It Will Always Be You (Starlight Walk Series #1) (5 page)

“I love you too,
Thorne, but your feet aren’t on the ground,” she said sadly. “They haven’t been
for a very long time.”

“Come home?” he
asked. He’d hoped for a greater reaction to his declaration.

“So that you can
kick me out again on a whim?” Regan questioned softly, and his heart plummeted.
“I need more from a relationship than that, Thorne.”

What did she
want from him?

“Take some time
for yourself, Thorne,” she said, almost echoing Vance’s thoughts. “You need to reconnect
with who you really are…in here.” She grazed her hand lightly below his left
rib cage, and his heart did a somersault at the gentle touch he’d missed so
much.

Then she punched
the button for the elevator, and automatically he stepped into it as she turned
and walked away.

Chapter Five

Thorne paced his
apartment, everywhere he looked there were reminders of her. Regan. Even in
simply looking at what once used to be a relaxing view—the sparkling lights of
the city he had always loved, glittering below in the darkness—he remembered
Regan’s first visit here, and her unabashed enjoyment of everything around her.
And his recent frustration at losing control.

Control?

Why did he feel
he had the right to control her? He’d started out with the right motives,
trying to help the young innocent girl from Iowa to get on her feet, but then
he’d wanted to retain that control, and when she hadn’t bowed to his superior
judgment, he’d booted her out. He sat down and tossed his head back against the
soft cushions of the sofa, the place where they’d explosively made love for the
first time. She was everywhere. He could almost smell her soft fragrance, as
though it had become a part of him and his everyday life. What had once been a
comforting thing now haunted his senses. He leaped to his feet and strode out
onto the balcony, feeling the sting of the cold night air against his skin.
Somewhere down below, someone was playing Loretta’s most famous song.
It
will always be you
. He dragged a hand over the back of his neck, feeling
the tension in the corded muscles. Even a workout wouldn’t help this. He hadn’t
made love in weeks. Maybe that was what he needed, a woman’s touch, but
unfortunately the only woman he wanted was Regan. The song ended and he
realized, it was not just Loretta he’d been listening to, the two women were
actually on the radio together, it had been a duet. Regan was already a
full-fledged wealthy star in her own right, with a brilliant future ahead, and
the right to make her own decisions. And she had a very close friend and mentor
in Loretta Lindstrom. He thought over the few times he’d met the woman and
groaned. She set his teeth on edge.

He returned to
the studio, he needed to speak with Vance his friend, not Vance his producer.

Vance showed him
the green room footage of his meeting with Loretta. They kept everything from
each episode of his show, both backstage and in front of the camera. It did
nothing to relieve his tension. It wasn’t as he remembered it at all. He
sighed. He remembered what he’d felt, not what had actually happened.

He wondered if
Loretta would ever forgive him for his behavior. He watched the entire
interview and realized why no one else had sensed anything wrong but him. His
dislike of the singer had made it impossible for him to connect with her.
Though he could honestly acknowledge it wasn’t one hundred percent his fault,
it was pretty close. She certainly hadn’t helped him out, but then why would
she?

He realized with
a groan, he’d become the same as some of the celebrities he privately
criticized. He’d made a career for himself, built his own wealth, become
accustomed to his circumstances, and begun to feel entitled. He’d fallen into
the same trap. He wasn’t unpleasant or mean spirited, but people catered to
him. So much so, that he took it all for granted.
Had
taken it all for
granted, he amended. That was about to change. He knew Vance was a good friend,
and he just wanted him to take some time off to reconnect with who he really
was. To keep the onscreen personality on screen, and the rest of the time,
simply be himself. They were two separate entities, he’d forgotten that. He’d
kicked Regan out of his home like he would dismiss an untrustworthy or
difficult employee at the station. He’d been so busy trying to protect her from
the pitfalls of show business, that he hadn’t realized he’d fallen prey to them
himself.

But Regan had
fallen in love with him, despite everything, and had even teased him a little
about his ego. Did that mean he still had a chance? Did she still love him?
Both Regan and Vance had told him to take some time. Hard as it would be, he
intended to follow their advice.

***

Two weeks later,
Thorne returned to the studio. Nothing had changed. Nothing that is, except for
him. Everything felt different, new again. And he was determined he was going
to win Regan back.

“Today’s guest
cancelled,” Vance said, eyeing Thorne warily.

“Why?”

