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

by Zingera, L. C.

  He leaned over dropping a light comforting kiss on her lips as they watched the TV together, while she clung to his hand feeling almost shell-shocked and repeatedly dabbing her eyes. The stations were all running the same clip of her on Thorne’s show in a seemingly endless loop. Finally, he rose to switch on the coffee pot.

  “Your first day as an international celebrity, Regan, you’re an overnight sensation.”

  ***

  Regan sat close as she sipped her coffee, she still smelled of lightly fragranced bubble bath from the previous night, she looked soft, warm, and appealing. He pushed the thought aside.

  “We have to talk,” he said matter-of-factly, now that she’d had a few moments to take it all in.

  Regan was wearing one of his long white cotton shirts and nothing else. He studied her carefully as she watched the TV coverage and her eyes grew rounder, he had tossed every tabloid Jenny had picked up on her way into work this morning, down on the coffee table. Regan was the headline on every single one. A couple of them showed her and Elsie looking starry eyed beside him at the finale of the show.

  Loretta Lindstrom suddenly appeared on screen.

  “Miss Lindstrom, what did you think of the young lady who sang your most well-known song for The Lundquist Hour yesterday?” a young reporter asked eagerly.

  “Fabulous,” she said simply, Rugly was sitting at her side with his typical buggy-eyed constantly surprised expression.

  “Would you like to meet her now that you’re feeling better?”

  “Of course, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.”

  Regan’s shocked gaze met Thorne’s. “Loretta Lindstrom wants to meet me!” she breathed.

  “She already called the station, she wants to meet you this afternoon,” he said, fortunately, Vance had been the one to take the call.

  “What? I can’t!”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m terrified!”

  At that Thorne’s lips twitched and curved up into a smile at her wide eyed expression, “Of Loretta?”

  She nodded. She had cause to be. But he could hardly tell her that, and it was unlikely even Loretta would be mean to the girl on their first meeting, particularly if it was in front of an audience, and besides, he’d be right by her side as a buffer. He just grinned and took the cup from Regan’s trembling fingers. “Go try out my massaging shower, trust me, it will help.”

  ***

  Jenny and Elsie had shopped for some new clothes for Regan. Elsie knew her size and tastes, and Jenny knew the business, and so with a few suggestions from Thorne, they’d arrived at his apartment loaded with shopping bags. He stood back and laughed as they ran into the room and all three women jumped up and down hugging each other and squealing like excited teenagers.

  The press knew she was staying with Thorne, having already been to her hotel and finding her gone. They were now camped out in front of his apartment building, waiting for a glimpse of the new singing sensation.

  Jenny and Elsie sat side by side with Regan on the couch, watching the almost nonstop footage being replayed of her performance on his show, as Thorne, on his cell phone paced back and forth debating with Vance on their next step.

  He walked over, turned off the TV and sat down on the marble topped coffee table, facing the three. “Regan, everyone wants you on their show, you can literally have your pick,” he paused, looking into her wide anxious eyes. “I would like you to be on mine this afternoon, but the choice is yours, you don’t owe me anything…”

  “Thorne, you said you’d help me!” she cried.

  “I will, Regan, no matter what, but…”

  “Can I be on your show then?”

  “Of course!”

  Vance laughed when Thorne called him back, and they agreed to clear the show for the entire hour. “Lucky dog, she’s a real cutie.”

  “Yeah, she is,” Thorne agreed, he was enjoying this more than he’d enjoyed his job in quite some time, he suddenly realized. He would keep her with him for the next couple of weeks since she’d made it clear that was what she wanted, and she’d be safe in his gated building from the prying eyes of the press.

  And now he had a chance to really get to know the sweet girl from Iowa, with the golden voice.

  Chapter Three

  Regan, with her hand tightly clasped in Thorne’s, boarded the elevator as they left his apartment for the TV studio. They barely saw a thing when they exited the building, just the rapid flashing lights of the hundreds of cameras, as the paparazzi quickly surrounded them like a hoard of hungry hyenas as they hopped into the limousine.

