It Will Always Be You (Starlight Walk Series #1)

by Zingera, L. C.

  Thorne, the audience, and the entire crew stood enrapt as Regan’s melodious voice filled the studio, cascading off the vaulted ceilings, and bringing every member of the audience to tears. She didn’t just do justice to Loretta, she eclipsed her, completely.

  Thorne swallowed hard as the song came to its resounding conclusion, and Regan finally opened her eyes, she smiled at the camera—and he knew they were in deep trouble! Loretta was going to be royally pissed. He applauded along with the rest of the audience as he joined Regan center stage. He turned to the camera, dropping a gentle arm around Regan, while her effusive sidekick was jumping up and down, tears streaming down her cheeks beside her.

  “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you, Regan, for that phenomenal tribute to the world’s greatest lady of song. And Loretta, if you see this, we all love you. Feel better soon!” The audience went wild.

  Chapter Two

  “Only a total creep would sue us for this!” Vance exclaimed, later in his office, seated behind his huge mahogany desk.

  “Yeah, well in that case, you’d better expect a lawsuit,” Thorne replied dryly.

  “I don’t know, I mean…after the last words, your tribute? How could she do it? She’d look pretty bad.”

  “Exactly!” Thorne grinned. He hoped Loretta was royally ticked and completely impotent to do anything about it. He’d rarely ever met a woman he disliked more, and he’d been in this business for a very long time.

  “So, where are you off to tonight?”

  “I’m having dinner with our songstress and her friend.”

  Vance chuckled. “Have fun.”

  Thorne laughed. “I intend to.”

  “Not too much fun, Thorne… I have a feeling we’ll be seeing her again real soon,” he warned, turning his computer screen toward Thorne, the emails were flooding in already.

  They’d be having Regan back in her own right very soon.

  ***

  Regan and Elsie awaited Thorne in his dressing room while he tied up a few loose ends, he was taking them to dinner at Cherie, a new trendy restaurant downtown on the Starlight Walk. They’d only heard of the place, never dreamed of going there, it was way out of their price range.

  When Thorne showed up with a pretty young blonde at his side, that he introduced simply as Jenny, Regan couldn’t help the slight feeling of disappointment. Not that she really stood a chance in a million with someone like him, but their conversation wouldn’t exactly be fluid with his girlfriend in tow. One evening, just her and Elsie, with Thorne all to themselves would have been nice. A unique chance to get to know the man they’d watched on TV for the best part of the last ten years. But with a mental shrug as she followed Elsie into the limousine, Regan determined she was going to take a leaf out of Elsie’s book, be an optimist, live in the moment, and enjoy the evening and the fabulous food!

  The first clue that Cherie was extremely over-rated, at least food-wise, came with their first course, by the second, Regan was wishing she could simply go to McDonald’s. Apparently the staff thought excessively doting service would make up for their culinary deficiencies.

  When the hovering waiter finally left them alone to enjoy their meal, Elsie set down her fork, food lover and optimist that she was, even she couldn’t pretend it was edible. And the conversation hadn’t exactly been flowing with the waiters constantly interrupting.

  “Well, sorry folks, but I swear, one more bite of this stuff and I’ll be visiting Madison General Hospital’s poison control center, for ingesting a strange and unusual substance!” Elsie groaned.

  “Oh, thank God you said that!” Jenny exclaimed. Thorne and Regan laughed as one by one they set aside their forks.

  “It really is pretty bad,” Thorne grimaced. “Sorry ladies, I had hoped to show you a good time this evening. Your performance saved the show tonight, Regan,” he said, gently touching her hand.

  “Wow, thank you,” Regan answered stunned, savoring both the compliment and the feel of Thorne’s large hand clasping hers.

  “You really don’t know how good you are, do you?” he asked, looking into her wide blue eyes.

  “I’ve been trying to tell her that for years!” Elsie exclaimed.

  “Years? Are the two of you a couple?” Jenny asked softly, looking from one to the other.

  “No,” Elsie answered, “Just best friends.”

