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To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 01

By: JewelTran



Tori Banner couldn't believe it. It was barely 11:00 in the morning and she had already managed to lose two jobs. Two different jobs - at two different establishments. Now, that just had to be a record. Had it really been just a few hours ago that everything was looking good?

The day had started out promising. Tori had moved to San Jose a week earlier, and was finally settled into her apartment. In order to help her start things off right, her father had lined up a job for her with a friend of his.

Her dad told her that he thought his friend could use her help, but when Tori arrived at the man's house, things went downhill quickly. As soon as Tori stepped out of the cab, she realized that the neighborhood wasn't the kind she had expected. Some of the houses were boarded up and other stood wide open. When the door opened at the address her dad had given her, a very nervous looking little man asked her what she wanted. When she explained that her father had arranged for her to work with him, the man snickered as though they were sharing a private, nasty joke.

Tori wasn't sure she liked the looks of her new boss. However, she figured it was best not to protest too much when he pulled her abruptly into his house. After all, the man was her father's friend. Telling her to follow him, he took her to a room with several cubicles, each with a chair, a small desk and a phone. Tori could see that no one else was in any of the other cubicles. He pointed out to one of the desks and told her that it would be her station.

The desk was filthy and the vinyl on the chair was torn. The stuffing had long ago been pulled out through the tears and duct tape had been applied over the worst spots. Tori didn't even want to imagine what kind of shape the phone was in. Trying to avoid sitting down in such a disgusting place just yet, Tori glanced around the room.

Stalling for time, Tori looked over at her employer and asked, "Exactly what will I be doing?"

Again the man snickered with that same dirty sounding insinuation. He rasped out, "What's the matter? Didn't your 'daddy' tell you what you would be getting into here?"

Tori looked at the man, wrinkling her brow in confusion. Slowly, she said, "No, Daddy didn't go into detail."

This time the man had laughed out loud. Then he said, "It's phone sex, baby. It's good that you got here early. You can give me a sample of your special talking talent right now. Make me hot, baby girl!"

With all of the blood in her body suddenly rushing from her head, the best Tori could muster was, "Oh, my God. You're kidding me, right?!?"

When the "friend" realized that Tori wasn't faking her reaction, he promptly and roughly showed her to the door and shoved her out of it. Tori decided that this wasn't a good time to argue with the man about his rude manners. As she hurried out of the neighborhood, Tori made a mental note to ask her dad just how well he knew his friend.

So her first job ended before it really began. But then her luck had changed, or so she thought. Walking back to her apartment, she saw a 'Help Wanted' sign in a store window. She went inside and noticed that it was a nice clothing store. That seemed safe enough, so she went to the main counter and asked about the position. She had barely gotten the words out of her mouth before the manager handed her an application and ushered her into his back office. After she filled in the information, he looked it over and said the magic words, "You're hired!"

Tori was so excited. However, having learned from her early morning job disaster, Tori thought to ask exactly what she would be doing. The manager explained that they were an upscale clothier and her job would be to custom fit the male clients. Tori wasn't sure she understood, but when the manager showed her the garments that she would be selling, she almost fell through the floor. He called them undergarments, but Tori had personally never seen half of the items of 'clothing' lying on the table and the other half she was sure belonged in a hardware store. When she tentatively asked about the 'clothes', the manager had dropped his pants and explained to her that he would personally teach her how to measure and fit a client.

Now, Tori wasn't a complete prude. She had seen a naked man before. In fact, she had even touched one. She wasn't sure it counted since the man had been dead, but she still had done it. Moving the corpse had been expected as part of her duties as the nurse in training at the hospital where she had worked. Of course, that had been the first and the last day of her 'on-the-job' training, but just that one day had greatly expanded her horizons! And she had always figured that she had gotten enough exposure that one time to count for lots of the normal experiences she was lacking in.

But when the manager of the clothing store dropped his pants, Tori realized she was way out of her depth. Not only wasn't the man wearing any underwear, he also wasn't dead. The appendage looming from the mid section of his body indicated that he was far from dead. It only took one look for Tori to realize that dead men were radically different from living men. And she was way out of her league.

Suddenly, trying to explain her dilemma was extraordinarily difficult, due to the lack of oxygen able to get into Tori's lungs. Finally, she managed to get out a few words, saying, "You know, I'm not really qualified to touch you - to fit your - to measure - oh, never mind! I can't do this!" With that eloquent explanation, she bolted out the door of the fitting room and quickly exited the store. Some days it just didn't pay to get out of bed!

So it was barely 11:00 in the morning of her first official day as an employed resident of San Jose, she had already lost two jobs. Now what?

Looking down at her watch and deciding it would be a good time to call her dad, she pulled out her cell phone. It was remarkable quiet in the middle of the day in this section of San Jose. Of course, that was because all of the people in this area worked in the technology industries and were busy working away in their offices by now.

Tori punched in the number and hit the call button. Her dad's voice greeted her from the other end. "Daddy? It's me, Tori."

"Oh, Tori!" her father said, sounding very relieved. "Tori! Where are you? I thought you were going to go over to my friend's house the first thing this morning. He just called and said that you hadn't come by. What's going on? Are you alright?"

So his friend had lied about her coming by his house. Tori frowned at no one in particular as she tried to figure out the best way to break the news of his friend's profession to her dad. "Daddy? Do you know what your friend does? Do you know what he wanted me to do?'

Her father sounded very self assured as he said, "Of course I do, sweetheart. I would never send you out to someone I didn't trust and know exactly what they expected of you. Jake assured me that he would personally work with you to make certain that the job was something you felt adequately prepared to handle."

Tori shook her head slowly, "Well, Daddy, Jake was certainly willing to get personal with me. And when I showed up this morning, he tried to prepare me alright! He led me straight to his phone booths and told me to practice my best phone sex voice!"

The coughing fit that suddenly overcame Tori's father caused her to hold the phone away from her ear until it seemed safe enough to pull it close again. Her father's voice still wasn't exactly normal sounding, but at least he was able to form words again. "Phone sex? What in the world are you talking about? Who told you this???"

"It was your friend, Daddy. I went to the address you gave me and the sleazy little man told me that my job was to perform phone sex."

At first, Tori didn't recognize the sound coming out of her phone. Then she realized that her father was laughing. Laughing hysterically.

"Daddy, what are you laughing about?" Tori asked, indignantly.

"Oh, honey. I have a feeling that I have really screwed up. What was the address I gave you?"

After Tori reeled off the location, her father again laughed loudly. "Tori, I have done you a terrible disservice. I wrote Jake's address on a piece of paper that I had been using here at work. One of my client's wife works for the sleaze you met this morning and we are trying to get proof to take into court with us." Tori's dad was a divorce lawyer and he was constantly on the move to work the best deal for his clients. Tori was beginning to see what had happened and she really didn't like the picture that was forming in her mind.

Her dad continued, "I must have torn off the piece of paper with that address on the back when I gave you the information. Do you still have the piece of paper? Is there another address on the other side?"

Rolling her eyes in disgust, Tori turned the paper over. Sure enough, on the back side was a different address. This one also had the man's name with it. Jacob Rhodes. Great. Just great.

"Yeah, Dad. It's right here. Well, if you need any information about Mr. Slimeball, just let me know. We aren't exactly on a first name basis, but I could still give you the 411 on him," Tori said, dryly.

Tori's dad just laughed some more. Tori wasn't really pleased that he was getting so much pleasure out of her misadventure, but she couldn't really blame him. Standing in someone else's shoes, her morning mishaps probably did look funny. She was sure that one day she too would laugh about them. In about 20 years. Or maybe 30.

When her father finally managed to get control of himself, he suggested that Tori go to the correct address. Tori asked if he would phone his friend to let him know that she was on the way, then she headed off in the new direction.

Chapter Two

This time, when Tori got out of the cab she had hailed, the neighborhood looked more appropriate. It was more like what Tori expected. When she knocked on the door of the correct address, it was opened by a man who was dressed like the English butlers she had seen on TV. His reserved manner was reflected in his formal tone of voice as greeted her with his seemingly well rehearsed welcome, "Yes?"

Tori wondered if she should make some snappy response, but, after the morning she had lived through, she just wasn't up to it. Short of calling him Lurch and asking if the butler did it, she was fresh out of wit. She opted for a simple answer instead, saying, "I'm Tori Banner. Mr. Rhodes is expecting me."

Although Tori heard the man say, "Right this way," she didn't see a single muscle in his face move. But he did step back to allow her to walk through the doorway. Following his outstretched arm, Tori entered the house. After shutting the door, the butler said, "Follow me."

Tori didn't notice too much about her surroundings as she walked down the hall. If the truth be told, she couldn't see too much of her surroundings. As they progressed down the hall, the walkway got darker and darker. By the time that they reached the door at the end of the hall, there was barely enough light to keep from tripping. Tori wanted to ask the butler if they had forgotten to pay the power bill, but she figured her attempt at humor wouldn't be appreciated. Instead, she concentrated on not knocking him down when she suddenly realized he had stopped moving.

The butler opened the door and stood to the side to allow Tori to enter. Normally, she would have thanked him for the gracious act, but since she couldn't see where she was going, she wasn't sure he was doing it to be polite. Maybe he just wanted to see her fall and break her leg - it would certainly fit with how the rest of her day was going!

A voice from the other side of the room interrupted Tori's morbid thoughts. "Ms. Banner, please come in," the voice said. It didn't sound very pleasant or particularly patient.

Tori sighed loudly and gave up on trying to look like she knew what she was doing. No one could see her anyway - it was too dark. Without wasting her words, Tori replied somewhat sarcastically, "I would love to come in, but I really don't know where I'm going."

The chuckle that greeted her ears only reminded her of how much of her day had been amusing for everyone but her. She snorted in response.

The voice spoke again, "Please, keep walking straight ahead. There is a chair immediately in front of - "

"Humphhhh-" was Tori's reply, as she stumbled into the backside of the afore mentioned piece of furniture. "Yeah, I think I found it," she said, rubbing her shin.

This time, the laughter was uninhibited. "Well, if you had waited for me to finish telling you what to expect, you wouldn't have had to find out the hard way," the voice said.

"Well, if you would turn on the lights, maybe I wouldn't have to stumble around in the dark!" Tori replied testily.

"NO!" came the harsh reply from the darkness in front of Tori. "We do not turn on the lights in this room, or any other room where I am. Is that understood?"

Tori was taken aback by the bitterness and anger in the voice. She pondered turning around and heading out the door at that very moment, but something held her back. Wondering what strange attraction she could actually be feeling about a man she couldn't see and who she had just met, Tori decided to stay to figure it out. As she moved tentatively around the chair to sit down, she answered carefully, "I'll agree to your terms as long as I am in your house."

There was a barely audible sigh that sounded a lot like a sigh of relief that came from the butler, who was still standing in the doorway behind her. With only a minimum amount of movement, the door was pulled shut and the dim light from the hallway died away. Now Tori was sitting in total darkness with a man she had never met. Well, what else would make sense given her day so far?

After a moment's pause, the person in front of Tori said, "I'm sorry for my outburst. I have grown accustomed to being around people who are used to my problems, and I forget that not everyone is acquainted with my particular disabilities. I have a . . . um . . . ahem . . . a visual problem that requires me to exist in darkness."

Tori knitted her brow in confusion. She said, "I thought Daddy said that he worked with you. . . "

There was a heavy sigh, then the man said, "Yes, I work with your father, but not in the traditional sense. My job is much like that of a paralegal crossed with a detective, only I, too, am a lawyer. Given my . . . ailment . . . I am not able to work out in public. Instead, I work here at home and send the information to your father. My life is made easier by the use of the internet to do my research. Your father and I make quiet an impressive team. In fact, I understand that you ran up against a bit of my handiwork earlier today."

"You mean you are the one who uncovered the phone sex operator? I thought you said you couldn't work except in darkness. How did you manage to pull that one off?" Tori asked.

After a split second hesitation, the voice said, "You don't need light to dial a phone and the phone company is very helpful for tracing calls that you might need to prosecute. A few well placed suggestions and you can get all the help you need. I am sorry that my work resulted in your unfortunate experience, but I'm still pleased with that little bit of detective work."

Tori sighed, "Look, I know I didn't make the best entrance, but I am feeling a little uncomfortable since I didn't get to introduce myself. I'm sure that you already know that I'm Tori Banner and I already know that you are Jacob Rhodes, but what do you want me to call you? Your voice suggests that you are about 30ish, but you could be 60 for all I know. I don't know if you want me to be all formal or not. Do you want me to call you Mr. Rhodes or Jake or Peter Pan or what?" Tori asked, in her typical dry humor.

"I'm not much for fairy tales, Ms. Banner - Jake will be fine. You will be working fairly close to me, so it would be best if we didn't try to be overly formal. And I'm 37," Jake said, teasingly, not sounding at all like the angry man who had informed her that she couldn't turn on the lights earlier. Making a mental note, Tori considered the possibility that the man was bi-polar or else he was just plain moody. One never knew these days.

After a few moments of silence, it occurred to Tori that Jake might be waiting for her to tell him how old she was. Tori hated this part. She always dreaded telling people how old she was because she always felt like she had to apologize for all the things she hadn't done during her lifetime. Taking a deep breath, Tori blurted out, "I'm 30 years old."

A quiet laugh came from Jake. He said, "Now why did that sound like it was the hardest confession you have ever made?"

Tori grimaced at his perceptiveness. She said, "I just don't feel like I have made the most of my life and I wish I . . . never mind, my issues really don't concern you. I'm sure you aren't interested in hearing them."

Jake surprised Tori by not dropping the subject. He said, "Your father has told me a little bit about you, Tori You sound quiet remarkable, if you don't mind my saying so. Not many people would have done what you have done."

As the silence grew again in the room, Tori grew uncomfortable. She wasn't sure what her father had told Jake. Finally, Jake answered her unspoken question.

In a voice that made Tori realize that Jake was a detective by nature, he said, "Do you know what he told me, Tori? He said that he never married your mother. That they met in high school and dated a few times. But then he moved away before your mother realized she was pregnant. She never told him about you.

"He said that not long after your birth, your mother was diagnosed with cancer. And even though she lived for ten more years, she was sick the whole time. And you were her only caregiver. Then, when you were 10, she died and you went to live with your grandparents. First your grandmother and then your grandfather both died after long term illnesses. So, after 29 years as a caregiver, suddenly no one needed you.

"Then in some circumstantial fluke, you came across a letter that your mother had written to your father, but never mailed. And, totally unexpectedly, you found out who your dad was. It must have been hard to call him that first time.

"Paul said that the first time he heard your voice, though, he knew, in his heart, who you were. He insisted on flying you out here and the rest, as they say, is history. Does that sound about right?"

Tori had not made any sound during Jake's accounting of her life. While she truly hated having not done more with her life, she hated even more the fact that people always thought she had done some angelic, really sweet thing by helping her family. It wasn't like she had ever had a choice. She had done nothing except live out the life that had been dealt to her.

Meeting her father, Paul Weaver, was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. And she didn't want to blow her chance to be with her dad. Especially not by offending his friend. With a carefully controlled voice, she answered Jake the only way she knew how, "Yes. That's about it."

Jake seemed to sense her hesitancy. For a few moments he didn't speak, and when he finally did, he graciously changed the subject. He asked, "So what do you think of California?"

Tori breathed a sigh of relief. "I like it so far. Well, that's only partly true. My apartment is astronomically expensive, I can't have a car because I can't afford a garage unless I want to pay a huge deposit and yet another monthly fee. Then on my first day in the job market, I have inadvertently offered myself as a phone sex operator and I have seen a whole new side of men's underwear. But other than that, it's been great!"


To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 01



Jake sounded confused when he said, "Did you say men's underwear? Try running that one by me again?"

It was Tori's turn to laugh. She figured it wouldn't take Jake long to piece together that she was about as worldly as a turnip fed porcupine. So, with that in mind, she decided to tell him of her second attempt at securing employment for herself.

"After my first morning fiasco, I stopped by this nice clothing store to get a job and the manager on duty hired me on the spot. Then he showed me the 'clothes' that I was supposed to custom fit to male clients. I swear that I have seen several of those things in Radio Shack, and they weren't selling them to wear. At least I don't think they were. But this store was trying to. I couldn't even figure out how to attach some of the pieces to any bodily parts that I'm aware of men having. Then the manager offered to help me out and dropped his pants for me to practice custom fitting. I just gave up and ran away at that point. I figured if I stuck some of those things in the only holes I saw that he'd have me charged with some sort of bodily misconduct. And I wouldn't even know how to defend myself! I could just see me in court, trying to explain what the contraption was that I had abused the man with. The judge would never believe me."

Jake was laughing so hard that Tori had to wait for him to catch his breath. Finally, he gasped out, "Oh, Tori, the judge would probably have had one on, himself! This isn't Kansas, anymore, Toto!" With that, Tori chuckled as well. Maybe this was going to work out alright.

After Jake managed to quit laughing, he turned to the business at hand. "Tori, let's go over what I need from you. What I want you to do for me is to be my hands and feet on a couple of cases. We'll start kind of slow so you get acquainted with the ropes and then we will move on to some tougher stuff. When you go into your office, you will find some files on your desk. Look over them, surf the net to gather up the information that I marked, then we will go over the results."

Although it was completely dark in the room, Tori found herself looking around. "Jake? How are we going to work in the dark? I can't tell you what I found if I can't see what I wrote."

Jake sighed, "Well, I guess we will have to communicate over the intercom. That's not my preference, but you do have a point. Perhaps I can rig up some sort of 'mask' to cover my eyes so we can go over the information in your office. I'll work on that."

With that question settled, Tori realized that she had a far more pressing concern. "Jake, I don't think I can do this."

"Do what, Tori?"

Tori tried to explain, "This work you want me to do. I've never done anything like this before and you seem to be under the impression that I will know what I am doing once I get into my office. I've never even had an office. You told me what Daddy told you about my life, but did he tell you that I just finished high school? I didn't go to college, Jake. One time, I thought I wanted to be a nurse, so I took this advanced class in high school. I even got so far that I was assigned a shift at the hospital as a 'nurse in training'. One night was all that it took, though. When my first patient died on me, I was out of there. Well, I was out of there after I finished dealing with the corpse. After that I was finished with that prospect for a future career. But that's all I've ever done with regards to anything beyond your normal high school courses. I'm not really qualified to do this."

Jake didn't seem taken aback, but rather said, "Tori, you have surfed the net haven't you?" At the sound of affirmation that Tori made, Jake continued, "Well, that's about all it takes to start sleuthing for the information that I need. You can use the search engines, discussion groups, chat rooms, whatever you need to locate the stuff. Just get busy. I need it soon." And with that, Jake dismissed Tori's concerns.

Tori was pretty sure that Jake was dismissing her, as well. But she was in a bad situation. When she had entered the room earlier, she had managed to find the chair that she was sitting in, but she had no idea what else was in the room. She also wasn't exactly sure where the door was in relation to the location of her chair. After a few moments of silence, Tori whispered, "Jake? I don't know how to get out of here."