  Thorne knew this was only the beginning. Regan’s world was about to change forever.

  For her first appearance after the media blitz, they wanted everything fresh and impromptu, no big rehearsals, nothing scripted—just Regan doing what she had done so well yesterday once more, keeping things as natural as possible.

  Thorne watched in awe, as first Regan talked quietly with his musical director, and then only moments later, he introduced her and she stood before his audience, her eyes closed, appearing to shut out everything but the sound of the music, just as she had done the day before, and simply let her voice flow over them like pure sweet honey. There was something stirring about the notes that she hit, she evoked emotion singing the same songs that left him cold when sung by others. He didn’t understand it at all. Was this, he wondered, the way some folks felt when they listened to Loretta?

  The show was going out live again today, and Regan was finishing up her second song when all hell broke loose. His producer was yelling in his ear piece. Loretta Lindstrom had arrived. Cameras followed her progress from the back of the building as she stepped from her limousine with Rugly and walked onto the set. Just like that! His set! She didn’t await permission or an introduction. He quickly turned a grimace into a welcoming smile for the cameras and walked over to meet her. Loretta’s cool gaze settled on him for a mere instant, and then with a warm smile she held out both hands to Regan, who hurried forward, eyes shining at the generous greeting. The crowd loved it. His ratings would skyrocket, unfortunately, so would his blood pressure if he had to be around the Lindstrom woman for long.

  Later, seated on his couch, her head resting back against the soft cushions, Regan looked absolutely exhausted. The day had been nonstop from beginning to end. Jenny and Elsie had both gone back to Jenny’s place, and all Regan’s things were now here at his apartment. She’d be staying here for at least the next two weeks. There was no way either Regan or Elsie could stay at the hotel and finish their holiday now; they’d be hounded day and night by the press. It was one hell of a story, but she was here, and they were finally alone.

  He didn’t want to push his luck, or take advantage, but she’d been clinging to him on and off all day. He stood watching her as she raised her feet and lay down on his couch, eyes closed, with a lovely contented smile curving her lips. And he just couldn’t resist her a moment longer. He feathered a light kiss across her lips, hoping to be invited for more. He wasn’t disappointed. Her blue eyes fluttered open and looked directly into his, as she slipped her arms around his neck.

  Regan looked into Thorne’s bold blue eyes and smiled. How many times had she sat, alone on her couch at home watching his show, focusing on the curve of his lips, the soothing notes of his voice, and allowed her imagination to run wild? And now here she was in his arms. His lips were firm and he quickly took control of their kiss. Bold and sensual, he grazed his teeth over her lower lip then tugged it gently into his mouth, running his tongue over it, then recaptured her lips and deepened their kiss again. It had been an incredible day, and Regan for once was letting go of her always tightly held self-control. She threw herself wholeheartedly into the moment, kissing his gorgeous mouth and slowly sliding her lips along the line of his jaw. She wanted to leave him in no doubt of what she wanted here. Thorne made to lift her in his arms, but Regan shook her head, she wanted him here and now. With a playful laugh she tugge
d him down onto the couch with her, reveling in the feel of his hard body on hers in the confined space. He had no chance to protest. She slid her hands over the strong cords of his neck and cupped his face, then kissed him again, her tongue dancing with his, entwining herself around him.

  “Regan, you’re sure this is what you want?” he whispered softly, between kisses. At that moment his thumb brushed across one of her thrusting nipples and she arched into him.