  Regan looked up at her friend and finally noticed the way Jenny was looking at Elsie. So, apparently she wasn’t Thorne’s girlfriend. Her heart skipped an excited beat, she swallowed hard and took a deep breath; then found herself smiling, as Jenny subtly moved a little closer to a suddenly blushing Elsie, her eyes shining with interest.

  “Shall we risk ordering dessert? I hear they at least have great coffee here?” Thorne suggested.

  “Yes! Espresso! We’d better make that a double!” Elsie chirped. “It’s been a long day!”

  The waiter arrived with the dessert tray and elaborately slid a different confection onto a delicate plate for each of them, and they all shared bites of each other’s. It was the best part of the meal.

  As their evening drew to a close, Thorne was becoming oddly pensive and appeared completely lost in thought, and since Elsie and Jenny were really hitting it off, Regan was beginning to feel like a third wheel by the time the coffee arrived.

  “I would like to show you a little of Madison City, Regan,” Thorne said, snapping out of his reverie, “If you don’t mind a walk?” She nodded gratefully. “We can leave the limousine here for the two of you, if you’d like?” he added, turning to Jenny and Elsie who both nodded enthusiastically. Regan’s heart leaped in anticipation, finally a chance to spend a few minutes alone with Thorne.

  ***

  Regan readily took Thorne’s proffered hand as they exited the restaurant; gently drawing her to his side, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they walked along Madison’s famed Starlight Walk. It was the largest shopping street in the city, lined with starlit trees glowing with fairy lights, and with its own style walk of fame. Curved sun and half-moon shaped stones were inscribed with the names of Hollywood’s most elite stars of stage and screen. They stopped at Loretta’s stone.

  “She’s truly incredible, isn’t she?” Regan said, looking up at him, eyes shining.

  Thorne swallowed hard. Regan was sweet, and her friend Elsie too, but they were about as naïve as…well, as naïve as he’d been when he’d first entered show business. He didn’t want to burst her bubble since she had no idea what the real Loretta was like.

  “An incredible talent,” Thorne answered honestly.

  “Thank you for letting me sing today, Thorne, it was a dream come true,” Regan said, her hand unconsciously squeezing his arm, hugging him closer to her. For the first time he looked down into her sweet face, and wondered if he should just tell her to hurry home to Iowa. But a part of him wanted her to stay here. She was gorgeous, in a clean living, cute girl next door kind of way. Shoulder length dark brown hair, pink cheeks, and big blue eyes. She was trim and yet not Hollywood thin, she had a real figure. Her lips were full, pink and soft looking. But Vance’s warning hung in the air, so he simply smiled at her and pointed out some of Madison’s most well-known designer shops. It didn’t surprise him that she hadn’t heard of them. They both laughed as the limousine rolled slowly by with both Jenny and Elsie hanging out of the window waving at them. He watched Regan’s lips curve into a sweet smile, and decided to take a leaf from her book and simply enjoy the evening.

  The fountain at the center of Madison’s Starlight Walk was beautiful, a modern art profusion of cascading stars and half-moons in various shapes and sizes, encircled by a wide marble perimeter. They sat at the water’s edge, watching the couples strolling by arm in arm, enjoying the evening. Regan was running her fingers through the water. The shimmering multi-colored lights surrounding the fountain cascaded over the clear liquid making it too appear multi-colored.

  “This has truly been a day to rem
ember, Thorne, thank you so much!” She looked up at him eyes shining.

  Thorne was quickly losing track of the amount of times Regan had thanked him for the little day to day things he took for granted.

  ***

  Regan held on to Thorne’s arm as they continued their walk, this whole day had had a very unreal feel to it. First, she’d awakened on the first full day of her vacation in a sumptuous hotel room, had a wonderful decadent breakfast, attended the show she’d always wanted to see, hosted by the sexiest most gorgeous talk show host on the planet, seen Loretta Lindstrom, and then been invited to sing on TV! Now she had the handsome Thorne all to herself. She looked up at his six foot two inch frame, broad shoulders, dark blonde hair, and big blue eyes. He could have been an actor, or a model, or probably anything he chose, he had so much onscreen presence and he was also kind. And Elsie seemed to have found someone really sweet who was interested in her too. Was Thorne interested in her, or was he merely being polite?

