especially some man.

  “You don’t marry him, silly. You just get him to propose.”

  Brie bit her lip as she thought. It had been awhile since her last relationship and having a man dote on her for a month might be interesting, but…. “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem very nice.”

  “How about I sweeten the pot? If you win, I’ll set you up on a date with my brother.”

  Brie cocked her head. Was she serious? The only thing Brie couldn’t seem to buy in the world was the affection of Ariel’s very handsome, very wealthy, brother. He was a movie star, just the kind of person Brie could consider marrying in the future. She’d had a crush on him as long as she and Ariel had been friends, but he’d always seen her as just that, his little sister’s friend. “I thought you didn’t want me dating your brother.”

  “I don’t.” Ariel shrugged. “But he’s between girlfriends right now, and I know you’ve wanted it for ages. If you win this bet, I’ll set you up. I can’t guarantee any more than one date though. The rest will be up to you.”

  Brie wasn’t worried about that. Charm she possessed in abundance. She simply needed some alone time with him, and she was certain she’d be able to convince him they were meant to be together. “All right. You’ve got a deal.”

  Ariel smiled. “Perfect. Let’s get you changed then and see who the lucky man will be.

  A tiny tug pulled on Brie’s heart that this still wasn’t right, but she dismissed it. This was simply a means to an end, and he’d never have to know.

  Jesse Calhoun relaxed as the rhythmic thudding of the speed bag reached his ears. Though he loved his job, it was stressful being the SWAT sniper. He hated having to take human lives and today had been especially rough. The team had been called out to a drug bust, and Jesse was forced to return fire at three hostiles. He didn’t care that they fired at his team and himself first. Taking a life was always hard, and every one of them haunted his dreams.

  “You gonna bust that one too?” His co-worker Brendan appeared by his side. Brendan was the opposite of Jesse in nearly every way. Where Jesse’s hair was a dark copper, Brendan’s was nearly black. Jesse sported paler skin and a dusting of freckles across his nose, but Brendan’s skin was naturally dark and freckle free.

  Jesse flashed a crooked grin, but kept his eyes on the small, swinging black bag. The speed bag was his way to release, but a few times he had started hitting while still too keyed up and he had ruptured the bag. Okay, five times, but who was counting really? Besides, it was a better way to calm his nerves than other things he could choose. Drinking, fights, gambling, women.

  “Nah, I think this one will last a little longer.” His shoulders began to burn, and he gave the bag another few punches for good measure before dropping his arms and letting it swing to a stop. “See? It lives to be hit at least another day.” Every once in a while, Jesse missed training the way he used to. Before he joined the force, he had been an amateur boxer, on his way to being a pro, but a shoulder injury had delayed his training and forced him to consider something else. It had eventually healed, but by then he had lost his edge.

  “Hey, why don’t you come drink with us?” Brendan clapped a hand on Jesse’s shoulder as they headed into the locker room.

  “You know I don’t drink.” Jesse often felt like the outsider of the team. While half of the six-man team was married, the other half found solace in empty bottles and meaningless relationships. Jesse understood that - their job was such that they never knew if they would come home night after night - but he still couldn’t partake.

  Brendan opened his locker and pulled out a clean shirt. He peeled off his current one and added deodorant before tugging on the new one. “You don’t have to drink. Look, I won’t drink either. Just come and hang out with us. You have no one waiting for you at home.”

  That wasn’t entirely true. Jesse had Bugsy, his Boston Terrier, but he understood Brendan’s point. Most days, Jesse went home, fed Bugsy, made dinner, and fell asleep watching TV on the couch. It wasn’t much of a life. “All right, I’ll go, but I’m not drinking.”

  Brendan’s lips pulled back to reveal his perfectly white teeth. He bragged about them, but Jesse knew they were veneers. “That’s the spirit. Hurry up and change. We don’t want to leave the rest of the team waiting.”

  “Is everyone coming?” Jesse pulled out his shower necessities. Brendan might feel co
mfortable going out with just a new application of deodorant, but Jesse needed to wash more than just dirt and sweat off. He needed to wash the sound of the bullets and the sight of lifeless bodies from his mind.

  “Yeah, Pat’s wife is pregnant again and demanding some crazy food concoctions. Pat agreed to pick them up if she let him have an hour. Cam and Jared’s wives are having a girls’ night, so the whole gang can be together. It will be nice to hang out when we aren’t worried about being shot at.”

  “Fine. Give me ten minutes. Unlike you, I like to clean up before I go out.”

  Brendan smirked. “I’ve never had any complaints. Besides, do you know how long it takes me to get my hair like this?”

  Jesse shook his head as he walked into the shower, but he knew it was true. Brendan had rugged good looks and muscles to match. He rarely had a hard time finding a woman. Jesse on the other hand hadn’t dated anyone in the last few months. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been looking, but he was quieter than his teammates. And he wasn’t looking for right now. He was looking for forever. He just hadn’t found it yet.

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  The Story Doesn’t End!

  You’ve met a few people and fallen in love….

  * * *

  I bet you’re wondering how you can meet everyone else.

  Star Lake Series:

  Sealed with a Kiss: Meet the quirky cast of Star Lake and find out if Max and Layla will ever find love.

  When Love Returns: Return to Star Lake to hear Presley’s story and find out if she gets the second chance with her first love.