  “Oh, I’m more than sure, Thorne.” She captured his mouth again and gasped as his hand slid beneath her cotton blouse, brushing aside the fabric of her bra and cupping a breast fully in his palm, she shuddered, feeling the heat pool between her thighs. She stroked both hands down his back and pulled him closer, pushing aside the fabric of his shirt to caress his bare flesh, feeling the hard ridge of his erection against her belly. Regan wrapped her legs around him, bringing his heat into contact with her softness, separated only by the thin fabric of their clothes, he moved against her and she sucked in a deep breath. She’d been in a heightened state for more than twenty-four hours, her nerve endings were aflame. Afraid she was going to come just from this small amount of friction, her breath whooshed past her lips on a sigh. Noting her reaction, Thorne moved against her, his hard still clothed ridge nudging just the right tender points. Dazed, Regan’s control fractured and she came apart.

  Thorne hadn’t done anything like this since high school. He just couldn’t wait to get inside her. Regan was still quivering from her sudden climax, when, with a few swift adjustments he moved aside their clothing and thrust into her heated core. She arched her back, and began moving beneath him, her hands cupping his buttocks and urging him on, it was unrestrained, fast, and absolutely the most gratifying sex he’d had in ages. Not normally a vocal lover, he cried out his release, and was thrilled to hear an echoing sound from Regan as she too climaxed once again.

  Breathing hard as they both slowly returned to reality, he shifted his weight to lie beside her and smoothed back the hair from her flushed cheeks. She captured his hand in hers and kissed his palm softly, a tender and oddly erotic sensation, one that he wasn’t used to experiencing from such a simple gesture. He was unusually aware of her, the heated damp warmth of her mouth, her soft feminine curves pressed against him. He groaned as he felt himself growing hard again at the thought of where he’d like to feel those lips.

  “I really think,” Regan said softly, her hands caressing his nearly bare chest and sliding up to stroke her thumbs caressingly over his high solid cheek bones, “That you should share that bubble bath with me tonight.”

  Thorne laughed and rolled off the couch tugging her to her feet.

  ***

  Regan could scarcely believe that twenty-four hours ago she’d been seated here relaxing in this very tub, alone, and now Thorndike Lundquist was right here behind her, washing her hair for her!

  They had soaped, washed, and caressed each other, then touched, teased and tasted every tiny curve and crevice. Regan would never forget his laughter, which had quickly turned to moans of pleasure when she dove under the water and suckled him intimately, for as long as she could hold her breath.

  “Feeling a little more relaxed now?” Thorne asked, as Regan leaned back in the tub and closed her eyes for a minute.

  She nodded, her lips curving into a soft smile, but then her eyes flew open when his hand slid caressingly over her thigh, “Thorne?”

  “Regan?” he countered, as he slipped his fingers between her feminine folds to tease her tantalizing close to completion. She groaned in frustration when he halted his expert ministrations.

  He rose from the tub, holding out a towel for her as she stepped out, her nerve endings aflame and still quivering with need for him to finish what he had begun. But agonizingly slowly, he took the time to fully admire her figure by tracing gentle fingertips almost reverently over every sensitized curve. Drawing her close, he kissed her deeply, she loved the feel of his fresh scented naked body against hers, the heat of his mouth, the intimate fencing of their tongues, yet while she ached for completion, she didn’t want it to be over too soon either. He encouraged her to turn around and place her hands on each side of the full length mirror, then stepping behind her he caressed her full pink tipped breasts. She closed her eyes.

  “No, don’t close your eyes, Regan, watch us, see how we move together,” he said.

  Regan looked in the mirror loving the contrast of his darker more tanned skin against her paler tones, his large hands holding her breasts, cupping them as his thumbs worked their whisper soft magic across the tips of her nipples, she could see them thrusting out, see her own body’s reaction to this powerfully built man. He nudged her thighs apart a little further and held his hands over her hips, guiding his shaft into her waiting heat. She pushed back against him. “Eyes open, Regan,” he reminded her. She stared into the mirror, watching the rhythmic pumping of his strong body into her own from behind, his angle of penetration deep, and the muscles of his torso rippling as he moved, his taut thighs bumping against her with each thrust. She felt her climax building, he slipped a hand around the front of her thigh, skimming across her belly and into her softness, touching in rhythm with his movements, and she came in a burst of earth shattering color and light. Thorne cried out behind her and sank against her, steadying them both with a strong arm braced against the wall as they each recaptured their breath. Then he turned her, pulled her into his embrace and kissed her softly and tenderly.