  “Deep thoughts?’ he asked, bringing her back to the present.

  “Just feeling a little star struck!” she admitted. He gave her a knowing grin and she could feel her cheeks heating. “And I was just thinking about Jenny and Elsie, too,” she added.

  “And?” he prompted.

  “Elsie hasn’t met anyone she’s been interested in like this in a really long time. I’m almost afraid to go back to the hotel room, I might interrupt something.”

  “Then come home with me,” he offered. “No strings, I have a big place.”

  “I wasn’t hinting Thorne, honestly…”

  “I know,” he assured her, “but I think you might be right, the two did seem to be pretty infatuated with one another!”

  Regan smiled, about to politely refuse, but her cell phone rang.

  “That was Elsie, she wants to know if I mind…”

  “Beats putting a sock on the door, I guess,” he chuckled.

  “Do people actually do that?” she asked incredulously.

  “Only in the movies as far as I know,” he laughed. “And maybe in college dorm rooms.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Central Towers. It’s only a couple of blocks from here, it’s close to work and I have a spectacular view of the city.”

  “I love city lights at night,” Regan said, looking around at the vivid neon colors and bright lights. “When I was little I loved my home town, but I always wanted to move to a city where I could just walk to the shops and look out over a balcony and enjoy watching the city come to life below.”

  “Most people dream of ocean views and landscapes…a home in the country…”

  “Maybe I’m just a little odd then!” she laughed. “I’ve always wanted to live in a big city.”

  ***

  They took the private elevator up to his apartment. Regan didn’t even hesitate, she hurried straight across the room to the giant glass paneled walls, her hands flattened against the panes, her nose pressed against the cold glass, and drew in a deep breath. “It’s magnificent!”

  Thorne opened the glass doors for her to step out onto the wide balcony. She gripped the handrail and breathed in the cool night air. “I’m in seventh heaven!” she exclaimed.

  Thorne found a part of himself, a hidden, long lost part, reaching out mentally toward her. She was sweet and honest and way too naive to be here without a protector.

  “What are your plans, Regan?”

  “We’re on vacation for the next two weeks. We plan to explore the city a little and eat lots of good food!” she laughed. Then catching his penetrating gaze she asked. “That’s not what you meant?”

  “No, I meant for your singing.”

  “Plans?” she exclaimed. “It’s just for fun, I’m a receptionist. Today was just ‘a moment’! A spectacular thrill in my otherwise very dull and quite ordinary life!” she chuckled.

  “If you could have a singing career, would you want one?”

  “Of course, who wouldn’t? It beats sitting at a desk all day!”

  He sighed inwardly, wondering if Loretta had once been just like her, young, enthusiastic and naïve. Would Regan turn into another Loretta? He didn’t know her well enough to even begin to guess.

  She obviously had no idea what she was in for. He walked back into the living room, Regan followed him her eyes shining with hope. “Then perhaps we should celebrate together now, because by tomorrow, your name will be all over the tabloids.”

  Regan turned pale.

  “We can stop it now, Regan, and you can return to your quiet life, or we go full steam ahead. I’d like to be the one to help you.”

  Regan just stared at him, eyes round as though he’d simply and matter-of-factly informed her she’d won the lottery.

  “You have an extraordinary talent, Regan,” he said as he popped the cork on a bottle of champagne, and poured them each a glass.

  Thorne watched her soft pink lips caress the edge of the glass as she sipped lightly and savored the champagne.

  “We can wait and see how you feel in the morning. You’ll be here when the papers hit the fan,” he chuckled at her still bemused expression.

  “You really think that’s going to happen?” she asked incredulously.

  “I can guarantee it.”

  “You’re an optimist.”

  “Realist,” he corrected. “You’re in for a wild ride, Regan.”

  “Elsie says I’m stuffy and I need to get out more,” she offered suddenly.

  “So, agreeing to come here with me was a part of that?” he asked in amusement.