Jake's laugh was genuine as he said, "Silly girl! Let me help you." Tori first heard Jake moving about, then she felt his hand on her arm. Tori hadn't expected him to get to her so quickly or to touch her. Without thinking about it, Tori tensed the muscles in her arm and jerked away. Jake said, "Whoa, Tori! I'm not going to hurt you. Let me help you find the door."

Tori could feel the flush of embarrassment course through her body. "I'm sorry, Jake. You just surprised me. I wasn't expecting you to touch me. I'm really sorry."

"It's ok, Tori. I should have warned you that I was going to touch you. It's all right to be jumpy. You don't know me and you have been sitting in the dark for the last half hour. I doubt that this is a normal experience for you. Let me help you to the door."

This time, when Jake touched her arm, Tori didn't pull away. She followed Jake to the door and stepped through as he opened it for her. He was careful to stay in the shadows, so Tori still didn't know anything about how he looked. From the angle that he had touched her, though, she could tell that he was taller than her by several inches. From the strength in his hand and the power in his arm, she knew that he was strong. But beyond that, she was clueless. Almost as though he was reading her thoughts and wanted to shut them out, Jake helped her through the door, then quickly closed it behind her. With a sigh, Tori found her way down the hall, back into the foyer.

Chapter Three

Once Tori reached the front entrance foyer, she recognized the butler, who had first greeted her, standing in the doorway across the small room. As he turned to look at her with his cool expression, Tori decided to take the bull by the horns. She said, "Hi. I guess I'll be working here. My name is Tori."

At first, Tori thought that the butler was going to ignore her. But then a brilliant smile broke across the man's face. It made him look years younger. His voice was warm and vibrant as he said, "And you have no idea how happy that makes us! We are so pleased to have you here. I'm George and this delightful woman," he gestured to the cook in the kitchen beyond him, "That beauty is my wife, Beatrice. I can't tell you how glad we are that you have agreed to help Mr. Rhodes. He has been alone far too long."

Tori was taken aback by the sudden change in the butler's attitude. She was thankful for it, but she was still surprised by it. She also wasn't sure what he was talking about. She didn't know anything about her employer's past. Unsure of how to respond to George's statement, she decided to focus on what she did know. She said, "I'm really glad to have the chance. I have never done anything like this before. I'm a little frightened that I'll screw up."

Beatrice spoke up then, first clucking her tongue from the kitchen, "Nothing to screw up, my girl. Come have a bite to eat before you go do all that logging on stuff that I hear them talking about." And with that, Tori was ushered into the kitchen and adopted into Beatrice and George's attentive care.

During lunch, Beatrice and George told Tori a little about themselves. They were in their early sixties and had worked for Jake for twenty years. George and Beatrice told her about their four children, all of whom lived in the area and who were rapidly producing much longed for grandchildren. It was a pleasant meal and ended far too soon to suit Tori.

When Beatrice shooed them out of the kitchen, George showed Tori to her office. It was a beautiful room, filled with volume after volume of legal texts. Tori was staggered by the overwhelming effect, but George patted her on the shoulder and assured her that she was the best thing that had entered that office in a long time. Feeling buoyed by his confidence, Tori started in on the work at hand.

When the buzzer on her intercom sounded, Tori almost jumped out of her skin. She looked over the box and finally found the 'talk' button. She pressed it and answered, "Yes?"

Jake's voice came back over, "How are you doing? Do you have any questions?"

Tori pressed the button down and said, "Well, after I figured out how to decipher my new boss' atrocious handwriting, I'm doing all right. Did you know that the man can make the word 'legal' look like something akin to a drawing of a mountain range in the Rockies?"

Jake's growl made Tori giggle. She liked this man. He was easy to kid with and didn't seem to mind that she wasn't as worldly as others her age. She was kind of glad that he couldn't see her. She had often heard that the best thing about the new age of internet flirting was that the other person couldn't see you. That meant that you could be anybody that you wanted to be when you were talking on line. Tori felt like that with Jake. Since he couldn't see her, she could pretend to be all the things she had ever wanted to be - at least physically.

And Tori had spent her life wanting to be a lot different from who she really was - physically and mentally. Because she had been responsible for taking care of her family for so many years, Tori had never really blossomed socially. She knew the technical term was introvert, but she just felt like a wall flower. It didn't help her self confidence that her body was about as much like the women she saw in fashion magazines as it was like a fire truck. Well, actually, maybe that was pushing it a little. Because the truth was, she really did have more in common with the fire truck - at least it matched the color of her hair.

The women who graced the magazine pages were thin and straight. But, Tori had curves that were lush and full. She had always been told that her body was too big and overly abundant. And, no matter how many diets her family had managed to obtain to 'cure' her, she had always found herself still soft and dimpled. Over the years, Tori had accepted that her body wasn't going to change. She was simply a large woman.

While Tori may have accepted her body and appearance, she certainly hadn't rejoiced over it. In fact, she blamed it on her continued social inadequacies. And her social inadequacies caused her to dislike her looks even more. Like the typical catch 22, Tori didn't know how to break out of the vicious cycle that was her life.

Tori's family - first her mother, then her mother's parents - were always pointing out that Tori should take better care of herself. Of course, they never seemed to notice that taking care of them required not only all of her time, but also all of her energy. Tori hadn't had an opportunity to do anything for herself. Until now. And now it seemed too late to figure it all out. How was she supposed to look? What was she supposed to wear? How was she supposed to style her flaming red hair? Tori had decided not to obsess over it all and simply clothed her body in oversized shirts and leggings, wearing her hair in a long ponytail and not bothering with make-up, figuring it was too late to change.

But now, life had dealt her a new hand. Here she was, in a new city, around complete strangers, working for a man who couldn't see her. In a world where Tori felt like she would never be attractive or desirable, here was her chance to pretend to be both, at least for a little while.

Jake's voice snapped Tori out of her revere as he asked for some of the information she had been assigned to look up for him. She pulled out her notes and told him what she had found so far. At one point, she heard him say, "Yes!" rather triumphantly and realized that she had helped him prove some point or other that he had been working on. That made her feel useful and built up her confidence.

When Tori finished passing on her last bit of data to Jake, she was surprised when he told her that she had done well and that he would see her the next day. Glancing at the clock, she couldn't believe that the entire afternoon has passed her by. She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn't noticed the time. Now she would have to hurry to make the early dinner date she had with her dad. She sent a quick good-bye over the intercom and hurried out to catch a cab.



To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 02



Chapter Four

Tori rushed into her apartment and slipped into the only dress that she owned. It was a nice, dark blue shapeless outfit that left anyone who saw her wondering if there was actually a body hiding under that tentlike monstrosity! Adding her old, black flats to the outfit, she shrugged her shoulders at the bland image staring back from her mirror. But she didn't have time to worry about it. She had to practically run out the door in order to meet her dad on time.

Tori's dad was just stepping out of his car when he saw Tori. She motioned for him to wait, then she crossed the street to him. He kissed her on the cheek, then opened the car door for her. She was buckling up when he climbed in the driver's side.

"So, how was the first day at your real job?" her dad asked, barely hiding his smile. Paul Weaver was a handsome man with broad shoulders and jet black hair. His blue eyes made Tori think of blueberries. She had no trouble understanding why her mother had fallen for him. Her mother had told Tori once that she had been tall and skinny in high school. She must have been overwhelmed when a hunk like Tori's dad paid her attention. Tori knew she would have been. Just being around him now made her a little uncomfortable. He was so good looking and she felt like a washed up little fat farm girl.

Tori realized that she hadn't answered her dad and that he was waiting. "I'm sorry, Daddy. It was a long day. It turned out to be really good, though. I think I helped Jake find some sort of information that he was looking for and that made me feel like I had accomplished something. The way this day started out, I needed for it to end on a positive note!"

Her dad laughed and squeezed her hand. "I knew my little girl could handle herself. I just didn't realize that I was going to be the one who sent you into the lion's den. I'm really sorry about the mix up this morning."

Tori just rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Don't worry too much about it. But I am glad that man isn't a friend of yours. I was really wondering just what kind of a father you were!"

When Tori looked back out the car window, she realized that they were parking in front of a mall, rather than at a restaurant. "Daddy? Where are we going?"

Paul seemed somewhat hesitant to answer. Finally, he blurted out, "Now, Tori, don't take this wrong. But you are in California now. I know that your clothes were sufficient in Georgia for taking care of dying relatives. But they really don't work for being a professional. I want to introduce you to a friend of mine and let her help you pick out some new outfits."

Tori could feel the blood drain out of her face. She had seen advertisements for the women that you could hire to help you make over your appearance. Each one of the pictures she had seen featured a woman who was the epitome of elegance - fashionably slim with perfectly styled hair and professionally applied make-up - the exact opposite of Tori.

But Tori couldn't hurt her dad's feelings. She had to go through with this. It was his idea and he wanted her to fit in and be comfortable in his world. Maybe she would be able to purchase one or two items and satisfy him. Then she could buy some other clothes as soon as she got her first pay check.

The sound of her father clearing his throat made Tori realize that she was still sitting in the car. Paul was standing beside her, holding her door open, waiting for her to get out of the car. She grimaced and resolved to do the best she could to muddle through the next hour of her life. Taking her father's extended hand, she pulled herself out of the vehicle and waited for him to lock the doors. Then her dad dropped his arm around her shoulders and guided her into the mall.

Tori was glad to see that her father wasn't taking her to the well known department stores that dominated each corner of the mall. Instead, he turned down a short corridor and into a small boutique. At least her humiliation wouldn't be witnessed by dozens of shoppers.

Tori heard a woman's voice say, "Paul, you made it!" Tori could feel the sudden excitement that shot through her father's body. Suddenly, Tori realized part of the reason her dad had brought her here. This woman was special to him. She schooled her features as she turned to meet the owner of the voice, not sure what to expect.

What Tori didn't expect was the woman who was walking toward them. Tori had spent her whole life believing she weighed too much to be beautiful, but the woman in front of her blew that argument clear out of the water. The lady stood only a few inches shorter than Paul and had the body of a goddess. Tori could only stare as the woman seemed to float to them in the sleeveless, low cut, form fitting dress that hid none of her curves. A scarf fluttered around her throat and bracelets cascaded down her arms. An anklet jingled somewhere near her low heeled sandals. The woman was breathtaking. And when Tori looked up at her dad, she noticed that he was having the same problem that she was. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off of the woman, either.

"Paul, I'm so glad you're here," the lady said, as she reached up to kiss Tori's father's cheek. Tori watched the blush rise in her dad's face as he continued to look adoringly at the woman in front of him. Tori couldn't believe that this was the type of woman that could turn her father's head. She watched as the two of them pulled slightly apart and stood, staring into one another's eyes.

It was like watching a romantic movie. Tori tried to stop her giggles, but didn't quiet manage. Both her father and the lady he was so taken with turned to look at Tori at the same time. Obviously embarrassed, they both tried to speak at the exact same moment, and ended up apologizing profusely to one another. From the level of sexual anxiety that was zinging back and forth between the two, Tori was afraid they would start making out right in the middle of the store if she didn't do something quick, so she said, "Are you the lady Daddy was telling me about? The one who is going to help me with my clothes?"

The woman smiled warmly at her, apparently sensing what Tori was trying to accomplish with her question. "Of course! Paul told me all about bringing you out here so suddenly, without giving you a chance to really outfit yourself for the change. I would love to give you some pointers and show you what I have here in this store. My assistant comes to work in about an hour, then I can take you to a few other really good stores and we can see what appeals to you."

If there had been any doubt in her mind about liking this woman, it was put to rest in that moment. Tori was impressed by anyone who would not only sell the clothes in her own shop, but would help someone find clothes elsewhere as well. Paul cleared his throat and said, "Tori, I'm sorry, I don't know where my manners are. This is Estella Cline. Stella, this is my daughter, Tori Banner. Tori, I met Stella last week at a banquet to help raise funds for a new project that helps women get back on their feet after a divorce. While we were talking, I told Stella about you finding me and me moving you out here. Stella offered to help you adjust to the California style scene, and I have to assure you, I trust her judgement. If there is anything special you need, just tell Stella. She can help you with all of the basics and . . . "

Tori rolled her eyes. Her father had been talking to her, but when he looked Stella in the eye, he seemed to lose his train of thought. The man had it bad. And Stella seemed equally hooked as she didn't seem to notice that Paul had stopped speaking. Tori could tell that she needed to go home early tonight and let these two have some time alone. "Dad? Dad? Are you going to stay here while we do this? If you are, I'm afraid that we aren't ever going to get finished. You keep distracting Stella and vise versa," Tori teased.

Paul blushed like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "No, I was just going. I will leave you two lovely ladies alone. I'll pick you up in about two hours. Stella, it was good to see you again."

Tori suddenly realized that her dad hadn't asked Stella to come to dinner with them. She had just assumed that, with all of the heat that was vibrating in the room, that Stella and her dad were an item. It occurred to her that, since they had only known one another for a week, she might be mistaken. "Dad? Isn't Stella going to supper with us?"

At the same moment, both Stella and Paul said, "No!" Tori looked back and forth between them. Tori's dad was the first to recover, "I mean, no, I hadn't thought to ask her. Would you like to come to supper with us, Stella?" he asked hopefully.

It was Stella's turn to blush. She said, "You don't have to do that."

Tori was proud of her dad when he said, "I know I don't have to, but I would really like for you to join us. Please?"

Stella seemed at a loss for words and finally nodded her head in agreement. Tori cocked her eyebrow at her dad and gave him a mental thumbs up. He rolled his eyes and headed out of the store, saying over his shoulder, "I'll see you two in a few hours."

Stella took one look at Tori and said, "We need to talk!" She motioned Tori over to a few chairs in the back of the store and they sat down.

Stella said, "Tori, I need you to tell me about yourself. I have to know a little about you before we get started. Who are you? What have you been doing for the past ten years? Who do you want to be when you grow up - that kind of thing."

Tori pondered her response. Never in her life had a stranger cared about finding out about her, but now here was Stella who seemed to be waiting expectantly, apparently interested in what she had to say. Tori managed to stammer out a short version of her life story and was surprised to find that Stella followed every word.

When Tori finished, Stella nodded her head. "I've got some things that I can teach you in the next few hours - both about fashion and about yourself. Are you ready to start the next phase of your life?"

The next few hours were something out of a storybook for Tori. Stella not only showed her clothes, but she gave her a serious lesson about body image. It was the first time in Tori's entire life that someone told her that she didn't need to be skinny to be happy. It was the first time she had ever heard that she didn't need to be thin to be beautiful. And it was the first time she had ever looked in the mirror and realized that she was attractive, just the way she was. That was a dramatic revelation for Tori.

The lessons didn't end when they finished picking out Tori's clothes, though. After Stella and Tori picked out two dresses, a couple of shirts, and a few mini skirts, Stella took her to the shoe store. A pair of low heeled dress shoes and a cute pair of sandals rounded out the outfits.

Stella used her cell phone to call Paul and tell him to give them an extra hour, then they headed to the salon. Stella had a standing appointment and the salon was willing to take Tori, as well.

Tori had always disliked her natural hair color. It was difficult to be a wall flower with stop sign red hair. She had always minimized it by pulling it away from her face and tying it up in a pony tail or a top knot. But, after an hour in the seat of a professional hair artist, Tori promised herself that she would never hide her hair again. The red tresses had been shaped to frame her face in soft curls and to hang over her shoulders, brushing down her back. The layers that were cut in gave some height to her hair and showed off the shape of her face. The make up artist had stopped by while her hair was drying and had brushed on a few strokes of eye shadow. The finished product was a woman that Tori barely recognized.

Stella then took Tori over to a coffee shop to wait for Paul. "Tori, I told you that I wanted to teach you some things today and now, I need to share the rest of your lesson with you. I know that I have overwhelmed you today. I'm willing to bet that you haven't ever done anything like this, before. It's all new and exciting. And I'm sure it doesn't feel at all real for you, yet.

"But, before we finish for the day, I've got just a little bit more to say. I want to tell you a story about myself. A few years ago, I lost quiet a bit of weight. I thought that if I lost the weight that I would be happy and my life would be exciting and full. Lots of the men who had known me for years began asking me out and telling me that I was really sexy.

"Instead of being happy, though, I kind of freaked out. I was confused by the attention that I was getting and ended up gaining my weight back. At the time, it was a conscious decision that I made in order to keep those men away from me, while I tried to get my head on straight.

"You see, being a truly attractive woman isn't about size - it is about attitude. When these men were attracted by my body, they were scaring me because my attitude hadn't changed. I didn't feel sexy. Yeah, apparently I suddenly had a body that some of them liked the shape of, but I was still the quiet woman with low self esteem who would much rather be in a corner than at the center of attention.

"Then a few years ago, all of that began changing. I was working with a man who simply stormed through my mental defenses like a bull in a china shop. He walked into my office one day and without so much as a hello, marched around my desk, stood me up and kissed me. Now, this man was a dear friend of mine. And one that I had always thought of as handsome and attractive - the kind that I figured could get any woman that he wanted. It was a shocking revelation to realize that what he wanted was me! Now, the down side to this story is that the man was married - not happily, but still married. And I'm just not an affair type of woman. By the grace of God, I was able to get away from him before we went too far with our relationship.

"But the important thing that happened was that, because of this man, I finally realized that there were men out there who truly found me attractive - that I didn't need to change my appearance - that I didn't need to become someone new in order for others to find me appealing, Tori.

"That knowledge freed me up to start believing in myself. And I realized that I did need to change, but not on the outside. I needed to change on the inside - in how I felt about myself. Working on how I view myself has changed everything about me. I will never a shrinking violet again, because now, I believe in me. I am a sexy woman because I have the attitude of a confident, self assured adult who knows her own mind.

"The point of telling you all of this is that, today, you bought some very attractive clothes. Well, your daddy bought you some very attractive clothes! But you have the body to show the world how those clothes were meant to be worn. You have a new hairstyle and you look like a million bucks. But you are still you. And that is what has to change in order to become the woman I can make you look like.

"If you don't try to start seeing yourself as the beautiful woman that you are, then none of these things will make a difference in the long run. I don't think anyone has ever told you how attractive you are. But you really are beautiful. Here in San Jose, you have a chance to start over. No one here knows anything about you. Become who you want to be. I'll do anything I can to help. And I think your dad will, too. And remember, you determine how you let the world affect you. Be a player in life and not a bench warmer."

It was at that very moment that Tori's dad stepped up to their table. He was looking at Stella as if he were about to speak to her. Before the words came out of his mouth, though, he glanced over at Tori. He smiled a polite smile, murmured "Hello", then turned his gaze back to Stella. Suddenly he stopped, and almost in slow motion, he turned back to look at Tori. His mouth fell open and he stared at her. His voice was filled with shock, "Tori?"

At the look on Paul's face, Tori and Stella burst into laughter. Paul shook his head, trying to recover. He asked, "Honey, what did she do to you?"