  Regan knew she wanted to stay here forever in this moment.

  Chapter Four

  “I hate to say it…but…”

  “We have work to do?” Regan laughed.

  Thorne nodded. Regan had been with him for two months now, he’d accompanied her to interviews on other shows, reliving and recounting their first meeting on his own show for reporters, and helping her to understand the business a little. They hadn’t really talked about where their relationship was going, but he knew it had to come up sooner or later. So far, Regan had performed on Thorne’s show at least a dozen times. His viewing audience at home had increased, and they’d expanded the seating in the studio to accommodate larger crowds.

  She had an upcoming series of concerts opening tonight at Madison’s Starlight Gardens, the newest arena off the Starlight Walk. She was positively brimming with happiness. But she had become close friends with Loretta Lindstrom, and that just didn’t sit well with him. It was a bone of contention between them, though Regan generally changed the subject rather than argue. But he knew Loretta would be coming to her dressing room tonight to congratulate her on her opening night.

  “She’s bringing Rugly, of course,” Regan said with a laugh. “Elsie and Jenny have both volunteered to help look after him.”

  “Why can’t she just look after him herself?” he groused. “It’s not that hard to walk a dog!”

  “Of course she can’t walk her own dog, Thorne, she’d get mobbed.”

  “Then why does she bring the damned thing with her?” For just one second, Regan looked at him as though she really didn’t like him very much, then he got the ultra-patient ‘receptionist face’ she used when she was really annoyed.

  “Maybe she’s lonely?” she suggested quietly.

  “The ‘Iceberg’, lonely? Hardly! Don’t be sucked in, Regan, she’s as cold as ice.”

  “How well do you know her?”

  “I don’t but…”

  “Only what you’ve read, right?”

  He nodded uncomfortably.

  “Am I all that you’ve read, Thorne? The tabloids have been very creative.”

  Annoyed now, not only because she had a point, but also because she wasn’t listening—he was only trying to protect her after all—he opened up and told her exactly what had happened on the day of the show, that had brought them to this point. To his ultimate chagrin, she threw back her head and laughed.

  “What is so funny?”

  “You!”

  “Me? How so?” />
  “You’re as much a prima donna in your own way as you say she is.”

  Thorne stared at her aghast. No one had ever, ever called him such a thing. His expression turned thunderous.

  “Thorne?”

  “Yeah?” He drew a hand through his thick sandy blonde hair, and turned to stare at her.

  “I love you.”

  “Warts and all?” he asked dryly.

  “Yeah, ego, warts and all.”

  ***

  That evening, Thorne watched as Regan strode out onto the stage for her opening night. She really didn’t need him, she had it down to a science shutting out the world when she was on stage; singing was almost meditative to her, she didn’t have any nerves about it at all.

  He let her voice carry him away. Lull him into a comfort zone. But not for long, as the song ended to the tumultuous applause of her awe-struck fans and they awaited the next number, reality intruded once again, and he began to wonder—was she right about his ego? No one had ever made him doubt himself like this before. Her teasing had stung. He shook away the uncomfortable thoughts. She had no idea what life in show business was really like. He and his staff had protected her so far from the harsh daily realities and pitfalls of the business. Her best friend Elsie had even moved out here to Madison to lend her support and work at the studio alongside Jenny. Maybe it was time to let Regan go. To allow her to make her own mistakes, then she would see that he was right about people like Loretta. He almost growled under his breath at being compared to that woman, he was no prima donna. He made a hard decision, but he was confident it was the right one.

  For both of them.

  Thorne waited until Loretta, Elsie and Jenny, plus the multitude of autograph seekers had departed, to walk into her dressing room. She smiled at him and just for a second, when she walked over to wrap her arms around him, he inwardly questioned his decision.