Vance shrugged.
“A stomach bug apparently. We were able to get last minute replacements
though.”

“Who?” Thorne
asked, sensing from Vance’s body language he wasn’t going to like it.

“Loretta and
Regan.”

Thorne stared at
him in disbelief, “
Both
of them?”

Vance nodded,
apparently waiting for something more, but Thorne just continued to stare at him,
feeling suddenly overwhelmed and unprepared; he wasn’t sure he was ready for
this on his first day back. He’d planned to call Regan, invite her out to an
intimate dinner, talk to her quietly, privately…

Vance sighed,
running a hand through his hair,
“
I don’t believe it!
The
Thorndike Lundquist acting like a wounded, lovesick puppy? Anger I could deal
with. But this?” He shook his head. “I tried to warn you, Thorne, in the
beginning…not to get too involved…”

Thorne held up
his hand, halting the lecture. “Are they here yet?”

“No, not yet.
Did you want to see them before they go on?”

“No, not unless
it’s necessary,” Thorne said, rising to his feet.

“Fine, then
we’ll just keep it at their performance, you know neither of them likes to chat
on TV,” Vance said, as he walked out leaving Thorne alone with his thoughts.

Why had he been
willing to accept that in Regan, but not Loretta? Insisting on chatting with a
star who was known only for her singing, not her personal appearances? And
making her wait two hours when he didn’t have to, just to prove he was in
charge? Making her
nervous
, he suddenly realized. She hadn’t been
answering him in monosyllables because she was angry. She hated interviews!
Just because she was comfortable performing, didn’t mean she was comfortable in
the interview chair. She almost never gave interviews. And he’d blown it. Regan
had quickly informed him early on that interviews made her uncomfortable, she’d
understood the need for them initially, but as time went on and the questions
became naturally more intrusive, he’d simply introduced her, and allowed her to
sing. That was where she was the most comfortable, on stage with her microphone
and the music.

Just like
Loretta.

After the show,
he would try again, he would talk to Regan. She was willing to come here, so
she obviously didn’t hate him. But Loretta? He realized he had some apologizing
to do. He sat down with pen and paper, and wrote as only one celebrity to
another could truly understand. Of the unwitting toll the business had taken on
him.

***

“Are you ready
for this, Regan?” Loretta asked, smiling at her protégé.

“As ready as
I’ll ever be!” Regan admitted, she couldn’t believe how quickly she had become
accustomed to the cameras and audiences, though she was able to tune out everything
once she began to sing. But it wasn’t the cameras and the performance Loretta
was really asking her about.

“You still love
him?”

“I think I
always will,” Regan sighed sadly.

“Life can be
very short, Regan, don’t hold onto your anger whatever you do.”

“But he’s so
pig-headed!” Regan exclaimed.

“He thought he
was bossing you about for your own good, taking care of you. It’s a rough
business.”

Regan sighed and
looked at her new friend. “How did you get to be so wise, Loretta?”

“The hard way,”
Loretta answered ruefully.

“I should go and
talk to him…”

A tap at the
door alerted Regan she was going on in a few minutes. Loretta would join her
after her first song.

“Later,” Loretta
said, with a soft smile. “Don’t worry these things have a way of working
themselves out when you love someone.”

As soon as Regan
strode out of the green room to join Thorne on the set, Jenny appeared, handing
Loretta an envelope. “Miss Lindstrom, I apologize, I have a note for you. I
meant to give it to you earlier…”

Loretta nodded
her thanks and took the note from Thorne. She read his words with a knowing
smile.

Chapter Six

The lights went
up, and Thorne introduced Regan, then simply seated himself in the custom made leather
and velvet chairs. He knew the cameras were rolling, taking in every nuance of
his expression, as well as sweeping the audience for their enthralled reactions
when Regan began to sing. And then, after her first song, with a delightful
fanfare of emotion, Regan announced Loretta was here to sing with her. The
audience went completely wild.

Loretta strode
out onto the stage, taking Regan’s hand in hers, they sang the song everyone
had loved hearing Regan sing for the first time here, the one that had also
made Loretta famous many years earlier.
It will always be you
. Regan’s
voice blended in perfect harmony with Loretta’s. It was being rereleased as a
duet and played continually on every radio station.

When the
applause died down, Loretta took the microphone. Thorne sat back and let her,
she’d been gracious enough to come here after his behavior last time.

“Ladies and
gentlemen, thank you!”