With a frown on her face, Tori said, "Daddy, don't you like it?"

"Like it?" Paul parroted. "I love it! But I didn't recognize you. I thought Stella had ditched you somewhere to have coffee with another gorgeous woman. My God, I almost made a pass at my daughter!"

That only caused Stella and Tori to laugh even harder. Paul shook his head as he picked up their bill and headed to the cashier. He paid for their drinks, then directed them out of the coffee shop. He guided them out the door to his car and settled them in, while they both still were giggling at his reaction.

After getting in himself, he turned to face Tori, who was in the back seat. With a serious look on his face, Paul said, "Baby, I knew that Stella would do you right. I just didn't expect such a drastic change. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't beautiful before. I was just shocked by the new you."

"It's ok, Daddy. I didn't think you were being mean. Anyway, I appreciated the compliment! Now, drop me off by my apartment," Tori said.

Paul looked confused. "By your apartment? We're going to supper."

Tori just shook her head, "No, Daddy. Tonight I'm not going out with you. Stella is. You two need to spend a little time alone."

It amused Tori to watch both Stella's and Paul's face turn red. She wondered if her dad always blushed as easily as he did around Stella. She had never noticed it before, but she had only known him for a few months. Tori made a mental note to pay attention, but she had a strong suspicion that his proximity to Stella was the major deciding factor in causing his red face.

Tori also noticed that neither her father nor Stella put up too much of an argument to change her mind about not going to supper with them. When they dropped her off in front of her apartment, it was all she could do not to laugh at the looks they were trying to hide from one another. Tori didn't want to imagine too much about how the rest of their evening was going to go. After all, Paul was her father, and all good children know that their parents have never had sex!

After hanging up her new purchases and changing into her pajamas, Tori made herself a bowl of cereal. It wasn't exactly the dinner she had expected to have, but the evening hadn't exactly turned out the way she had expected it too, either. For that matter, neither had her day. She had a new job, new clothes, new concepts to ponder and, quiet possibly, a new step mother to get to know. It had been a really wild day!

Chapter Five

The next morning, Tori dressed in one of her new outfits, brushed out her hair and slipped on her brand new shoes. Looking in the mirror, she almost wished that Jake wasn't visually impaired. She would like to have seen the look on his face when he saw all the changes in her. But that wasn't possible. She would just have to settle for shocking George and Beatrice.

Tori went down to the bus stop, a block away from her apartment. Since it was only 7:30 in the morning, and Tori had discovered that the majority of San Jose didn't roll out of bed until after 9:00, the place was deserted. She walked up to the posted schedule and started trying to decipher it. Tori had never had to ride on public transportation before, and she was having some difficulty trying to find a pattern in the schedule so she could memorize it. A deep voice from behind her said, "Do you see the schedule that you need?"

Surprised that someone would be speaking to her, Tori turned around to find a well dressed man standing behind her, looking at her expectantly. She stammered, "I think I have it figured out . . . "

The man smiled and said, "Where are you headed?"




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 02



When Tori gave him the address, he nodded and, reaching his arm around her, ran his finger down the sign until he pointed to the correct connection. "You'll need to take the bus over to Santa Clara Street, then catch the one from Montgomery Highway. That'll get you there."

Tori was barely following the man's words. She was too shocked. In all of her life, no man had ever walked up to her and offered to help her find her way anywhere. And here was a man that she didn't know from Adam who was not only offering to help her, he was using the schedule as an excuse to touch her.

Even as unsophisticated as she was, Tori realized that the man was flirting with her. As she started to turn and move away, Tori was seized by a sudden urge to flirt back. This was a stranger, she was in a fairly safe situation and the man seemed nice enough. With only a trace of hesitation, Tori turned back to him and said, "Where are you headed?"

The man told her, then introduced himself. He and Tori sat down on a nearby bench and began talking. She learned that he worked in Silician Valley and had lived in San Jose all of his life. She told him about her having just met her dad and how much she was enjoying California. When a bus pulled up to the curb, the man pointed it out as the one she needed to take. Before Tori stepped away, he said, "I really enjoyed talking to you. Maybe I'll see you here again. Have a great day." Tori waved at him and smiled to herself. Apparently there really was something to this attitude thing!

The bus ride across town was rather uneventful. Tori found her connections and got off practically in front of Jake's house. She walked up the steps of the house and knocked.

The look that George gave Tori when he opened the door was worth every penny of her daddy's money that she had spent the night before! It was obvious that he had been about to say something, but he had lost his train of thought when he got a good look at Tori. Shaking his head as if to clear it, he seemed to suddenly remember what he had been about to say. "Young lady! What do you mean riding the bus over here? Especially when you look like that!"

Of all the things that Tori had expected him to say, that hadn't been one of them. Confused, she looked at George and said, "What? Why wouldn't I ride a bus? I certainly can't afford to take a taxi everyday. And what's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" 

George motioned her into the house before he answered. "There is nothing wrong with the way you are dressed. That's the problem. You don't know what kind of people might be on that bus. Someone might try to take advantage of you, particularly when you look so fetching."

"Fetching? George, I didn't know people actually used that word," Tori teased, relieved that he wasn't upset because he thought she was dressed inappropriately. He was just upset because she was dressed appropriately. "And, since I don't have a car yet, primarily because I can't afford a garage, how else am I going to get to work? My broom is in the shop. Of course, I probably won't be able to afford a broom sized garage, either."

George looked momentarily confused until he realized that the last little bit of Tori's outburst had been a joke. Although he snorted and rolled his eyes, Tori figured that he still thought it was funny. He was just too much of a butler to actually laugh at her jokes.

Apparently, choosing to answer her question rather than comment on her mode of transportation, George said, "I will send the car around, of course."

"The car?" Tori asked.

"Yes, the car. We do have one. Actually, we have several. And all of them are in a garage. Not that I understand what that has to do with anything. Anyway, you are not to ride the bus again. Mr. Rhodes would have my head if he knew you had arrived by public transportation."

Tori doubted that Mr. Rhodes would be nearly as appalled as George wanted her to believe. But she decided to humor the man. "If that is standard employee policy, I guess that I will have to abide by your decision." Tori could almost see George's chest expand as he preened under her deferral to his authority. Tori just mentally rolled her eyes and headed to her office.

It had been a few minutes before 8:00 when Tori had arrived at work. Her desk was already covered with requests from Jake. She shook her head, wishing that she had an excuse to go see him this morning. Well, not see him exactly, since any visiting that she did would have to be done in the dark, but still, she would liked to have had the chance to spend a few minutes with him. Shrugging her shoulders, she got down to the business at hand.

Tori found herself spending hours working on weeding out the information that Jake wanted. As Tuesday came to an end, she was once again shocked at how quickly the day seemed to pass. Except for a few interruptions from Beatrice, Tori had worked uninterrupted for eight hours. Working the kinks out of her shoulders, she buzzed Jake to let him know that she was finished for the day.

Tori had assumed that Jake would just tell her good night, but instead, he asked her to come to his office. Tori knocked on his door and opened it when he called out, "Come in!"

When she entered the darkened office, Tori could see Jake's silhouette. The light was coming from a computer monitor. However, since the monitor was so far away and because it was behind him, it kept his features completely in the shadows. He appeared to be a well built man with broad shoulders. Tori forced herself to pull her eyes away from the appealing sight in order to find her way across the room, though.

The light from the screen helped Tori find the chair on her own this time, without bumping into anything. "I'm glad to see that you can handle a small amount of light. It makes navigating the room much easier." Something tickled the back of Tori's mind, but at the sound of Jake's laugh, she shrugged off the feeling.

When she was comfortably seated, Jake said, "I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the work that you did yesterday and today. I wasn't sure that I really needed any help, but if this keeps up, I'll be able to get a lot more work finished. I want you to know that you really are making a difference."

Tori felt an unfamiliar feeling course through her body. It took her a moment to realize that it was the feeling of pride in a job well done. Tori hadn't ever been allowed to enjoy that experience, before. But now, Jake was giving her permission to revel in it. Tori decided that she liked that!

Thinking that it was best if she didn't jump up and down just because she was proud of herself, Tori settled for saying, "Thank you, Jake. I've enjoyed myself."

Jake cleared his throat and said, "Did you have a nice evening last night?"

Without even thinking about the differences between her and Jake, Tori launched into the story of her previous evening. She told him about meeting Stella, about getting the new clothes and having her hair done. She even told him about making her dad take Stella out to dinner. When she finished, she suddenly realized what she had just done. Tori could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She said, "Jake, I'm sorry. You probably didn't want to hear all of that. I'm still not used to being able to say 'Yes, thank you' when people ask me if I'm having a good time. I just spill my whole life story."

Jake's throaty laugh quickly put Tori at ease. "My dear, if I hadn't wanted to know, I wouldn't have asked. I don't ask rhetorical questions."

Tori felt strangely touched by Jake's comment. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I don't ask them either, Jake. How was your evening?"

When Jake didn't immediately answer, Tori grew tense. She hadn't meant to offend him, but she had felt a bond developing between them. When Jake finally answered her, she was relieved to realize that he didn't appear to be upset with her.

Jake said, "It was a good evening, not too much to do. A little reading, listen to some music, drink some wine . . . just the usual stuff."

Smiling, Tori said, "Sounds much more relaxing that mine. Do George and Beatrice live here with you?"

"George and Beatrice have lived here for the last few years. Until their children moved out of their home, they had their own residence. Now they stay here. This house is way too big for just one person. There are rooms and rooms that are never even used. It seems a shame, really."

They spent a few minutes discussing Jake's home, then Tori realized that she needed to leave him so he could get some work done. Excusing herself, she stood up and said good bye.

When Tori walked out of Jake's office, she was surprised to see George standing in the hall waiting for her. He said, "This way, madam." Then he led her out the front door to the car waiting at the bottom of the steps.

Tori had forgotten all about her transportation discussion with George. And to tell the truth, she was grateful for his thoughtfulness. Tiptoeing up to kiss his cheek, she whispered to George, "You're the best!" Then she slid into the back of the luxury sedan and let her head fall back on the headrest.

The ride to Tori's apartment was over before she even realized it had started. Realizing that she must have dozed off, she promised herself that she would go to bed early. Too much excitement was certainly draining!

Chapter Six

When Tori slipped out her door the next morning, the car sitting in front of her apartment surprised her. Then she remembered that it was there for her. As she approached the car, the driver opened the rear door and she climbed into the back seat. It was kind of nice to be chauffeured around!

Wednesday passed much as Tuesday had and Thursday looked about the same. Tori was pleased that she was getting a routine going and that the work was challenging yet manageable. If she was honest with herself, though, she enjoyed her late afternoon chats with Jake most of all. Each day he called her into his office at the end of the day, just to talk.

While they sat together in the dark, they shared their lives with one another. Tori had learned about Jake's years at Princeton and how he had passed the bar the first time he had taken it. For her part, she had told him about losing her mom, then having to move in with her grandparents. She even shared how it had felt to finally be free of them all - the emptiness and the joy. Tori began to feel that the last minutes that she was at work were the best minutes of her entire day.

On Friday morning, Tori got in a little early. She wanted to wrap up a few things before the week-end. Her dad had invited her to go up to San Francisco with him and she couldn't wait. But she didn't want to go while she was worrying about some detail of one of Jake's cases.

At 10:00, Beatrice surprised her by bringing in a cup of coffee and a plate of cinnamon rolls. Frowning at the plate, Tori said, "Am I supposed to eat all of those?"

Beatrice beamed in response. "Of course not, dear. I'm going to join you." And with that, the older lady sat down in the chair on the other side of Tori's desk. After she was seated, Beatrice said, "You look lovely today, dear. Is that a new outfit?" 

For the next several minutes, Tori told Beatrice all about her adventure on Monday night. She told her about the salon, the clothes and, of course, about Stella. Beatrice seemed to enjoy hearing about the whole experience. However, when Tori paused at the end of her story, Beatrice didn't waste any time changing the subject.

The older lady said, "I wanted to talk to you about Jake, dear. George and I are so pleased that you have come to help, but there are some things that you need to know. George nor Jake will tell you these things, so as the woman of the house, I think it is my duty. Jake has never been married. Until a few years ago, he did leave the house occasionally, particularly in the winter. Now, he is entombed in this house. It is not good for him. I know that he will make an effort to keep you at arm's length emotionally, but if you could, try to get him to open up to you. He is a wonderful man, whom I greatly admire. But he needs friends. In fact, I believe that he needs you."

Tori sat quietly as she pondered Beatrice's words. Finally Tori said, "I hope we become friends, too. Maybe he will go out with me. I've never worked with someone who is visually impaired, but I'm certain that I could figure out how to be a good guide."

Beatrice snorted, "Visually impaired? Is that what he told you? Well, that's a good one."

Alarms went off in Tori's head. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "What do you mean, Beatrice? Is Jake not visually impaired?"

With another sound of disgust, Beatrice rose from her seat, "Now I've gone and said too much. It is not my place to discuss Jake's . . . ah . . . ailment. You'll have to ask him about it to find out the details. But don't forget what I said, Tori. He has some issues that he needs some help dealing with."

And with that, the older lady exited the office.

Tori sat sipping her coffee, thinking back over the last few days. All of the little questions she had shrugged off all week came rushing back to her. How could she have missed so many clues? Of course the man wasn't blind. But she wasn't so sure that she wasn't - at least not where Jacob Rhodes was concerned.

Tori felt the tension growing in her neck and back muscles. Over the last few days, she had begun to view herself as a person of value and worth. She felt like she was in a chrysalis, about to erupt as a butterfly. She was excited and anxious to see what the future held for her. And she had expected Jake to be a part of that future, even if it was just as her boss. But now she didn't know what to think. Jake had apparently lied to her and that hurt.

The sound of the intercom's buzz brought Tori out of her deep thoughts. She pressed the talk button and said, "Yes?"

Jake's voice washed over Tori as he greeted her with a cheery, "Good morning." Even while she was angry at him, Jake's voice caused excitement to course through Tori's blood. Making an effort to concentrate, Tori realized that Jake was asking if she had finished some of the data collection. After looking through her notes, she told him that she had. Jake then said, "Could you come down to my office and go over the information with me?"

Tori rolled her eyes and asked, "Jake, how am I going to go over the information in the dark?"

"Can't you remember enough of it so we don't need the lights?"

For a moment, Tori considered telling him that she wanted the truth about why he had to sit in the darkness. However, she didn't give in to that thought. Instead she pushed the button and answered, "I can try." With that, she read back over the material and started down the hall toward Jake's office.

After finding her seat, Tori waited for Jake to start the discussion. Rather than launching immediately into his questions about the information he had asked her to bring, Jake said, "Did you have a good evening last night?"

Tori's brow knit in thought. "It was a great evening. Why do you ask?"

In the dim light, Tori could see Jake shrug his shoulders. "No reason, I just was making conversation."

Tori hadn't had a chance yet to deal with her frustration about Jake lying to her. It was difficult for her to be polite to him when she needed time to think out her feelings. Rather than trying to mask them, she decided to focus on her work. "I brought the information you asked about."

With that obvious of a change of subject, even Jake couldn't ignore it. He followed her lead and they spent several minutes going over the information she had found. When Tori had told him all that she knew, she waited for Jake to tell her what he wanted next.

But she was waiting in vain. Instead of giving her the next assignment, Jake said, "You know, I haven't worked closely with anyone for a long time. But I thought I remembered polite conversation as part of the normal routine. We've been managing it all week. What's wrong now? Is something bothering you, Tori?"

It was an opening Tori couldn't resist. But she was well aware that she couldn't just blurt out that Beatrice had told her that he wasn't blind. She hesitated only for a moment, then said, "Yes, Jake, something is bothering me. Are you sure that you want to know what it is?"

Jake nodded his head and mumbled a subdued, "Sure."

Tori sat up straight in her chair. She squared her shoulders and tried to calm her breathing. Confrontation had always unsettled her, but this was outright lying on Jake's part and she couldn't work with him knowing that. She said, "When I came here on Monday, I was impressed by the fact that you didn't hold my lack of education against me. I couldn't believe that a man like you, with all of your degrees, could see beyond that often artificial judge of intelligence and realize that life was often a better teacher than all the universities in the world. I have gone home each night telling myself how lucky I was to have found a boss who could appreciate me for who I was and give me the opportunity to become someone better than I am. But something kept bothering me. Jake, have you been laughing at my naivete all week? Did you get a good chuckle out of how simple I was?"

Tori paused, waiting for an answer. Jake sounded angry when he asked, "What are you talking about? Why would I have laughed at you?"

Shaking her head, Tori sighed. "Did you think that I was so stupid that I wouldn't notice that you are using a normal computer, with no voice activation adaptations. Although you claimed to be light sensitive, you work with a fully lit monitor. You don't have brail books in your library. You don't use a walking cane. Beatrice had George move the couch last night so she could mop behind it and it's still out of place this morning. Jake, you aren't visually impaired. If you were blind, you would have tripped right over it on the way to your office this morning. Did you think I was so dumb that I would just accept your explanation at face value and never put together all the discrepancies?" Tori didn't add that she had been so excited about being a part of his world that she had indeed accepted his explanation and ignored her own suspicions. At least she was trying to rectify that shortsightedness now.

The silence in the room was deafening. As it lengthened, Tori wondered if she had gone too far. Well, that wasn't true, she knew she had gone too far. But she couldn't work with someone who thought they were pulling a fast one over on her. If she was going to be true to who she was, she needed to confront things that bothered her. And lying bothered her.

After five minutes, Tori couldn't handle it any longer. She stood from her chair and said, "I'll pack up my stuff and leave. I'm sorry that I wasn't what you needed."

Tori had almost made it to the door before she heard Jake speaking. His voice was so soft that she almost missed it. He whispered, "I didn't laugh at you. I would never laugh at anyone. It hurts too much when people laugh at you. I'm sorry."

As she held onto the door handle, Tori weighed her options. The same feeling that had caused her not to leave on their first day together was pulling at her to stay today. She turned back toward Jake. "I'm sorry too. I didn't exactly give you a chance to explain. If you want me to stay, I will. But I really need to know that you won't lie to me anymore."

Tori wasn't really sure what she was expecting Jake to say. And at first, he didn't seem to be going to say anything. Finally, though, he did answer her, "I would like that."

Turning the knob, Tori said, "I'll go get to work on the rest of the stuff that you need." Then she quietly pulled the door shut behind her.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Beatrice brought her a sandwich for lunch, but didn't stay to eat with her. She explained that Friday was her day to change all the linens, and she was far too busy to sit and chat over lunch. Tori wondered how she had managed to find time for cinnamon rolls earlier, but decided not to ask. The truth was that she needed the time as much as Beatrice did. Jake had given her a lot of work and she wanted to get it wrapped up before the day ended.




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 02



When five o'clock rolled around, Tori used the intercom call button to buzz Jake. After a few moments, he answered, "Yes?"

"Jake, I'm finished for today. I am leaving the reports on my desk, if you need them before Monday. I'll see you later."