  “Yes, very definitely!” she affirmed with a sudden mischievous smile over the edge of her glass. “Thorne,” Regan said suddenly. “I came here to relax, to unwind for a couple of weeks, to snap out of the rut I was in. I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, but…”

  “Yes?” he prompted, sensing that there was more.

  “Since Elsie and Jenny seem to have hit it off so well…I was wondering, if you’re not involved, could you and I spend a little time together? I really like you,” she admitted, with such an easy honestly that it felt like a punch to his solar plexus.

  That was not what he’d been expecting.

  He nodded.

  “Good. Now, do you have a Jacuzzi?” she asked playfully. “It was one of the things I was so looking forward to on this vacation, but our hotel doesn’t have one!”

  He burst out laughing. Of all the things people asked him for, with his wealth, position, and show business connections, that was the very last thing he’d expected. He nodded and beckoned. She trotted along behind him like an excited puppy.

  ***

  Thorne knocked and entered the bathroom to find Regan lying back in the large indoor spa, completely covered by the bubbles. He sat on the edge of the tub and handed her a plastic disposable cup filled with champagne.

  “Hey, it’s not pretty, but if you drop it, it won’t break so it won’t matter!”

  When she’d asked for a Jacuzzi, he knew she’d been thinking of a typical regular round Jacuzzi, maybe downstairs where the building’s indoor pool was. With swimsuits. It had completely escaped her attention that she didn’t have a swimsuit with her when she’d suggested it, but not to Thorne, he’d simply laughed and told her she’d have to use the spa in his bathroom.

  “I’m in seventh heaven!” she announced. Thorne grinned, with the jets bubbling and soothing all her muscles she looked relaxed and happy. He watched her enjoyment. Her hair piled on her top of her head with damp tendrils curling around her face, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. She was adorable.

  “This is a dream bathroom,” she sighed. “It’s at least four times the size of my own bathroom back in Iowa.”

  Thorne nodded, looking around at the huge gleaming mirrors, giant tub, and large shower with its massaging jets, he loved this room too. “It’s one of the best perks of Central Towers.”

  “Worth the price of the apartment alone!” she affirmed.

  “T
rue.”

  “You don’t have any champagne,” she said.

  He just shook his head, he didn’t drink much, besides this was her vacation not his, and while he needed a very clear head for tomorrow, he wanted Regan relaxed and well rested.

  “I think I’m going to enjoy the next two weeks, Regan,” he mused as he stroked the hair back from her lovely face and brushed a few stray bubbles from her cheek. She leaned naturally into his touch.

  ***

  When Regan awoke in Thorne’s guest room the next morning it was to the ringing of her cell phone, not an alarm clock. Thorne had been the perfect gentleman last night, he’d simply sat at the edge of the tub and chatted with her for a while, then handed her a large spare bathrobe and left the room while she emerged from the bubbling spa.

  “Regan! Have you seen the tabloids?” Elsie squealed into the phone.

  “Elsie,” Regan grumbled as she rubbed her offended ear, “I just woke up! What is it?” she asked as she stretched and yawned, Elsie had always been a bit of a celebrity gossip hound.

  “Forget the tabloids, turn on the TV. Jenny just called me from work—you’re all over the papers and TV, not to mention the internet and twitter!”

  A spine tingling eerie sensation crept through Regan’s body as she hurried into the empty living room, reached for Thorne’s remote control, and switched on the TV.

  “Oh my God!” Whichever channel she tried, there she was. ‘The Golden Voice’ they were calling her. Tears sprang to her eyes, overflowed, and quickly cascaded down her cheeks. The door opened and Thorne strode in. She dropped the remote and just ran into his arms. He held her close, wrapping her securely in his embrace, murmuring softly as she wound herself around him, unsure if she was crying because she was happy, or just totally freaked out.

  Thorne led her to the sofa, shushing her gently as he smiled reassuringly into her eyes. “I went in early while you were sleeping, to test the waters, see how big this was really going to get. I knew today was going to be eventful,” he chuckled, nodding toward her image on screen and handing her the tissue box from the coffee table.