Once again,
tumultuous applause. Loretta waved her hand, quieting them, quickly they
obeyed, and silence reigned.

“Many people
over the years have written to me, to tell me what this song has meant for
them. It marks some of the most special moments in many of our lives, and now,
I think it is time for me to tell you what it means to me,” she paused, drawing
in a slightly nervous breath. Thorne, along with every member of the audience
leaned forward in his seat. “It was written for me by a very special
songwriter, Ben Vasili, who was the love of my life and passed away not long
after it was written.” Loretta’s voice quivered slightly and she paused once
again as though struggling to regain her composure. A sympathetic sigh rolled
like a wave through the audience. Thorne felt his own throat tighten, what was
it about this woman that could evoke such emotion in her fans?

“It is the song
that will always remain closest to my heart, it also launched my career. That
this very same song could launch Regan’s career too, has been an exceptional
blessing, she has become a very dear and valued friend. But…” she held up her
hand as the audience once again broke into enthusiastic applause for Regan. “It
was also on the very same day she sang this beautiful song, that Regan met
Thorne.”

Loretta motioned
to Thorne, he’d completely lost control of his own show and he was loving it.
He obeyed the summons and walked forward; she took his hand and placed it in
Regan’s, smiling up at him. “The song brought them together. Ben would be
proud. Thorne loves you, Regan, do you love him?”

Regan nodded
tearfully.

“Then what are
you going to do about it?”

The audience was
going wild. Regan’s eyes met Thorne’s. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice
echoing through the microphone and reverberating softly around the studio. The
audience quieted and waited in complete silence along with her for his response.
His heart was full, and he knew his eyes were filled with everything she hoped
to see mirrored there. But he didn’t say a word. He swallowed hard trying to
catch his breath but couldn’t seem to find his voice. She dropped down on one
knee.

“Thorndike
Lundquist, will you marry me?”

Now the audience
were crying and laughing and cheering him on
Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!
They
chanted over and over again.

He expelled a
pent up breath, and with one humorous look at the audience and a glance at the
true lady that Loretta was, and had always been, Thorne finally allowed both
his gaze and his heart to connect with Regan’s.

The cameras
zeroed in for the close-up.

“Yes,” he said
softly. “I will marry you. I love you, Regan.”

At last, as he
gathered Regan in his arms, with Loretta and his audience applauding, Thorne
understood the power that had made the great lady sing with such emotion that
she could touch the hearts of everyone who heard her. The love she spoke of,
between himself and Regan, she had once shared with Ben Vasili. But now Ben was
gone, and she only came alive when she sang his songs. Though now, even
Loretta’s gaze appeared alight with renewed life and emotion, as if admitting
the truth and telling her story had somehow set her emotions free.

***

Vance was eyeing
Loretta speculatively as they exited the stage.

“Forget it!” she
laughed playfully, as she caught his gaze and read his animated expression.

“I was only
going to suggest dinner,” he said with a straight face, crossing his arms over
his chest, head on one side.

“That’s all?”

“For now,” he
conceded with a grin.

In the
intervening years since she lost her great love, she had gained happiness only
from her songs and Rugly. Until she had heard Regan, and something inside her had
reawakened. The years melted away, and as she looked at Vance, she felt her
heart begin to grow warm once more.

“Then dinner it
is,” she said.

Vance looked
about ready to pass out with shock. His arms fell to his sides, and his mouth formed
a silent O. She tucked a finger under his chin, their eyes met, hers twinkled
with laughter, fully aware of her somewhat austere reputation.

“Scared?”

“Should I be?”
he managed to murmur.

“Very
definitely,” she affirmed.

“Then I’m
terrified.”

Loretta’s
laughter echoed down the corridor as she walked back to her dressing room and
turned to cast him one more look, just in time to see Vance punch the air with
a fist.

***

Thorne looked at
Regan as he closed the door to his apartment behind them. She did what he knew
she would, she ran over to the window, pressing her palms and her nose up to
the glass, admiring the glittering lights below. Then she turned, holding out
her hand, he took it and joined her, slipping his arms around her waist and
resting his chin on her soft brown hair, inhaling her unique floral fragrance.
All was right with the world again. The love of his life was back.

Then grinning
mischievously she released him, and with a dramatic flourish allowed herself to
tumble backwards on to his couch. “Coming?” she asked. “I think we have some
catching up to do!”

Thorne didn’t
need to be asked twice.