There was no response from the box.



To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 03



Chapter Seven

Tori's week-end was a strange combination of happiness and trepidation. She completely enjoyed the time that she spent with her dad. Paul took her to the famous Pier 39 and she did all the tourist - like things. She ate the largest strawberry she had ever seen, she rode the carousel, she saw Alcatraz and even bought some psychedelic fingernail polish. When they got back home, Tori convinced her dad to invite Stella to join them for dinner on Sunday and this time Tori went with them. It was so much fun to see the two of them flirting and teasing one another. Tori truly hoped her dad didn't let Stella get away.

But whenever her dad mentioned her job, Tori felt her shoulders tighten in tension. Then she would find herself thinking about Jake. In fact, every time her mind wondered, Tori found herself thinking about Jake. She hoped that they could work out their differences soon, because, the way it was, she was spending way too much time worrying about him. She figured that once she had their relationship ironed out, then she would quit thinking about him so much. At least that was her plan.

On Monday morning, Tori found herself thinking about Jake again, as she put on one of her new dresses and added her open toed sandals. She found a barrette from some past time period of her life and managed to use it to enhance her haircut. She even used a light touch of make-up. Looking in the mirror, Tori liked what she saw. She realized that she was glad Jake wasn't blind because maybe he would like what he saw when he looked at her, too. Tori shrugged off the thought and headed to work.

After Tori let herself into Jake's house, Beatrice handed her a cup of coffee as she passed the kitchen. When she got to her desk, there was a pile of work waiting for her. On the top of her stack of paperwork, there was a note from Jake, asking her to come to his office first thing.

Tori made her way down the hall and knocked on the door to Jake's office. She heard the muffled "Come in." The room was still all dark except for the computer screen, but Tori was familiar enough with it now to be able to confidently move over to the chair she used.

When Tori was seated, Jake said, "I want to apologize about last week. I didn't handle your concerns well. I wasn't expecting you to catch on so quickly. That's not a reflection on your ability to deduce the obvious, it was merely my own way of convincing myself that it was possible to interact with another human being again. I had planned on telling you when the time seemed right. First, I wanted to give you the opportunity to get to know me a little better, though. But I shouldn't have lied to you. I made you feel like I was toying with you and I'm sorry."

Tori sat quietly, wondering if she was supposed to respond yet. She certainly didn't want to say that what he had done was ok and all was forgiven. But she also didn't want him to feel too badly. She really did want to be his friend and she didn't want that relationship based on shame or guilt.

Going over the options in her head, Tori finally settled on what she wanted to say. "Jake, maybe you could tell me what it is that you wanted to tell me eventually. That way, I would know what it was that you wanted me to understand. And I wouldn't be left in the dark - so to speak."

There was a sigh that seemed to be torn from Jake's heart before he spoke again. "Tori, I don't know where to begin. It's an ugly story and I don't really want to tell it. But you deserve to know why I am the way that I am. Then you can decide if you want to keep working here.

"When I was a kid, I can remember my mom and dad screaming at lot at each other. I can even remember my mom and I sneaking out of the house one night to run away. But my dad caught us. Over the years, my mom had more broken bones and claimed to have walked into more doors than I can even count. Then, when I was eight, my mom left to go to work one morning and she never came home. That night, my dad hit me for the first time, telling me that it was my fault that she had left.

"Without my mom being there to protect me, my dad started using me as his punching bag. As I grew older, the abuse got unimaginably worse. Then, when I was sixteen, after a particularly bad night of my dad and his buddies using me to relieve all their stresses from the work week, I woke up to someone knocking on our trailer door. When I crawled over all the passed out bodies and opened the door, I felt like I was looking at an angel. There was this woman standing on our front steps. She was older, beautiful and had the kindest eyes I had ever seen.

"This lady took one look at me, then a look past me at the scene behind me, grabbed my arm and pulled me to her car. After we climbed in, her driver sped away like demons from hell were chasing us. Turns out, this woman was my grandmother - my mom's mother. She had been trying to find us for years. I told her about mom leaving and she just snorted her disbelief. Apparently my grandmother thought my dad had killed my mom and hidden her body.

"My grandmother had legal custody of me before the day was out, even though it was a Saturday. The woman was wealthy, powerful and loved me. Life changed completely for me. Instead of cowering in fear or having to lie about what was happening to me, suddenly, everything was like a fairy tale come true. I had a safe home to live in, a grandmother who loved me, new clothes to wear and I was going to school regularly for the first time in my life.

"It was on the way to school one morning that my dad managed to ruin my life. My grandmother had pressed charges against him, so he was running from the law. As I walked down the street toward school, a car pulled up beside me and my dad yanked me into it. Since I was headed to school, nobody missed me for the entire day. Which meant that for almost eight hours, my dad was free to do whatever he wanted to me. And what he wanted was to disfigure me as much as possible.

"By the time the authorities found me, my dad was long gone and I was almost dead. My dad had broken my arms and legs, he had cracked my ribs and crushed the bones in my right hand. But the worst damage was done to my face and chest. He had not only beat me, but he had also used his hunting knife on me. The day is a vague memory for me, but I can still hear him say that he really doubted that my grandmother would want me if she couldn't stand to look at me.

"Thank God, my grandmother was as politically networked as she was. When she turned up the heat, not only did they find my father, but they found my mother as well. At least they found her body. Apparently my dad had killed her all those years ago and buried her behind the house we were renting at the time. Combined with the charges of attempted murder, my dad was sentenced to death. Before the state could enact their punishment, though, a couple of guys from the prison carried out my dad's sentence. Seems he thought that everyone would be as easy to beat up as a frightened kid. His mutilated body was found in the showers.

"A few years later, my grandmother died, leaving me her entire fortune, but it didn't change what had happened to me. Even with all of that money, I couldn't change the fact that my face was grotesquely disfigured. I have it on the best authority that the scars are unbearably hideous. I can't even stand to look at myself in the mirror any more, let alone subject another person to seeing me. That's the reason I live in darkness, Tori. I don't want to have to face my reality in the light of day.

Tori sat in shocked silence. In her wildest dreams, she would never have guessed Jake's story. He was so successful and accomplished. "Jake, how did you do all that you have done? How did you go to school?"

Jake sighed before answering her. "I used to go out in public - at least if it was dark enough, or I had a big enough pair of sunglasses. I managed to get through school and passed the bar by sitting in the back of classrooms and convincing as many professors as possible to let me do the work on my own and turn it in without coming to class. I did it all without realizing that there was no way I could go into a courtroom and expect a jury to listen to me when I couldn't even stand to be in a room with the lights turned on. I can just see it now, 'Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, would you all mind if we turned off the lights in the courtroom while we put this accused mass murderer on trial?' That's when your dad stepped in to help me find a way to use my education to still make a difference. We've been working together ever since."

Tori knew that Jake now expected her to say something sympathetic and comforting, but for the life of her, she couldn't think of what that might be. She had never been faced with someone who had experienced anything like what Jake had just explained. The depth of depravity that he had been forced to live with was something that Tori had only read about in horror stories. And now she needed to respond to Jake. What was she supposed to say?

After a few moments of silence, Tori was surprised to realize that she was growing angry. Angry at Jake's father for taking away Jake's childhood, angry at all the people in Jake's young life who turned their heads and didn't help him, angry at the surgeons for not being able to heal him, but most of all, angry at Jake for giving up. She felt her emotions bubbling up and realized that she had no intention of showing pity for Jake. She didn't want him to stay in the dark. She wanted him in the light, and she would be damned if she wasn't going to try to get him there.

"Jacob Rhodes," Tori said, in a stern voice, "You have lived through hell and you are letting the evil that was your father continue to dictate your life. Do you really think that the people in your world would have that big of a problem with what you look like? Beatrice and George aren't here because you pay them well. They are here because they love you. My dad isn't the kind of man who would let how you look affect your relationship. I don't know who else you have contact with, but I can't imagine that all of the people in your life are so shallow that they would be put off simply because you bear the scars of some hate filled devil."

The silence that filled the room was thick with tension. Again, Tori was pretty sure that she had gone too far. She seemed to be making a habit out of doing that with Jake. She couldn't give in now, though. Jake had to make the next move and she had to wait him out until he did it - whatever it would be.

Several minutes passed before Tori heard Jake clear his throat. "Well," he said slowly, "That's the first time I've ever gotten a response like that out of someone after hearing my story. Tori Banner, you are something else. Has anyone ever told you that before?"

Tori could feel the blush rising on her cheeks, even in the darkness. "No, Jake, there haven't been a lot of people in my life who paid enough attention to me to get to know me that well. You aren't the only one who has lived your adult life trying to be invisible. I have spent years blending into the background. But I'm not going to do it anymore. I'm not going to waste my life hiding. I know that I can't make your decision for you, but I don't want you to hide either. If you won't come out on your own, no one is going to force you to, but you are just going to grow lonelier and lonelier as life passes you by. It's your choice, Jake. But if you want me to help you figure out a way to come out of the closet, so to speak, I can't think of anything I'd like more."

It seemed that Jake was weighing Tori's offer. He didn't respond immediately, but finally he said, "I think I would like that. I kind of had in mind how I wanted our working relationship to develop over the next few weeks, back before you figured things out too quickly."

Jake's quiet laugh at that point let Tori know that he was not complaining, rather he was teasing her. He continued, "I was thinking that I would like to start by coming to your office to go over our work together. I can't . . . I'm just not ready to come in there without covering my face somewhat, though. I hope you understand."

Tori was so pleased. "Jake, that's more than enough to start with. Just getting you out of the dark will be a huge step." Without thinking too much about it, Tori jumped up and moved quickly around Jake's desk. The glow from the monitor gave her enough light to know exactly where he was sitting. She bent toward him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him to her. "I'm so proud of you!"

Tori's hug seemed to catch Jake off balance. Before he had a chance to pull away, Tori was touching him. She felt Jake's body start to relax for a brief second before he tensed up and backed away from her. It occurred to Tori that Jake probably hadn't had a lot of touches over the last twenty years. Although she let him escape this time, she made a mental note to make a point of touching Jake. He would never be ready to go back out into the world if he wasn't used to touching people.

And Tori was convinced that Jake should get back out into the world. She didn't know the extent of his scars, but she was willing to bet that some carefully controlled experiences would go a long way to restoring his confidence. Then, when he built up his own faith in himself, he could face others, not allowing them to have the power to hurt him by their actions or their reactions. Tori was just figuring all of this out for herself and she was kind of glad to have a friend who would be growing with her. There was a lot to learn and it would be much more fun with a buddy.

Chapter Eight

For the next week, Jake made a point of coming to Tori's office every day. They would spend an hour or so going over facts and theories, then they would sit and just talk with one another.

Now that Jake had told her the truth about himself, he was uninhibited about telling her his life stories. He told her about moving from place to place so often as a youth. She learned that he had never gone to school for more than a few months at any time. And even when he had managed to go to school, his dad made doing homework impossible, so he had never had very good grades. It was amazing to Tori that he could have had that kind of background and overcome it to make it through law school. Jake laughed and admitted to her that he had let his grandmother pull in some favors to get him into college. He had taken it from there and done very well, but he told Tori that he had known that, on his own, he would never have been able to get into a university. Tori enjoyed learning about his life and began to see more and more of the man that he really was.

Tori did her fair share of talking as well. Although she didn't have as much factual history to tell Jake, he seemed to enjoy her stories about the crazy things that had gone on in her family. Tori was pleased that Jake complained everyday when it was time to get back to work. He claimed to want to sit and talk with her longer, and that made Tori feel very special.

For the first few days, Jake wore a face shield into Tori's office. It was basically a ski mask made out of breathable cotton weave. On Thursday, he surprised Tori by wearing a new mask. This one was like the type doctors wear in the hospital. It hooked behind his ears with elastic bands. Tori kidded him that he looked like a dentist and Jake laughed at the idea.

With each step along the way, Tori was secretly thrilled to be able to see more of what Jake looked like. With this new mask, Tori could see Jake's hair for the first time. It was thick and black and hung down his back on a ponytail. Tori realized that he probably hadn't had it cut in years. She wondered what it looked like when it wasn't tied back. And she was really surprised at how much she wanted to run her fingers through it. Tori was enjoying each new little piece of Jake that she was being introduced to.

Tori found herself constantly wanting to know more about Jake. She woke up every morning to thoughts about Jake. She wondered what he was doing and if he was grumpy when he first woke up in the morning. She thought about him as she ate breakfast, picked out her clothes for the day, brushed her teeth, put on her shoes, walked to the car, sat in the car on the way to work - ok, if she was honest, she thought about him all the time! Even when Tori noticed that the thoughts were, more and more often, of a romantic nature, she just shrugged them off, putting them down to errant hormones. She was certain that she and Jake were only friends and that it would be best to stay that way.

Tori had made another date with Stella and they had picked out more new clothes for her. Tori found that when she felt confident and attractive, she ended up getting a lot of attention from strangers. She had always expected people to make negative comments about her weight if they noticed her. Now, she found that most people seemed to not even notice her size. They seemed much more interested in who she was and, rather than looking past her body, people seemed to see her body as an important part of her. Tori mentally kicked herself for the years she had spent worrying about what others would say.

It was exciting to be noticed. Tori was living out her desire to be a visible person. She had spent years worrying about impressing other people - and she had shied away from that thought. The funny thing was, though, that now that she was making favorable impressions on others, the only person, other than herself, that she really worried about impressing, was Jake. And that was ok, because he was her best friend.

Tori didn't need to worry about impressing Jake too much, though. Every day, he told her how much he liked how she looked. He even confessed that he had snuck out of his office each day of the first week that she had worked for him, in order to watch her early metamorphosis. At first, he had only wanted to know what she looked like and how she worked in her office environment. But then he had wanted to watch the changes in her. He admitted that, when she came in on her second day of work, looking so different, he had almost not recognized her. She laughingly told him about her dad's reaction. Jake said that at least he was in good company, then he once again told her how much he liked the dress she had on at that very moment. He was obviously being impressed!

Chapter Nine

By the time Friday rolled around, Tori was really dreading not seeing Jake for the whole week-end. She realized that she was enjoying her time with him much more than she had expected.

Jake had made a habit of sitting with Tori as she ate her lunch every day. Tori realized that Jake was still not ready to take off the mask, and, since there was no way he could eat with it on, he simply sat and talked while she ate. She assumed that he ate later, when he was alone. When Jake came into the kitchen and joined her at the table on Friday, Tori wasn't surprised. Instead, she was very pleased.

After a few minutes of small talk, Jake said, "Tori, I want to make you an offer. If you think I'm out of line, just let me know and I'll not mention it again. But it seems ridiculous for you to be paying rent on your apartment when I have so much room here in this house. I was wondering if you would like to move in here?"

Tori couldn't believe her ears. She sat, staring at Jake without answering him. Thoughts were running through her head at an alarming rate and she was trying to catch some of them to make sense out of what Jake had said. Frowning with the effort, Tori asked, "Why would I do that?"

Jake's eyes twinkled at her above the mask. "Well, gee, what did I just say? I have a lot of room here. You are paying way too much rent. And I would like for you to live here. Is that enough reasons, or should I come up with some more?"




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 03



Tori rolled her eyes and laughed at Jake. "No, those will do. Are you sure about this? I mean, what if you find that I'm some sort of slob that you can't stand?"

It was Jake's turn to laugh, "Well, how about this - we will have a six week trial period. If either one of us finds that we don't like the situation, we can end it at the end of the six weeks, without explanation. How does that sound?"

Tori smiled as she answered, "It sounds like my roommate is a lawyer! I would love to live here, if you are sure. I love this house and I really hate my apartment. I'm not sure I can get out of the lease, though."

"We'll take care of that," Jake assured her.

There was something in his tone of voice that sent off warning bells inside Tori's head. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "Jake? What does that mean? Is there something that you aren't telling me?"

Tori knew that Jake was blushing behind the mask. Not that she could see his face, but she could practically feel the heat radiating off of him. Looking away from her, he cleared his throat and finally said, "I really wish you couldn't see through me so quickly. Yeah, I'm not telling you the whole story. I own the apartments, so it won't be any problem to get you out of the lease. In fact, I called the manager this morning and told him that I hoped to convince you to move out and that he should tear up the lease."

Tori knew that she ought to be angry at Jake for not telling her the whole truth up front, but she really wasn't. In fact, she was looking forward to moving into his house. But, not wanting to let him off so easily, she made a mean face at him and lightly punched him in the upper arm.

The next second, Tori found herself lying on the floor, with her arm pulled up behind her back, and her face being pushed into the ceramic tile. Although she wasn't hurt, she was extremely shocked. Before she could form any words, though, Jake rolled her over and was talking very fast as his hands roamed over her body, feeling for any injuries.

When Tori finally managed to understand Jake's garbled words, she realized that he was apologizing, over and over. "Jake. Jake! I'm ok," Tori assured him.

Jake's eyes, which were normally a clear green, were almost black now. Tori could see tears forming in the corners. She placed one of her hands on Jake's cheek, through the mask. "Jake, I'm ok," she repeated. Tori thought about sitting up, but Jake was sitting at such an angle that most of his body was lying on top of her. She found that she liked the feeling and wasn't in a hurry to change it.

Laying her head back down on the floor, Tori decided to get comfortable. "Jake? What happened just now?" Tori asked.

Jake hung his head and closed his eyes. Tori kept her hand on his cheek, though. She didn't want him to turn away. Finally, he opened his eyes and whispered, "I am so sorry. I can't believe that I did that."

"It's ok, just tell me why you did it," Tori said.

With a deep sigh, Jake said, "When my father hurt me so badly, I had so many emotions that I couldn't deal with. I went to therapy for over a year. Then my psychiatrist suggested that I begin a bodily therapy, as well as our talk therapy. For one hour a day, I went to my new 'counsellor'. He was a martial arts teacher. Over the next few years, I learned how to protect myself. I also learned to act instinctively. I didn't even think before I threw you on the floor, Tori. I am so sorry."

Tori realized that it was probably time to get up off of the floor now. But before she did, she reached up and pulled Jake's face close to her's. She said, "Listen to me. What you did was not wrong. I shouldn't have touched you without warning. Not with the kind of history that you've told me about. You didn't hurt me. You took great care to make sure I wasn't injured. Don't get upset about this." And with that, she lightly pressed her lips against the mask, outside of where she suspected his mouth would be.

Tori then ducked to the side and quickly pulled herself up, not wanting to embarrass Jake, by lingering over the situation. She told herself that she had needed to do something drastic so he would understand that she wasn't angry at him - and a kiss was the perfect solution. She wasn't sure what had caused her heart to pound so hard when she had done it, but she was positive that it had to do with having just been thrown to the floor. It couldn't possibly have had anything to do with the fact that it was Jake who she was kissing and it certainly wasn't because she really wanted to kiss him again.

Tori sat back down in her chair and watched as Jake stood up and walked over to the sink. With his back to her, he poured himself a glass of water. Then he seemed to realize that he couldn't drink it with his mask on. It seemed to break his fragile control on his emotions. With a loud curse, he slammed the glass onto the counter and strode angrily from the room.

There was a moment of silence before Tori heard him slam his office door. She counted to ten and then went after him. Knocking on his door, she wasn't surprised when he didn't answer her. She turned the knob anyway and walked into the room. Jake apparently hadn't heard her knock, because he was in the process of taking his shirt off by pulling it over his head. His office was set up with a bathroom in the back and he apparently was headed in to take a shower. But when the shirt came off, Tori realized that Jake didn't have on his mask either. She could only stand and stare at him with her mouth hanging open.

Jake noticed her standing there only moments after he dropped his shirt. There was a split second before he seemed to realize that she was able to see him. All of him. The smile that had been forming on his face froze and his face took on the appearance of stone.

"Well? Is it so easy for you to tell me now that I could go back out in public? You can't even find a way to shut your mouth!" Jake yelled. Then he stormed into the bathroom and slammed that door as well.

Tori stood glued to the spot where she had stopped. There were no mirrors in Jake's house. There wasn't even any surfaces covered with glass that you could catch your reflection in as you walked past. It dawned on Tori that Jake didn't know what he looked like. Almost as though she were pushed, Tori suddenly raced across the room to the bathroom door.

"Jake! Jacob Rhodes! Open this door! Don't you get in that shower or else I'll come in there with you!" Tori yelled as she pounded on the door.

Jake yelled back at her, "Just go away! I don't want you here. Leave me alone!"

Tori wasn't about to give up, though. She decided to go for broke and took the chance that he hadn't locked this door either. She turned the knob and shoved it open before she had time to change her mind. Jake had taken off his pants now, as well, and he was standing in front of her in only his boxer shorts. Jake looked like he was about to burst some sort of blood vessel in his brain, he was so angry.

"Jake! Jake - I have to tell you. Don't push me out! I need to show you - " Tori said, while struggling against his hands that were shoving her out of the bathroom.

Finally, Jake threw his hands in the air and said, "Fine! Say what you need to say and then get out, Tori. I don't want you to come back, either."

Gritting her teeth at Jake's remark, Tori stepped back into the bathroom. "Jake, how long has it been since you have seen yourself?"

Jake grimaced at the thought, then shrugged his shoulders, "Not long enough."

Tori rolled her eyes and said, "God give me patience! Jake, you need to see yourself. The scars - they are barely visible."

Jake looked at her disbelievingly. Then his gaze turned suspicious. When he spoke, his voice was angry and distrustful. "Like I'm supposed to believe you when your first reaction was to stand there, staring at me like some freak."

Tori grabbed him by the arms and shook him. "Look! Look at your arms. The skin is tight where the cuts were, but it isn't ugly." Running her eyes over his chest, Tori's breath caught in her throat. But she forced herself to continue, "And look here. I can barely see these scars and this thick layer of chest hair could hide anything that you wanted to put in it!" When Jake's hand closed over her own, Tori realized that she had actually been running her fingers through the hair on his chest.

Tori thought that she would die right then and there of embarrassment, but she had to go on, "And Jake, I know you can't see your face, but I swear to you, I have never seen a more attractive man. You have an incredibly distinctive face and the pale scars only enhance your natural skin tone. I don't know who told you that your face was ugly, but they lied their butt off. You are a very good looking man. I was only staring because I was shocked by how much I liked what I saw - not because you were hard to look at. The problem was more that you were hard to not look at!"

Jake's narrowed eyes told Tori that he was clearly trying to decide if he believed her or not. Tori racked her brain for a way to make him understand. Finally, she realized what she needed to do. "Stay here!" Tori said as she ran out the door of the bathroom. A few moments later, she returned carrying their digital camera. "Let me take your picture, Jake. Please?"

Tori could tell that there was a war going on inside of Jake. He obviously wanted to believe her, but Tori knew that he had lived his entire adult life believing that he was too hideous to be seen. Now, he had to decide what to do.

When Jake finally nodded his head, Tori threw her arms around his waist and hugged him. "You won't be sorry!" Then she sat him down and turned on every light she could find. Carefully choosing her angle, she took several shots before she handed the camera to Jake.

There was silence in the room as Tori watched Jake take the camera and turn it back to review the pictures. She couldn't read his expression as he clicked through the various shots, but his body language was stiff and controlled. Tori was about to give up hope of him telling her what he was thinking when he finally said, "Tori, I don't know what to say. I'm still a very scarred man. I have to admit that I am surprised about how much the scars have faded, but I'm far from normal looking. However, you are right, there isn't any need to hide from the world now, if this is what I look like. I'm not sure I was ready just yet for that revelation, though. It wasn't what I had planned ten minutes ago."

Tori waited a moment before she answered, "Jake, it's all right to need some time to think about this. I didn't mean to shock you so, but, when I saw you, I was so surprised by how little the scars affect how you look. I wasn't expecting to suddenly be in the room with a barely dressed, incredibly desirable man!" Then she reached out to touch his face. At first, he flinched from the contact, but Tori refused to move her hand. After a short pause, he relaxed against her palm.

For the first time, Tori had an opportunity to take in the total picture of Jake. He stood about 5'10", and his body reflected his years of self defense training - he wasn't a muscle bound gym hound, but he was well formed, with thick arms and strong legs. Tori could see evidence on his arms and chest of the injuries that had almost claimed his life. His legs, though, appeared to have escaped his father's knife.

But it was Jake's face that caused Tori to stop and stare. Even though she had seen Jake's eyes above his mask, she was unprepared for how beautiful they were without the mask in place. Their green color was unusual and, combined with the fringe of dark lashes, they drew attention to themselves, first and foremost. Beyond his eyes, however, the rest of Jake's face was equally striking. His lips formed a perfect bow shape, with only a small scar marring the corner of his mouth. Tori could tell that Jake's nose had been broken at least once in his life, but far from detracting from his looks, it only enhanced them. Although most of the scars were faded, around his eyes was particularly scarred, as was his left cheek. The scars looked like jagged slashes, meant to destroy the beauty of Jake's face. But they had failed. Now they only served to draw attention to the strength of his features.

Tori leaned forward and pressed her lips against the scar at the base of his neck. It was thick and reached around his neck on both sides. Tori realized that his father had slit Jake's throat as well. Even though Jake had told Tori what the man had done, she really hadn't perceived what that would look like. Far from being the repulsive sight that Jake had prepared her for, it was, nevertheless, a very moving sight.

When Jake didn't move away from Tori's touch, she found herself stepping closer to him and pressing her body against his. Tori wasn't real sure what she was doing, but she knew that it felt more right than anything ever had in her life. She kept pressing her lips into Jake's skin, along his shoulder and up the side of his neck. She was several inches shorter than him, which put her at a perfect height for reaching several places on Jake's skin that she suddenly wanted to taste. Jake's arms slipped around her waist. When Tori heard Jake moan, deep in his throat, she felt her body respond in passion. She wanted Jake - now!

Tori had never made love to a man before. She and Jake hadn't discussed his sexual experiences, but given that he had been so young when his dad had attacked him, Tori doubted that he was very experienced either. Not knowing what to do, Tori leaned back in his arms and looked up into his face. She was surprised when he dropped his mouth to her's and kissed her.

Although Tori had just told herself that Jake was probably as inexperienced as she was, when he started kissing her, she wasn't so sure. Jake was an expert kisser. Within seconds, he had far surpassed every kiss she had ever had the pleasure of participating in before. With his tongue tracing over her lips, Tori opened herself up to a whole new world of enjoyment.

After a few minutes of pretty heavy kissing, Tori once more pulled back. Grimacing, she said, "Jake, I am really out of my realm of experience here, but I don't think my first time should be on the floor of your bathroom. Is there somewhere else we could go?"

Jake's husky laugh helped them both settle back to reality. He said, "Tori, I can promise you that I didn't mean for that to happen. Let me grab a quick shower and I'll meet you in the kitchen. Considering how badly I want you right now, I think anywhere else would be potentially dangerous!" Then he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Tori before scooting her out the bathroom door. 



To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 04



Chapter Ten

Tori sat in the kitchen in somewhat of a daze. She had never felt like this before. She thought back over the past two weeks and realized that she had been spending a lot of time trying to convince herself that Jake was nothing more than a friend. Now, it was pretty obvious, even to herself, that she had just been making excuses for the way she was feeling. She had done it because it was a scary thought to care for someone as deeply as she was beginning to feel about Jake. Especially someone she had never even seen face to face.

But now she had seen Jake face to face. And the reality was sending her into a tail spin. The thoughts swirling around in Tori's head hadn't cleared up before Jake walked into the kitchen. He was dressed in jeans with a long sleeved shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Tori took a moment to drink in the sight of him without his mask. Once again, she was overwhelmed by how handsome he was.

Sighing deeply, Tori said, "Jake, we've got to get you a mirror. If we don't, you are going to think that I've lost my mind every time you walk into a room and find that I can't quit staring at you! I can't believe that so much has been taken away from you, because of your dad's cruelty. Now, there's so much you must want to do. Where do you want to begin?" She looked at Jake expectantly, waiting for him to tell her all of his hopes and dreams.

Jake frowned at Tori as he poured himself a cup of coffee and joined her at the table. "Tori, I'm not sure I'm ready for anything just yet. Give me a little time, please."

Tori shut her eyes in contrition. "I'm sorry, Jake. It's only that I have had so much fun over the past two weeks, seeing how positively people have responded to me. I guess I'm wanting you to have that experience, too. But you are right. I'm really rushing this."

"Anyway," Jake said with a lazy grin, "I was kinda hoping we could talk about what just happened between us. . . "

Tori could feel the heat climbing into her cheeks at an alarming rate. "Jake, I'm really sorry about that. I don't know what I was thinking. It was just that I was there, and you were there and then I was kissing you and then you were kissing me, and . . . Oh, God, I'm babbling!"

When Jake burst into laughter, Tori wasn't sure if she should be happy or mad. She was glad that he wasn't making her uncomfortable by acting all seductive. But she wasn't sure that she liked the fact that he was laughing at her, either. "Jake, what are you laughing at?" Tori asked indignantly.

With a sincerely smile, Jake laid his hand over her's. "Tori, I'm not laughing at you. Well, I guess I sorta am laughing at you. But not because I think you have done anything embarrassing or humiliating. It's just that I really enjoy being around you, especially when you get all tongue tied. I haven't had a lot of cause to laugh in my life. It feels really nice to be able to do it now. It feels like I am using muscles that I have never used before. I really like that."

As Jake's voice trailed off, Tori turned her hand over and held Jake's hand in her palm. Her eyes roamed from their hands to Jake's face, then to his eyes. They sat, smiling at one another for several minutes, enjoying the silence.

After a while, Tori asked, "Jake, where are Beatrice and George?"

Jake smiled, "When I was planning on asking you to move in here, I gave them the afternoon off, so they wouldn't be here to witness my humiliation if you said no. They actually are gone for the whole week-end." Jake took a deep breath, then added, "Have you decided about moving in, yet?"

It was Tori's turn to smile. "Considering what happened between us in the bathroom, is the offer still available?"

The answer was on Jake's face before the words ever reached his mouth. His excitement was evident in both as he said, "Yes! Of course the offer is open. I would love to have you here, especially now. I think I'm going to need a cheerleader to get me motivated to get back out into the world."

At the word 'cheerleader', Tori felt the color leave her face. Jake hadn't meant it to be a potshot at her, but she felt the sting, nonetheless. The last two weeks of affirmative growth were shot to hell in a moment. Tori wasn't a cheerleader. She had never been a cheerleader. In fact, she had often been reminded how un-cheerleader like she was. Cheerleaders were cute, tiny and perky. In that moment, Tori lost all of her carefully won self confidence.

Jake noticed the change in Tori's face. When she wouldn't meet his eyes, Jake pulled his hand from her's and tilted her chin up to face him. "Tori? What's wrong? Did I say something?"

Tori closed her eyes, trying to block out the answer she knew he could see there. Realizing that she needed to give Jake an honest answer, even if it made her uncomfortable, she bit the bullet. Keeping her eyes tightly closed, she said, "It was just the idea of me being your cheerleader. Jake, I'm not all that much to look at, and I'm not sure that I'm the one that you should be spending your time with. I . . . You . . . We . . . I'm not saying this well. It's just that you can do a lot better than me . . . "

Jake's voice was commanding and angry when he said, "Open your eyes! Look at me, Tori. Look at me. Do I look like the kind of person who would judge you by the standards of an airbrushed media? You are beautiful - and I'm not the only one who thinks so. For two weeks, I have watched you coming out of your shell, blossoming into who you are. Your growth has been obvious to everyone around you. I've heard George, Beatrice, my driver and your dad all tell me how you have changed. You already are my cheerleader. And you are more than qualified for the job. All we are doing now is making the position official!"

The look in Jake's eyes convinced Tori that he wasn't kidding. When he lowered his lips to kiss her, she melted into him. It took several minutes before either one of them was able to pull apart. With a blush staining her cheeks, Tori said, "Well, you do make a convincing argument!"

Settling back into his chair, Jake smiled contentedly, then started making plans for moving Tori's stuff into his house. After a few moments discussion, Jake took her on a tour of the whole house. Beatrice and George lived on the second floor. Tori chose a bedroom on the third floor. When she noticed Jake laughing, she asked what was funny.

"It's just that out of all the rooms in this house, you chose the one that not only is immediately beside mine, but the two bedrooms even have a connecting door!"

Jake hadn't told her which room was his before she had picked out the one she wanted. She had just gone with her heart. Tori wasn't sure what she should say in response to this new information, but she didn't offer to change her mind. Jake seemed to realize her decision was final. He smiled warmly at her, then took her hand and led her back downstairs.

Once they were in the kitchen, Tori heard Jake place a call to a moving company to have her things brought over. Tori thought that she probably ought to protest that she was perfectly capable of handling her own affairs, but, the truth was, she enjoyed not having to worry about anything.

When Jake hung up the phone, he turned back to Tori and said, "That's all taken care of, now. What about some supper?"

Unsure of his intentions, Tori said, "Are you offering to take me out to dinner?"

The look of fear that crossed Jake's face assured her that he hadn't been thinking that they would go out to eat. But she watched his face as he struggled to accept that there was no longer any need to hide. Finally, he let out a strangled sigh and his shoulders slumped. "Tori, I can't do it."

Tori went to him and put her arms around his waist. "Jake, what if we go through the drive through somewhere?"

When Jake breathed out this time, the sigh seemed tentative. "Do you think we could do that? Do you think I could do that?"

Tori smiled up into Jake's face. "I know you could," she whispered.

Brushing his lips over her forehead, Jake squeezed her to him. With growing excitement in his voice, he said, "Let's do it!"

Jake took Tori out to the garage and they settled on taking one of the smaller cars. Tori wasn't much interested in cars, but she was fairly certain that the name plastered on the back of the trunk would cause heads to turn. Jake handed her the keys and, after a moment's hesitation, Tori headed for the driver's seat.

As Tori flexed her driving muscles, the car sped down Santa Clara. Whatever the car was, it was a dream to drive. Tori noticed that many of the drivers that she passed did a double take to rubberneck the automobile.

When Tori saw a fast food restaurant that served something other than just burgers, she pulled into their drive through. Jake requested a baked potato and a double cheeseburger. Tori figured out what she wanted, then placed their order. The board to which she spoke instructed her to pull around to the window to pay for their food.

When Tori handed the woman her money, she noticed that the lady was having trouble looking at her. First, the woman was eyeing the car, then she looked past Tori over to Jake. Almost as though Tori didn't exist, the woman began primping and smiling coyly at Jake. Tori looked back and forth between the two of them, then waved the money in front of the girl's face. Finally the girl took the money and handed Tori the food. Tori rolled her eyes when the woman actually wiggled her fingers and said "Bye - bye!" while staring at Jake.

Pulling away from the window, Tori looked over to Jake and dryly said, "Well, was that enough of an ego boost?"

Jake burst into laughter. Tori couldn't hold onto her straight face long and finally broke down and joined him. Every time they would almost stop giggling, one of them would wiggle their fingers and say, "Bye - bye!" That would start them back into fits of laughter.

Tori drove over to her apartment in order to pick up a few clothes for the night, since Jake insisted that she move in immediately. Not that she was putting up too much of an argument, but it was nice that to know that he felt strongly about having her with him. Jake even went inside her apartment with her.  Although they didn't pass anyone on the way in, Tori was still proud of him. He had come light-years in only one day.

While Tori gathered up what she needed, Jake prowled around her living room. When she came out of the bedroom, Jake asked her about the photos on her wall. She showed him the pictures of her mom and her grandparents. She also had a few shots of the houses where she had lived. Tori frowned as she looked at them as though seeing them for the first time. No wonder she had spent her life feeling like a wall flower. Both of the houses were non descript and plain. With renewed determination, Tori reminded herself that she didn't have to be the person who had lived in those houses anymore.

When they got back to Jake's house, Tori parked the car in the garage. Jake insisted on carrying her bag, so she carried the dinner trays. They stopped by the kitchen and ate before taking her stuff upstairs.

Outside Tori's bedroom door, Jake paused. "Tori, I can't tell you what today has meant to me. I knew, this morning, that it would be a special day, because I was going to ask you to live here. But I had no idea that everything else would happen. Thank you."

Tori looked up into Jake's face and smiled. "You are quiet welcome."

There was an awkward moment, as Tori was aware of how much she wanted Jake to kiss her good night. Shaking her head slightly, she reached out to take her bag from Jake's hand. When their fingers touched, she wanted to grab him and hold him. Instead, she grabbed the bag and murmured, "Good night."

Even with all that had happened during the day, it still took Tori a while to settle down to go to sleep. The door that separated her room from Jake's kept calling her. Finally, rolling over and turning her back on the door, she punched her pillow down and counted sheep until she fell asleep. But even in her dreams, Jake was never far away.

The rest of the week-end passed far too quickly. On Saturday and on Sunday, Jake ventured outside on small errands. Tori went with him both days and was pleased to note that the few people they encountered never seemed to notice Jake's scars. It seemed to Tori that she could actually see Jake gaining confidence in himself. Several of the women batted their eyes at him, but whenever they did, Tori would loop her arm through Jake's and give the woman the evil eye. Jake laughed at her a lot, but she didn't mind. She enjoyed being out with him and was glad she made him happy.

George and Beatrice came home on Sunday evening. When Tori and Jake heard them coming in the front door, they were sitting in the kitchen having dessert. Beatrice was the first one to turn the corner and see them sitting there. Beatrice smiled in greeting, then her face froze. She stopped cold. George hadn't realized that his wife had stopped moving and managed to bump into her.

"What are you stopping in the middle of the door for?" he questioned, grumpily. When he looked around Beatrice's shoulder, he too stood staring.

Jake was the first to speak. With a smile tickling his lips, he said, "Well, it's good to have you two home. Have an interesting week-end?"

George and Beatrice both started trying to talk at the same time. Jake and Tori both started laughing at them. The resulting commotion had little to do with actual communication, but quiet a bit of happiness was expression in the confusion.

Finally, Jake held up his hands and said, "Ok, ok, let's all take turns."

Beatrice jumped in to take the opportunity afforded by everyone's momentary hesitation. She said, "What are you doing without your mask? What happened here?"

Jake gave the woman a full fledged, dazzling smile before he said, "Tori wrestled me to the ground and yanked it off!"

The look that Beatrice shot Tori reminded Tori of a mother hen protecting her young. Tori threw up her hands and said, defensively, "I did not! I promise I didn't, Beatrice. He took it off then jumped out and tried to scare me!"

Jake responded indignantly, "I did not!" Then the whole room erupted again as everyone tried to get their opinion heard.

This time, it was George that took matters in hand. "Hush! Everybody hush! Jake, tell us what happened and try to make it factual. I know that's hard for you lawyers, but stick to the facts, mister!"

While everyone focused their attention on Jake, he told the story of Friday afternoon. Tori was glad that he left out the more intimate parts, but she had a feeling that George and Beatrice could probably fill in the blanks.

After Jake finished, there were lots of hugs and slaps on the back. Beatrice whispered in Tori's ear, "I told you he needed you!" The older couple were so happy that they decided to join Tori and Jake for a slice of cake. Jake poured the coffee and Tori added a scoop of ice cream to everyone's plate.  Then they all sat down and enjoyed the dessert and the company. It was obvious that George and Beatrice were extraordinarily happy about the changes in Jake.

Chapter Eleven

On Monday morning, it was business as usual. And as usual, Tori had loads of information that Jake needed. But, this week, instead of gathering it all from the computer, Jake suggested that they actually go out and do a little surveillance of a few of his cases. They took the 35 mm camera with them and went to gather some evidence.

That night, Jake showed Tori how to use his dark room to develop the pictures. Jake's grandmother had built the darkroom into the back corner of the garage. Jake told Tori that his grandmother had been an amateur photographer and had spent hours working with her camera and film. And she had taught him the details of the art form.

As Tori saw the pictures developing, she realized that Jake's grandmother wasn't the only one with a talent for picture taking. The pictures that Jake took easily rivaled ones that she saw hanging for sale around town. And these were just pictures that he was taking to make his cases work. She wondered what he could do if he actually went out and took pictures with his sole goal being ascetic quality.

The work week flew by with each day including trips around town, collecting the proof that Jake believed could influence a judge's decision. Tori came to understand his passion for his work. It was like putting together a puzzle and Jake was a master at the game. He could think through issues that Tori thought were just emotional jumbles. Jake would find an angle to work from, then he would sort through the details. It amazed her to watch him in action.

On Friday afternoon, shortly before quitting time, Jake and Tori walked into Paul's downtown office . Tori had talked to her dad on the phone during the week, so he was aware that Jake was making progress. She had told him about moving in with Jake and about Jake's new willingness to get out and about. But from the look on his face, Tori could tell that it was still a shock for Paul to actually see Jake outside of his dark office.

When Tori and Jake handed Paul the files they had finished working on, Paul's mouth fell open. "What have the two of you been doing?" he asked in astonishment.

Jake laughed and said, "Just what you pay us to do!"

When the three of them finished going over the information, Paul looked extremely satisfied. "This is the best work you have ever done, Jake. Obviously getting out to gather the photos has added an edge we didn't have before. I don't think there is anyway our clients can lose with this sort of proof backing up our claims. I daresay that our practice will become even more in demand after the courts catch wind of this. I think this calls for a celebration."

Jake gave Tori a cocky grin and a quick wink. Tori smiled back and, without thinking, reached across the small distance separating them and took Jake's hand. When she looked back at her dad, she realized that the action hadn't gone unnoticed by her father's trained eye. When Paul cocked his eyebrow at her, Tori lowered her gaze and refused to give him the satisfaction of a response.

After clearing his throat, Paul said, "Well, why don't we get together tomorrow? How about my place, about suppertime. We could have a picnic."

It was Tori's turn to give her father a suggestive look. "Will Stella be there?"

The blush that stole up Paul's cheeks assured Tori that their relationship was still on going. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Her dad deserved someone like Stella who was strong enough to challenge him yet still sweet enough to need him.

Paul interrupted Tori's thoughts when he said, "Well, she could be. How about if I invite Samuelson and his wife as well. He has wanted to meet you forever, Jake. Would that be alright?" Tori was thrilled when Jake agreed without even hesitating. Then the three of them said good-bye.

Tori had spent some time during the week looking for quiet restaurants that would give Jake an opportunity to ease back into social settings. She had found an Italian diner close to Jake's house that was both small and quaint. The romantic atmosphere also meant that the lights were lowered. Tori thought that might make Jake more secure. When she suggested stopping there on their way back home, she was pleased that he agreed.

When they entered the restaurant, Tori was glad that it was exactly what she had expected. The lights were low, the music was soft and the crowd was minimal. The hostess showed them over to a table in the corner. Jake held the chair for Tori, then sat down beside her. The waitress approached the table and offered them a glass of the house wine. Tori was surprised when Jake refused, instead ordering champagne.




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 04



"What exactly are we celebrating?" Tori asked after the waitress had gone to fill their order.

"Why, my coming out, of course!" Jake's response got a laugh out of Tori. They turned their attention to the menu and decided on their meals. Since there were so many dishes that they both wanted to try, they decided to share two so they could sample them both. Jake placed the order, while Tori sat back and soaked in the experience of having her date act like the gentlemen did in the old black and white movies. She was glad that they weren't living in the 'golden oldies' time period, but it was still nice for Jake to take care of her.

Their food was delicious and the champagne tickled Tori's nose. She had never drank anything more than a sip of wine from her grandfather's glass. It didn't take much of the bubbly liquid to make her realize that drinking and thinking didn't really go together for her! When she found herself practically drooling over Jake, she figured it was time to leave.

When they walked outside, Tori knew that she couldn't drive. Jake laughed at her jumbled attempt to explain her dilemma to him. He pointed out that his driver was already there to take them home. He had called him earlier and asked him to drop by to pick them up, since Jake had planned to celebrate. The driver waved to them, then opened the door to the sedan that Tori had driven to the restaurant.  Tori wondered briefly where the car was that the driver had arrived in, but she was too warmly buzzed to be able to piece together the sentence.

Tori didn't remember much of the drive home. She knew when Jake lifted her out of the car and she remembered him carrying her into the house. She had a vague recollection that he had walked her up the stairs and taken her into her bedroom. But that was all she remembered.

When Tori woke up in the morning, she realized that she was in her nightshirt and wondered briefly just how that had happened.  Thinking back over the events of the previous evening, she realized that Jake had been the one to put her to bed. Her cheeks blazed as the thought crossed her mind that she really hoped he had enjoyed touching her body. She knew that she would have enjoyed touching his!

Struggling to get up caused Tori's head to spin, but thankfully, it quieted after a few moments. She giggled to herself wondering what she would be like if she got really drunk. At least this was only a minor hang over! She pulled herself to the bathroom and turned on the shower. After vigorously brushing her teeth, she stood under the running water and let it work it's magic on her tired body. By the time she emerged from the bathroom, she was feeling like a whole new woman.

Tori made her way downstairs to find the rest of the household. Sitting at the table in the kitchen, Tori found them all. Jake, Beatrice and George appeared to be deep in discussion. When they heard Tori entered the room, they all looked up at her. Jake held out his hand and pulled her close to him. Tori thought that he would guide her into the chair beside him. Instead, he unexpectedly tugged her toward himself. She ended up landing squarely in his lap. It took her a moment to realize that he had planned for her to sit there and he was perfectly comfortable holding her. Knowing that she would blush profusely if she thought too much about it, Tori decided that it was better to focus on what Beatrice and George were discussing.

The first thing Tori noticed was that, up close, she could tell that Beatrice was trying hard to not cry. That alarmed Tori and she turned to look questioningly at George. He, too, seemed to have tears in his eyes. Jake was the one who finally broke the strained silence. "Tori, George and Beatrice have just told me that they feel that it is time for them to move out. They have found a house a few miles away and are interested in buying it."

Tori was confused about the tears, then realized that Beatrice and George had lived with Jake for years. He was like a son to them. Even though they would still be seeing him during work hours, it would be hard for them to leave him.

Beatrice finally managed to say, "Now that you are here, Tori, we finally feel like Jake has a reason to get back into the swing of life. He doesn't need us the way he did in the past. We're just so very happy for him . . . " And with that, the older lady burst into tears.

George wrapped his arms around his wife and said, "Now, now, dear, we'll still see the boy. You've got to calm down. We aren't moving out today. It'll take a few weeks to get the paperwork done. Don't fret so." He continued to pat her back as her sobs quieted against his chest.

Jake shot Tori a playful look. "Looks like you have caused me to lose my roommates! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Tori elbowed Jake lightly in the stomach. She was careful not to be too aggressive, considering where her last teasing punch had landed her. She said, "I think you can handle it! You're a big boy!"

When Jake growled and pulled her face down to kiss her, Tori was shocked. She and Jake had become fairly comfortable touching one another over the past week, but she was still surprised. Even though the contact was brief, Jake made a statement with that kiss. Tori realized that she hadn't expected Jake to let others know that he liked her. She hadn't expected Jake to want others to know that he liked her. Tori recognized that this was some leftover baggage from her past. She knew that it needed to be dealt with later on, when she and Jake were alone. But for right now, she just wanted to bask in Jake's attention!

However, there were more pressing matters at hand. George and Beatrice were still tearful and were only just barely managing to smile through their pain. Tori turned to face Jake and whispered, "Why don't we go out to lunch so Beatrice doesn't have to cook?"

Jake beamed his approval at Tori. "What a great idea! I've been reading about this exhibit that the Museum of Art has right now. It is a collection of photography that supposedly stretches the boundaries of the old school style. George and Beatrice, you two used to go with Grandmother when she took her photos. What do you think? Would you like to see the exhibit? Then, we could eat at the Museum Cafe. I have always wanted to try their Crab Louie."

Tori noticed that Beatrice and George were staring at Jake just as intently as she was. Finally, it was George who said, "Are you sure you are up to that? There might be a lot of people there."

Jake shrugged his shoulders. "It's Saturday morning. It won't be that crowded. I feel like I can handle it. If I can't, Tori knows a drive through window where the employees are more than willing to extend their talents to meet my needs!"

Beatrice and George looked confused, but Tori just rolled her eyes and laughed at Jake. "Yeah, like I'm going to take you there again!" Turning to the older couple, Tori said, "So how 'bout it? Are you two up for it?"

Everyone agreed that it was a good idea and they headed out to the garage. Since it was Saturday, Jake's driver had the day off. Jake handed the keys to Tori. Tori noticed that Beatrice and George exchanged a surprised look, but she didn't really think too much about it. They all piled into the mid sized sedan and headed to the Museum.

The photography exhibit was incredible. Tori had never heard of the names of the photographers, but George and Jake obviously both followed the art. They discussed the parameters of dimension and depth of field and argued over the aperture settings on almost each piece. Tori and Beatrice followed for a little while, then they wondered off by themselves. Tori didn't mind. She was much more comfortable talking to Beatrice, than trying to decipher the conversation between the two men.

Beatrice pointed out a few pictures before claiming that her feet hurt. Tori found a secluded bench where they could see when Jake and George made their way past, then the two ladies sat back to relax for a few minutes. Beatrice was the first to break the comfortable silence. "Tori, I just can't tell you how much you have changed Jake. He's like a different man."

Tori tilted her head to one side as she considered Beatrice's words. "I can't take the credit, Beatrice. He has done the work himself. I am only glad to have been a part of his healing."

"You know," Beatrice said, "Jake has never let anyone drive his cars before. Well, I mean other than his driver. Jake actually used to drive quiet a bit, but over the past few years, he closed himself in, more and more. I'm not sure that he has told you about his foray into the dating world, and perhaps it's not my place to, but I wanted you to know.

"A few years back, Jake became a member of a support group for people living with scars. Some had scars from surgery, some had scars from abuse, a few had scars from accidents. They all had the disfigurement in common, though. Jake met several sweet young ladies who really seemed to enjoy his company. He found that there were several coffee houses he could take a date to where his features couldn't be detected by the general public. I think he actually took a few of the women out more than once.

"But then he met Candy. Candy wasn't a member of the support group. I never did figure out exactly what she was doing at the meetings, but she managed to ingratiate herself to Jake. He became enamored of her and she seemed to return his feelings. He even started taking her out to dinner at nice places, given that the restaurant was dark enough. They dated for about six months and Jake was falling hard for her. Then she stopped returning his phone calls.

"Jake is a detective, though. He knew other ways to find Candy. He pulled in a couple of his resources and discovered that Candy was a married woman. Her husband was spending time in jail for fraud. Seems her husband and Candy liked to run scams. Jake realized that Candy had ran a scam on him. He discovered that Candy had gotten ahold of all of his credit sources and maxed out a few of his accounts. Then he found out that Candy had disappeared.

"But Candy's final punch came when the police searched her apartment. They found a diary of sorts that she had addressed to Jake. After the police made a copy of it for their investigation, they turned it over to Jake. The girl had written their entire dating history in the book. She also included her personal thoughts. Each one of them lambasted Jake for believing that she would ever be interested in a disfigured monster like himself. She even made a note in it, laughing that Jake had asked her how she felt about having children. Her comment was that with a father who looked like Jake, the kid would be living in a horror movie 24/7.

"Candy was a bitch and she didn't deserve Jake. God only knows where the girl is now, but if I ever found her, I would tear her from limb to limb. She destroyed Jake's morale. He was finally making an attempt to function in the world and she pulled the rug out from under him. I know he doesn't talk about her, but I thought you ought to know. He's been hurt by a lot of people in his life. Don't add to that list, Tori."

Tori sat still, stunned at Beatrice's words. She was surprised that Jake hadn't mentioned the whole situation. When she thought about it though, she realized that he hadn't had much reason to mention it. It gave her a clearer picture of Jake, though. With a nod of her head, Tori murmured, "I'll try not to, Beatrice. I'll try not to." Then the two women sat, lost in their thoughts, until the men came into view.

When Tori saw Jake, she waved him over to the bench where she and Beatrice were waiting. Smiling at the two men, Tori said, "Jake, I'm hungry enough to eat a cow. And one of the pictures that I saw when we came in was of a cow. You and George both agreed that it was one of the best pictures you had ever seen. But if you don't get me some food soon, I'm going to go eat that picture!" Laughing, the group headed off toward the cafe. 



To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 05



Chapter Twelve

After lunch, the four of them went home. Beatrice and George had to go look over something at the house they were interested in buying, so they left as soon as they arrived. That left Tori and Jake. Tori's yawn gave away her plans for the rest of the afternoon. Smiling around her yawn, she said, "We don't have to be over to Daddy's until 4:30. I want to take a nap. What about you?"

Jake wiggled his eyebrows at Tori. He teased, "Are you inviting me to join you?"

Suddenly Tori knew realized that was exactly what she was doing. Sobering up instantly, she looked at Jake with wide eyes. Licking her lips, she realized that she couldn't answer him verbally. Instead, she dropped her eyes and nodded her head.

Before Tori knew what was happening, Jake swept her up in his arms. He tilted her face back and began kissing her, passionately. Although they had shared a few kisses over the week, they had both made an effort to make them quick and chaste. But this kiss was akin to the ones they had shared last Friday. It was the kind of kiss that made Tori wish that her bed wasn't on the third floor.

As though he were reading her mind, Jake pulled back to look into Tori's eyes. "Are you sure?" Again, all Tori could manage was a nod. She saw the fire flame in Jake's eyes as he ran his finger around the outside of her lips. "Then, Ms. Banner, I'll meet you on the third floor in exactly five minutes. If you change your mind, Tori, all you have to do is close your door. I will go to my own room and won't bother you if you decide you don't want this. And I will understand. But if you are still sure after five minutes, leave it open." Then he dropped a kiss on her nose and turned to walk down the hall toward his office.

Tori raced up the stairs like demons were on her tail. She threw off all of her clothes and jumped into the shower. It had been a hot sticky day and she didn't want to be worrying about smelling all sweaty when Jake got there. As she rushed out of the shower and threw on her silky bathrobe (another item Stella had helped her pick out), she ran to the door to open it. Her eye caught the clock, though, and she realized that six minutes had passed.

Stunned, she heard the door to Jake's room open and close. He didn't even slam the door. Was he glad that her door had been closed? Tori stood in the middle of her room, uncertain what to do next. Then she saw the connecting door.

Making her way slowly across the room, Tori rested her hand on the knob. She knew what she wanted, but it was still a serious decision. She was about to alter life as she knew it and she took one last minute to wish it good-bye. Then she turned the round handle.

Sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands, Tori realized that Jake hadn't heard the door. She wasn't sure if she should clear her throat or say something to get his attention. However, when he threw his head back and she saw that his eyes were closed and his face was contorted in pain, she forgot her dilemma. She flew across the room and threw her arms around his neck.

Jake's eyes jerked open as he stared at her intently. With a voice thick with some unidentified emotion, Jake said, "What are you doing here, Tori?"

Tori groaned and responded with her too rapid explanation, "Jake, I'm so sorry. I wanted to take a shower so you wouldn't be disgusted by me, then I forgot to open the door before I got in the shower, then I ran out to open the door, but I was too late. Then I remembered the connecting door, but six minutes had already passed, and you didn't slam your door and I was afraid that you didn't want me. Oh, God, Jake, I'm so sorry!"

Jake's features relaxed as he listened to her jumbled excuse. Putting a finger over her lips, he said, "Shhh, it's ok. You're here now. That's all that matters." Then he replaced his finger with his lips. After a short kiss, he pulled back to look at Tori. He said, "But, Tori, this is your last chance. If you don't want to do this, you need to go back to your room and close that connecting door. I want you here, but you have to be sure. Once we take this step, we can never go back again."

Tori wasn't totally sure she understood all of the implications Jake was talking about, but she was sure about what she wanted. And what she wanted was Jake. She first ran her fingers around the back of Jake's neck and loosened the tie that held his ponytail. Running her fingers through the black locks, she gently massaged his scalp, content to be touching him.

It didn't take long for the passion rising in Tori to cause her to move beyond Jake's hair, though. Reaching between their bodies and pulling the tie that held her robe together, she let it fall apart. Since she had dressed so quickly that she was naked beneath the silky material. She heard Jake's breath catch in his throat when he saw her soft flesh. Then she felt his lips as they brushed along her shoulders, pushing aside the robe, causing it to fall to the floor.

Even in her wildest fantasies, Tori had never imagined herself being confident enough to stand naked in front of her lover. Now, with Jake, it seemed the most natural thing in the world. Jake's hands were holding her waist as his lips assaulted her breast. The feelings rushing through Tori were enough to cause her knees to buckle. She put her hands on Jake's shoulders to steady herself. Jake seemed to notice her difficulty balancing. He pulled her to his side and sat her down on the bed.

It was Jake's turn to stand in front of Tori. He started with his top buttons and slowly undid the closures on his shirt. Tori was almost panting by the time he shrugged it off of his shoulders. She realized that Jake was watching her closely as he slid the material down his arms. She wasn't sure what he was looking for, but she had a pretty good idea what he was seeing. She could feel her nipples pointing longingly toward him, she knew that her face was flushed with her arousal and she was aware that she couldn't take her eyes off of his body. She wanted him with everything that was in her and she was positive it showed in every inch of her body.

Then Jake reached for the snap on his jeans. Tori had never had an interest in the 'boy toy' magazines that some of the girls in high school had brought for private show-n-tell. She had always thought that the men were boring and the pictures not stimulating. In fact, she had questioned her own sexuality because of her lack of interest. But sitting in front of Jake, as he disrobed, put her mind at ease. There was nothing wrong with her sexual responses - she just hadn't been exposed to the right man before!

As Jake's fingers loosened his jeans, Tori actually caught herself licking her lips. She had read enough romance books to have some idea of what Jake was hiding inside that denim and she wanted to see him. When he dropped the jeans and stepped out of them, she realized that he was wearing briefs. Last Friday, he had been wearing boxers, but Tori made herself a mental promise to encourage him to wear briefs. She really liked the way the material hugged him. Of course, just that thought caused her to want to hug him with her own hands.

Jake looked as though he was enjoying torturing Tori as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of his underwear. He teased, "Are you sure you want this, Tori?"

Tori knew that he was only playing with her now, because she was positive that her answer was popping out all over her body. Again, she licked her lips and forced herself to swallow before answering. Even then, when she did answer him, her barely audible voice cracked with her overwhelming arousal. She whispered, "More than anything I've ever wanted in my life, Jake."

In response, Jake quickly dropped the material down his legs and kicked them across the room. Tori gasped at the perfect sight of his manhood. She had vaguely wondered if his father would have extended his hateful abuse to that part of Jake's body. But it was obvious that he hadn't. Jake's entire body looked like pure perfection to Tori - scars and all.

Reaching out her hand tentatively, Tori touched Jake's erection. She saw Jake shut his eyes in pleasure. The sound he made deep in his throat made Tori want more. In all of her life, Tori had never thought about wanting to taste a man, but at that moment, it was all she could think about. She was running on sexual adrenaline, and nothing sounded too risque. She leaned forward and traced up Jake's length with her tongue. Jake's response was immediate. He growled loudly and pushed her back onto the bed. Crawling onto the bed beside her, he held her face between his hands. Looking into her eyes, he said, through clinched teeth, "Darling, if you want this to be at all slow and pleasant for you, you can't do that!"

Tori grinned at her new found power. With her best look of innocence, she laid her hand on Jake's hip and let it slide forward slowly. Using her sweetest voice, she said, "What exactly was I doing, Jake?"

Tori squealed when Jake suddenly loomed over her, his long hair hanging around them like a heavy curtain. He covered her body with his own and ground his erection into her moist curls. "You little vixen! I thought that you weren't experienced!"

The humor fled from Tori's face. With a look that she hoped Jake recognized as pure honesty, Tori gravely said, "Jake, I wasn't kidding. I haven't ever done this before. I never wanted to until I met you. You are my first, Jake. I promise."

Jake paused from kissing her neck to look into her eyes. "Tori, I was just kidding, honey. I know that you haven't done this. I believe you. And I can't tell you how it makes me feel that you want to share this part of you with me. I just want to do my best to make this a wonderful experience for you. I'm afraid that you will drive me over the edge and I'll rush the conclusion, so to speak."

Tori smiled tentatively into Jake's eyes. She quietly said, "I just didn't want you to think that I was . . . was . . . "

Jake chuckled and said, "Tori, I would never think that about you - whatever it is that you are afraid I would think. Now, can we get back to more pressing matters?" With that, he once again pressed his body into Tori's. The feeling caused her to moan in delight and to forget her concerns. She gave herself over to the sensations coursing through her body, trusting Jake with her very heart.

While he cupped her cheek with one hand, Jake dropped his other to stroke Tori's breast. Tori had never felt anything like that before and it caused her to quiver under his touch. Jake grinned as he stroked her face with his thumb and moved his other hand lower over her stomach. Tori had never heard that her belly might be an erogenous zone, but she quickly discovered the truth. It only took a few strokes of Jake's hand over her soft skin to have her groaning and arching into him. She only vaguely heard Jake's chuckle as he traced his fingers to the curls nestled between her legs.

When Jake slipped his fingers inside her, Tori felt a jolt race through her body. It was so strong that, if Jake hadn't been laying on top of her, she would have sat upright in the bed. But, as it was, Jake's body pressed her down and absorbed her thrashing. Tori wasn't sure what to expect next, but she was positive that Jake was taking her places she had never been before.

Jake took his time, causing Tori to feel like she was about to explode, time after time. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Tori, Jake positioned himself between Tori's legs. She wrapped her legs around him and felt him push himself into her. Tori felt a twinge of anxiety, but Jake's fingers quickly stroked her back into a state of enjoyment. When she felt him slide his length completely into her, the moment of pain passed so quickly that she almost didn't notice. It was quickly consumed by the pleasure of feeling Jake inside her.

When Jake paused to let Tori get used to these new feelings, she wiggled restlessly under him. She wanted him to finish what he had started and she felt like a fire was building inside her body. Dragging her nails down his back, she pulled him to her and whispered in his ear, "Come on Jake, take me all the way."

It was as though Tori's words sparked something deep inside Jake. Suddenly, he was thrusting into her wildly and moaning out her name passionately. When Tori felt like she might pass out if the feelings got any more intense, she crested and felt her climax rush through her body. Jake crested his wave of passion right along side Tori and they both fell, exhausted, onto the sheets of Jake's bed. The cool material felt wonderful against Tori's heated skin, but the feel of Jake beside her at that very moment, was, by far, better than anything she had ever felt before.

Jake raised his head and looked at Tori. She smiled shyly at him and he chuckled. "God, woman, you wore me out, then you look at me like you could do it all again! Give me a few minutes and we'll give it another go!"

Tori smiled in satisfaction. She had pleased Jake. With that thought on her mind, she snuggled up to him and drifted off to sleep, safe in Jake's arms.

When Tori felt Jake kissing her neck, she opened her eyes to face him. "Wake up, sleepy head, or we're going to miss your dad's party."

"Daddy's party! I forgot all about it!" Tori said as she jumped out of bed. When she realized that she was naked, she looked back at Jake as though it were his fault.

"Don't look at me that way! All I did was help you slip out of your robe. I don't know what you did with all the rest of your clothes," Jake teased.

Tori spun on her heel and ran back to her room. The clock said 4:00. Tori quickly climbed back into her shower stall. Even though she was rushing to get ready to go to her dad's, Tori couldn't help thinking about the afternoon in Jake's bed. He had been an incredible lover, showing her things that she didn't even know were possible. Except for always dreaming of her lover shouting out his love for her in the throes of his orgasm, the experience had been more than she had ever hoped for. Smiling to herself, she dried off, grabbed a pair of shorts and a tank top, then went to find Jake.

Walking down the hall, Tori found herself humming a happy tune. Life was turning out well for her in California. She was learning to love and accept herself more each day. She had found a job that she was good at and was learning to love it more each day as well. And now she had Jake and she was learning to love him more and more each day, too.

Tori almost fell down the steps when that last thought registered in her brain. Love Jake? Come on. It was just a . . . he was just a . . . well, maybe more than . . . oh, great! Steadying herself by holding to the banister as though it were the thread of life, Tori finally admitted what her heart had already known - she loved Jake. Now what was she supposed to do?

Slowly beginning to descend the rest of the stairs, Tori argued with herself mentally. Jake had never promised anything other than letting her be his cheerleader. What foolishness had caused her to put more to their relationship than that? Jake was her best friend. He was the first person that she had ever had in her life who cared about her on so many different levels. He genuinely wanted to know who Tori Banner was. And now, Tori Banner had blown it.

Chapter Thirteen

As she rounded the door to the kitchen, Tori saw Jake sitting at the table, looking over the newspaper. It was such a happy domestic scene that Tori felt tears rise up into her eyes. It wasn't fair that she had been so blindsided by this. Why hadn't she noticed and put a stop to such foolish feelings. Now it was too late. She loved him and there was no going back.

A sob escaped Tori's throat and Jake looked up at her. The smile that had been forming on his face stopped. His brow furrowed in concern as he rose to his feet and crossed the room in record time to pull her into his arms. "Tori? What's wrong, sweetheart?"

Tori balled her fists up between Jake's chest and her own. She told herself to get a grip on her emotions. But when Jake called her by such an endearing term, it was all she could do to keep from pulling him down to kiss her.

In a voice that sounded hollow even to her own ears, Tori said, "I'm fine, Jake. Honest. I just have had an emotional day, what with learning that Beatrice and George are leaving, then us . . . you know. . . doing what we did. It was just a lot to take in for one day. I'll be fine. Let's just go."

Jake let her pull away from him, but Tori could feel his eyes boring into her back as she walked toward the garage. When he held out the keys to her, Tori shook her head. "I think you ought to drive."

Narrowing his eyes, Jake said suspiciously, "What makes you think that I can drive?"

Tori shook her head in weariness, "I don't know. I just assumed that you could. Don't you have a license?"

Jake continued to stare at her doubtfully, "I think Beatrice has been talking to you. What else did she tell you?" When Tori shook her head, Jake raised his voice and said, "Tell me what she told you!"

Tori frowned at Jake. "She told me about some of the times that you used to go out - things you used to do."

Shaking his head, Jake said, "She told you about Candy, didn't she? My God, can't I have a private life? I can't believe she told you that. Is that what this afternoon was about? Was that your idea of an act of mercy? Have sex with the pathetic excuse of a man?"

Tori had walked away from Jake as he had been talking, planning on getting into the car. But his last statement had her rounding the car so fast, she didn't have time to think about it. She didn't stop until her body was actually touching Jake's. Fury was pumping through her and she felt like flames were leaping out of her ears, she was so angry. "Don't you ever say that again! How can you even pretend, even for one second to believe that what happened between us this afternoon was anything less than the act of love that it was!"

Tori's own eyes popped wide open as she realized what she had just said. Not really knowing how to get her foot out of her mouth right then, she spun around and headed back to the car. She slid into the passenger side and sat, waiting for Jake to make the next move. She didn't have long to wait.

Jake opened the driver's door and sat down. He didn't face Tori, but she knew he could see her out of his peripheral vision. She crossed her arms and refused to look directly at him. The silence hung in the air for a couple of minutes before Jake said, "I'm sorry. I seem to be really good at making poor assumptions. Especially about you. I know that you aren't the kind of person who would do what I just accused you of doing. It just hurt so bad to realize that you knew about the darkest day of my adult life. I wanted the pain that Candy caused to evaporate - drift away into nothingness. I almost took my own life over that relationship."

Turning in the seat to look at Tori, Jake turned her face toward him. "I am so glad that I didn't. If I had, I never would have met you and had today. What happened upstairs was the most beautiful thing I can remember experiencing in my life. I'm sorry that I degraded it by what I said. Please forgive me."

Tears were rolling down Tori's face. She wasn't sure she could even talk at all, let alone put together some sentence of forgiveness. Instead, she wound her arms around Jake's neck and lightly kissed his lips. Pulling back, she pressed her nose against his nose. When her voice came back, she whispered, "Let's not think about it for the next few hours. We can talk about it later. I'm not worried about you running away from that discussion. I know where you live!"

Jake's quiet chuckled warmed Tori's blood. She pressed another kiss on his mouth, then sat back in her seat. "Show me what this baby can really do," Tori said, patting the dashboard.




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 05



When they arrived at Tori's dad's house fifteen minutes later, Tori was beginning to regret those words. Jake had indeed shown her what the car could do. He had put it through the paces for her. Tori was just thankful she didn't have a tendency to get car sick!

After they climbed out of the car (and Tori silently gave thanks to God for being on solid ground), Tori and Jake followed the sounds of laughter around to the back of Paul's house. When they stepped through the gate, Tori caught sight of her dad and Stella, standing under the awning on the back deck. She started to wave, then realized that her dad and Stella had been in the process of making out. Now, having heard the gate open and close, her dad was valiantly trying to get Stella's shirt adjusted before Jake or Tori noticed. Seeing a cooler of drinks on the other side of the yard, Tori pulled Jake with her over to select their beverage.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked. "Don't you think we should speak to your dad, first?"

Tori rolled her eyes. "Trust me on this one. Dad would much rather you viewed his selection of drinks than his selection of women. And right now, there is a little too much of Stella on display for viewing!"

Jake looked confused, then he closed his eyes as he realized what Tori was talking about. "Well, well, I guess it's a good day for that sort of activity!" Tori made a mean face at him, then bent down to retrieve a cold soda. Her dad joined them as she stood up.

"I'm glad you two could make it!" Paul said.

Tori really did try to hold her tongue, but the temptation was just too much. "Looks like you two were already making it!"

Paul's face turned bright red. Tori was about to congratulate herself on getting one over on her dad when she saw the look on Jake's face. Realizing that he was about to level the playing field by telling her dad what they had done, she grabbed a piece of ice out of the cooler and threw it down Jake's shirt. Since his shirt was tucked into his pants, Tori knew that the ice would lodge on his stomach, leaving a cold trail down his chest.

"Why, you . . . " Jake yelled. Then he made a grab for Tori. Tori was too quick for him, though and managed to duck out of his reach. As he lunged for her again, Tori ran to get behind Stella, who had just walked out to join the group.

Jake stood in front of Stella and Tori danced behind her, jumping from side to side. Jake stopped his frantic chance long enough to look Stella in the eye and say, "Stella, it's nice to meet you. Please forgive me!" Then he grabbed her by the waist and set her to one side. Tori was so surprised that she forgot to run.

Jake caught her and pulled her to him. "Now for your punishment!" Then he proceeded to kiss her senseless. Right as she gave up the fight and molded her body into his, he pulled out the back of her tank top and dropped the offending piece of ice down her back. He dropped his arms and ran before Tori had the chance to react.

Tori had the last laugh, though. Jake wasn't exactly looking where he was going as he bolted away from Tori and he managed to mow right into a really big man. Tori wasn't sure who he was, but his body mass alone had stopped Jake cold. Jake stood looking up into the man's face. It took a moment for recognition to kick in, then Jake said, "Samuelson! I would have known you anywhere!"

Tori wasn't sure what all that was about, but the man looked as happy to meet Jake as Jake did to meet him. The two of them launched into a detailed discussion of the type of photography equipment Jake had been using on their surveillance pictures. Tori rolled her eyes and headed over to talk to Stella.

Paul and Stella were manning the grill and talking to a tall, slender, attractive woman. When Tori approached the group, the lady held out her hand and introduced herself as Vicky Samuelson. Paul nodded to Vicky and said to Tori, "Vicky and Tom have only been married a few weeks. That's Vicky's son, Tony, over by the fence."

The boy that Paul was referring to captured Tori's attention. He was a cute little guy, probably about seven, walking the fence line with his hands in his pockets. Tori said, "He looks like a sweet kid. How old is he?"

Vicky sighed deeply, "Sometimes I feel like he is a hundred. He just turned eight, but he's not had an easy life. His father was quiet abusive. My sister was Tony's mom. About a year ago, my sister sent Tony over to borrow something from the neighbors, and while he was gone, she killed her husband and herself. The neighbor had the sense not to let Tony go back to the house after they heard the gunshots. The police found my brother, dead, in his bed and my sister sitting in her favorite chair, dead. Tony came to live with me immediately. It's been a long year. Some days he doesn't talk at all."

Tori listened to Tony's story with a rising sense of awe. Tori asked, "Vicky, do you know anything about Jake?"

When Vicky shook her head, Tori smiled. "He just might be able to help. His dad killed his mom and spent years abusing him. His scars come from his dad's hands."

Vicky peered across the yard toward her husband and his friend. "I hadn't noticed the scars. You must have to be really close to see them."

That caused Tori to smile, but she didn't want to get sidetracked. "Do you think it would be alright if Jake talked to Tony?"

Again, Vicky sighed heavily. "This is one of the days that he hasn't said a word. If you don't think that it will hurt Jake's feelings for Tony to not respond, I don't think it could hurt."

Without wasting another minute, Tori hurried across the yard to Jake. Tom and Jake both looked up at her expectantly when she approached them. She said, "Tom, Vicky was just telling me about Tony. Have you ever mentioned him to Jake?"

Tom shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm afraid I haven't been able to tell a lot of people about my new son. I want to help him, but I feel like a failure every time we have a day like today."

Tori smiled sympathetically at Tom, then turned to face Jake. "Jake, Tony was abused. His story sounds a lot like yours. Would you talk to him? He doesn't talk back, at least not today, but he does listen." Tori at least hoped Tony would listen.

Jake looked at Tori doubtfully. "What exactly do you expect me to say to him?"

Tori rolled her eyes. "Come on, Jake. Think back to when you were eight. What would you have liked for an adult to talk to you about?"

A grin spread across Jake's face. With obviously fond memories racing though his head, Jake said, "Cars!"

Tori laughed at him then gave him a gentle push toward the boy. Tony was still standing by the fence, facing away from the group. Jake gave Tori one more look of uncertainty, then he crossed the yard.

With all that was in her, Tori wished that she could hear Jake's conversation with Tony. But they were too far away. Tori couldn't tell if Tony was actually communicating with Jake or not, but, at least, he wasn't walking away.

After about ten more minutes, Paul announced that the burgers were ready. Jake looked up from his conversation with Tony and pointed toward the table. Tony shrugged his shoulders and shoved his hands into his pockets. Then the two of them began crossing the yard toward the table. Tori saw Vicky give Tom a wide eyed look of surprise. Tom walked over to where Vicky was standing and dropped his arm around her shoulder, giving her a brief squeeze. Tori knew that they were hoping Jake had made some headway with the boy.

Everyone got a hamburger and loaded up their plates with potato salad, baked beans and chips. Then they grabbed a seat around the picnic table. Tori sat on one side of Jake and Tony sat on the other. The conversation was flowing fairly well, even if Tony was only listening.

It was during a lull in the conversation that Tony decided to end his silence. The boy turned to Jake and said, "You ever read any "Hero Quantum"?"

Jake frowned in thought and shook his head. "Can't say that I have."

Tony smiled at him and said, "You ought to. You look like Midnight Max. He's got these scars from all the battles he's been in. Kinda like you. Did you get yours in some kind of galactic battle?" Tori noticed that all of the adults around the table, including her, were holding their breath, waiting for Jake's response.

Jake's lips twitched in an effort to hide his smile. "No. Well, maybe I did. My dad used to beat me up and one time he hurt me real bad with his knife. So, yeah, I guess it was a battle. Can't say that it was a galactic one, but it was sure a battle."

Tony seemed to weigh Jake's words. Then, to the surprise of the entire table, the boy said, "My dad used to hurt me, too. But now I got a new dad. He's a lot better. I don't think I'll get into any battles with him. I guess I won't be getting any scars." Then the boy went back to eating, as though nothing extraordinary had happened.

Around the table, each one of the adults was dealing with Tony's response in their own personal way. Tom was coughing slightly to try to keep his tears in check. Vicky and Stella were crying outright. Paul was smiling broadly. Tori knew that her own face reflected her dismay that a child could say such profound things without ever realizing it. Jake was the only one who was acting like nothing was out of the ordinary. He and Tony just started talking about their favorite comic books.

When the meal ended, Paul offered to do the dishes, then promptly pulled out the trash can and held it while everyone threw away their paper plates. Stella arrived about that time with the watermelon. The guys had an impromptu seed spitting contest. After they all did their best shots, Tori walked up to the 'line' and spit a clean foot past the farthest one. The men just rolled their eyes and Tony looked at her like she was capable of walking on water!

"Can you teach me to spit like that?" Tony asked.

Tori laughed and said, "Better clear it with your parents, but I'm willing."

The rest of the evening went smoothly and soon it was time to go home. Tony had taken to calling Jake "Midnight Jake", and Jake didn't seem to mind. As Tom and Vicky gathered up their stuff to head home, Tori was surprised to see Tony actually slip his arms around Jake and give him a quick hug. In that instant, Tori saw Jake in a whole new light. In that instant, she realized that the man she loved was a born father.

Tori and Jake left shortly after the Samuelson family. Tori kissed her dad good bye and gave Stella a quick hug. Jake shook Paul's hand and then he kissed Stella on the cheek. Without wasting any more time, Jake and Tori slipped through the back gate and headed for Jake's car.

On the way home, Tori noticed that Jake couldn't seem to quit talking about Tony. It appeared that the two of them had really bonded. Tori was lost in her own thoughts about the implications of that new relationship for both of them, when she realized that Jake had stopped talking. He was glancing over at her as though he was waiting for an answer.

Tori said, "I'm sorry, Jake. What did you say?"

Jake grinned and said, "I asked if it would be ok to invite the Samuelsons over for dinner in a couple of weeks. I actually have a few old comic books that I think Tony would like. Maybe I could even hook Tom up with a few of them. It might help them find a connection. Would it work out ok for them to come over?"

Tori looked at Jake in confusion. "Jake, it's your house. Why are you asking me if it is all right to invite friends over?"

A shadow of emotion crossed Jake's face. Tori wondered what he was feeling. Rather coolly, he said, "I thought after this afternoon that you realized that I would want your opinion on our activities."

Knitting her brow in thought, Tori said, "I'm sorry Jake. I guess I didn't think about that. If you want to invite them over, it's fine. I really don't know what my schedule will be like then, but if you want me to be there too, I will do my best."

This time, there was no mistaking the look on Jake's face. His eyes flashed and his jaw clenched. Tori watched in amazement as his face became a mask of anger. He didn't say anything more, just concentrated on the road in front of them. The rest of the drive was made in silence.

When they got to the house, Tori followed Jake into the kitchen. When he turned quickly to face her, she was surprised. He dropped his hands onto Tori's shoulders and, looking at her intently, said, "Tori, did I do something wrong? I thought that this afternoon proved that we were really good together. Why are you pulling away from me now, acting like we are practically strangers?"

It took a moment for Tori to realize the reason behind her actions. She had been so comfortable with Jake all evening that she had forgotten that she had just figured out that she loved him. She had been acting as though they were an old married couple. But reality was that Jake hadn't offered her that option. She realized that she was pulling away from him emotionally in an attempt to protect her own heart. Too bad it was too late. Reaching up and putting her hands over Jake's on her shoulders, Tori said, "Jake, I'm too tired to talk about this. I don't want to say something that I might regret tomorrow. Let me sleep on it, then we can talk about it."

Jake narrowed his eyes, but he dropped his hands from her. He stepped aside and Tori walked past him. It took almost all of the energy that she had left to climb up the two flights of stairs. It had been an emotional day and Tori wasn't exactly sure how to even begin thinking about what her next step should be. With only minimal efforts, Tori got ready for bed and fell asleep almost before her head hit her pillow. 



To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 06



Chapter Fourteen

On Sunday morning, Tori woke up smiling. It looked like a great day, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing. For a few minutes, she just sat in bed and soaked up the good feelings. Then the realities of the day before came back to her. She was not who she had been yesterday morning - or any of the mornings before that. Now, she was an experienced woman - well sort of!

Tori climbed out of the bed and dressed in a skort and halter top. She didn't bother with shoes. After flipping her hair into a quick braid, she headed downstairs. Jake wasn't in the kitchen. In fact, Tori couldn't find him in any of the front rooms. Finally, she heard a sound from the back of the house. She went down the hall to Jake's office and found him hard at work.

Frowning, Tori said, "Jake, what are you doing? This is Sunday."

Jake looked up from the papers he was working on. "I have great news! Your dad called this morning and he has been hired as the divorce lawyer for Constance Vallirosa."

Trying to figure out what Jake was talking about, Tori said, "Constance Vallirosa? Isn't that the wife of the ambassador who just got caught up in the embezzlement scandal?"

Nodding, Jake said, "That's right. And Paul got the job. Now, I have to go to Washington to get the evidence that we need in order to prove our case. Paul believes that his wife was completely ignorant of the ambassador's actions. So, not only do I need information to support the divorce, but we also think we should collect some proof that she is innocent before the question is asked."

Tori wasn't sure what her role in Jake's new job would be. She said, "Jake, am I going with you?"

Jake gave Tori a rather distant look and said, "No. I don't need your help with this. You need to stay here and keep up with the other cases that your dad is working on. We can't afford for both of us to go."

Biting her bottom lip, Tori considered Jake's words. "Jake, are you sure that you are up to this? You haven't been doing a lot of travelling over the past few years. This is a major undertaking. Are you ready to be in the spotlight this much?"

"Oh, I'm ready, alright. You have done your work well. I feel confident enough to handle anything this case requires," Jake said. Then he waved his hand in her general direction and added, "I'm sorry that I won't have time to spend with you today. My flight leaves at lunch."

"Lunch?" Tori squeaked. "Are you sure? Why are you leaving so soon?"

Jake looked at her calmly. "I need to get started. There's no reason to wait. Is there?"

Tori couldn't bring herself to give Jake the answer that she wanted to give him. She wanted to tell him that there was an excellent reason for him to stay. She wasn't exactly sure what that reason was, but it had to do with their relationship. Tori wanted to tell him that she loved him and that she didn't want him to go. She needed him to stay. But she couldn't say that. So, instead, she said, "No, of course not. What can I do to help you get ready?"

Jake suggested that Tori grab some specific information for him to study on the plane, then he dismissed her with another wave of his hand. Biting her cheeks to keep from screaming, Tori excused herself and went to find what he had asked for.

The first few days after Jake left, Tori threw herself into her work. She wrapped up cases right and left. She tried not to think about Jake, but it was a little difficult since she was living in his house, eating his food and sleeping so close to his bedroom. George and Beatrice tried to make Tori comfortable, but she was still lonely. She missed Jake. She had only known the man three weeks and she was already so used to his presence in her life that his absence left a hole in her heart. She loved him and she was miserable without him.

Jake didn't seem to be having the same problem, though. Every day Tori got an e-mail from Jake telling her what he was doing and how the case was going. He had flown into Washington, D.C. and was living in a five star motel, curtesy of his client. His client also happened to live in the same motel, at least temporarily. Jake assured Tori that he was making headway on the case, but she wasn't sure how he was having time to do much in between the meals and parties he was enjoying with his client. Of course, his lovely client had assured Jake that his presence was necessary. She said that she needed him to accompany her to these events so she would have adequate protection during the divorce proceedings. And Jake was nothing if not a gentleman. He couldn't let the lady down or allow her reputation to be soiled. So, he obediently attended the functions and e-mailed Tori the details.

At the end of the second week of Jake's absence, George and Beatrice were ready to move into their new home. They had offered to put off leaving until Jake was back, but Tori convinced them that she would be fine in the house alone. She helped them pack up and waved good bye as they pulled out of the driveway. Even knowing that they would be back bright and early on Monday morning didn't help dispel the feelings of abandonment that Tori was experiencing. She ate supper alone that night, sitting in front of the TV. Tori would never know what was playing on the set, because she was lost in her thoughts - thoughts that revolved around the man who was busy wining and dining an embassador's soon to be ex-wife.

Two more weeks passed and Tori was beginning to think that Jake's assignment would never end. It had been almost a month since she had seen him. Other than his e-mails, she hadn't had any contact with him.

By the time that Friday rolled around on the fourth week, Tori was fit to be tied. When her dad called her to invite her out to dinner, she gladly accepted. She had been eating with him and Stella at least once a week since Jake left, and she was thrilled that their relationship seemed to be going so well. And indeed it was going well. Over a glass of champagne, Paul announced that he and Stella were getting married! Tori was so happy for them, that she actually forgot how unhappy she had been since Jake left. She enjoyed discussing the wedding plans over supper and gladly accepted their offer of a ride home afterward. As she opened the door to Jake's house, she smiled to herself. It had been a great evening. Maybe she was getting over Jake. Yeah, right. And maybe pigs could fly.

The next morning, Tori was awakened by something tickling her face. She swatted at the intrusion and rolled over to go back to sleep. The obnoxious intruder didn't go away, though. Suddenly, Tori felt something creep across her shoulders. Coming fully awake, Tori bolted upright in the bed. A scream formed on her lips as she realized that someone was in the bed with her, but it died just as quickly when she recognized who it was. Then her panic turned to fear, "Jake! What are you doing? Why are you here? Is everything alright? Are you alright?"

Jake laid his finger across her lips. "I just couldn't be away from you any longer, woman. I have given you a month. Are you ready now to admit that what we have is something special, or am I going to have to tie you up here in the bed and torture you with lovemaking until you are willing to agree?"

Tori couldn't believe her eyes or her ears. Jake was in bed with her and he was talking as though she was important to him. But he still hadn't made any promises. With a firm shake of her head, Tori accepted the fact that she needed to take a risk here. Life wasn't meant to be lived in the shadows. She was going to have to step out in faith if she was ever going to get what she wanted. She couldn't expect Jake to make all of the concessions.

Not exactly sure how to say what she wanted to say, Tori ran her hands over Jake's face. Her fingers worked around his neck and into his hair. Almost absentmindedly, she loosened the ponytail. Tori was so caught up in the discussion she was having in her head, she wasn't paying too much attention to what words were actually coming out of her mouth. She was as surprised as Jake looked when she heard herself whisper, "Did she see you like this? Did she run her fingers through your hair? Did she make love to you, Jake?"

Flames jumped behind Jake's eyes. Tori watched as the color of his irises darkened with his emotions. He answered her in a controlled, yet equally quiet voice, "No, Tori. She didn't see me like this. She didn't touch my hair and she didn't make love to me. And just so you will know, I didn't make love to her, either." This last part he added with a small smile on his face. He went on, "I hoped that you would care. Does this mean that you realize what we have?"

Tori cocked her head to the side. "What do we have, Jake? I know how I feel. I realized it on the day we made love. I love you, Jake. I think I have from the first moment I walked into your dark office. You complete me, Jake. Is that what you feel? Is that what we have?"

Instead of answering her verbally, Jake pulled Tori to him. Passion flared between them as he looked deeply into her eyes. He lowered his mouth and kissed her soundly. Tori felt that he was holding her very heart in his hands. When he finally spoke again, he said, "Tori, I will never leave you again. I was crushed when you couldn't admit that what we had was perfect. I had to get away. I admit that I did hope that you would be a little bit jealous of all the running around that I was having to do in D.C., but I only did it to help you realize how you felt about me - well, that, and to close a very lucrative case!"

Tori laughed out loud, "You turkey! Did I come first or did the case? No, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know!"

Jake's kiss convinced Tori that she already knew the answer. She was first in Jake's life and always would be. But he still hadn't said the words. Pulling away a few inches, she rubbed her nose against his. "Jake, I told you how I feel. And your reply was that I was special to you. How special Jake?"

Grinning, Jake dropped a quick kiss on her lips, then scooted out of bed. Tori wasn't expecting that reaction and she made a grab to keep him with her. But Jake eluded her hands and moved across the room. When he came back, he was holding something behind his back.

He said, "I bought you something while I was in D.C. Want to see it?"

Tori sat upright in the bed and cocked her head to the side. "You brought me a present? That's so sweet! What is it?"

Jake looked like he was about to laugh out loud at Tori. "Woman, you really need to read more romance novels!" Then, dropping to one knee beside the bed, he pulled Tori to the side. Taking her hand in his, he looked up at her and said, "Tori, no woman has ever made me feel like you do. You have made me believe that I could face the world - literally. I have spent the last month doing all the things that I only read about before. I was so afraid of how people would react to me. And other than a few short stares, nobody seemed to notice. Tori, you have opened my eyes to the world. If you are interested, I would like to offer you a permanent position in my life."

Tori looked at Jake in confusion, "This is a job offer?"

Jake laughed, "Well, of sorts. Tori, I love you with all that I am. Will you marry me and be my cheerleader for ever?" Then he whipped his hand from behind his back and held out a diamond solitaire.

Bewildered, Tori stared from the ring, to Jake's face, then back to the ring. She threw her hands over her cheeks and said, "Oh, Jake, I was just hoping for you to tell me that you loved me. I never dared to hope that you would want to actually marry me. What if I embarrass you or say the wrong thing, or someone makes fun of you for marrying me? Oh, Jake!"

Pulling himself up from the floor, Jake sat on the side of the bed and pulled Tori to him. Shaking his head, he said, "Tori, have you forgotten everything that you taught me? Sure, there may be some ignorant people out there who say or do cruel things, but that's not who makes up most of the world's population. You are so beautiful, so smart and so sweet. Tori, if you'll be my cheerleader, I'll spend the rest of my life being yours."

No other excuses came to Tori's mind. She felt like she ought to protest to protect Jake, but he really didn't look like he needed to be protected. In fact, he looked like a man who had found what he wanted in life. And it looked like she was what he wanted.

Giving Jake what she hoped was a serious and solemn look, Tori slowly nodded her head. "Yes, Jake. I would like that. I would love to be your wife!" Then she burst into fits of laughter.

Jake hugged her to him and ran his hands down her back. It had been a whole month since she had felt his touch and Tori's skin seemed to burst into flames under his hands. Jake pulled away only long enough to slip the ring onto Tori's finger, then he spent the rest of the morning making sure that she remembered just how good they were together - and, the truth was, they were perfect together!

Epilogue

Three months had passed since Jake had proposed to Tori. Although there were some wedding plans to be made during that time, there were lots of other developments and changes going on in their lives, as well.

Jake's exposure following the Vallirosa trial had opened up new doors for him. Although the law firm offered to bring him in as a full partner, he declined the offer and chose to stay with the detective style work he had been doing. He felt that being a lawyer added an edge to his work that others didn't have and he wanted to keep using that advantage to benefit the firm's clients.

Jake also decided to make use of his interest in photography. He had made arrangements with the local community college to offer a class for men and women interested in becoming private investigators. Although there were no educational requirements to be a P.I., there were certainly courses that could benefit anyone interested in the field. Jake offered to lead a class on photography. Jake taught not only how to take pictures, but he also went over the various equipment that a private investigator could utilize. The response was overwhelming. After his first six week class, Jake was offered a two year contract with the school. He readily agreed and was truly enjoying every aspect of his new job.

Tori's work life was developing as well. Since Jake had branched out, she was responsible for more and more of the office details. She found that she had a natural talent for organization as well as being someone people tended to trust. Even though Jake had been in the field for years, Tori managed to get information out of people that Jake would never have even realized was available. She did interviews with clients and continued her on-line tracking, in addition to going out with Jake as often as possible for surveillance work. Since that was often a boring game of 'hurry up and wait', Tori found that she loved those trips. It gave her a chance to have Jake all to herself. And she wasn't one to pass up an opportunity like that!

Beyond work, Tori and Jake were beginning to have an active social life, as well. That was a first for both of them. Tori and Jake had developed several deep friendships. The Samuelsons had become regulars at their home. Tony had been amazed at Jake's comic book collection. And when Tom realized that the boy was interested in them, he had pulled out his own collection. Now the three of them enjoyed their hobby together. They had even gone to a comic book convention downtown one week-end.

In addition to the Samuelsons, Tori and Jake spent as much time as possible with Stella and Paul. The two couples had grown quiet close to each other. Tori and Jake had both been loners growing up, so having friends who they cared for, who cared for them as well, was a new and exciting part of who they were becoming.

But the most important changes in Tori and Jake revolved around their own relationship. The fact that Tori and Jake were growing more self-confident in other areas of their lives was a direct reflection on the love that they shared. Although they each had experienced tremendous growth in their personal self esteem, they both had moments where they needed a cheerleader. And, through every one of those times, they were there for each other. With one another's help, they were each becoming the person they had once only dreamed of being.

Finally, the day came for their wedding. Jake had wanted to get married immediately, but Tori had insisted that they wait, in order for Paul and Stella to get back from their honeymoon. Tori wanted Stella as her matron of honor and she wanted Paul to walk her down the aisle. Since Stella and Paul had already set their wedding date, Tori didn't think it was fair to usurp their plans. So, Tori and Jake settled on a wedding date and it had finally arrived.

Standing in the small dressing room of the church, Stella helped Tori zip up her soft, silky dress. Leaning over her new step-daughter's shoulder, Stella said, "It's a good thing you went with an empire waist! Have you told Jake yet?"

Tori's face colored lightly. "Not yet. I want to surprise him. I am going to tell him as my wedding present to him. And if you weren't just plain psychic, you wouldn't know, either!"

Stella just laughed and hugged Tori. Stella had guessed Tori's condition soon after returning from her honeymoon with Paul. Tori had been surprised that it was obvious, and she had sworn Stella to silence. But, after today, there would be no need for it to be a secret anymore.

After fixing Tori's hair and a last brush of powder, Stella said, "You make a beautiful bride, Tori, and I know Jake will make a perfect father." Then Stella slipped out the door, to get her flowers before walking down the aisle.

While Tori stood looking at herself in the mirror, she heard the door open. She turned to face her father, as he strode across the small room. "Tori! You look wonderful! I've never seen you so radiant. Jake is a very lucky man!" Paul brushed his lips across Tori's cheek, then offered her his arm. Together they walked from the room to the back of the chapel.

Tori peered around the corner to see what was going on. Jake had asked Tony Samuelson to stand in as his groomsman. George was the best man. Along with Jake, the two of them were already standing down front, waiting with the minister. Stella had already gone in, as well. All that was left was Tori and Paul.

Then the trumpet blasts began.

Paul patted Tori's hand. "Let's do it, sweetheart!" With that, Paul guided Tori forward, down the aisle.

Tori was completely focused on Jake as she approached him. When he turned and met her eyes, Tori thought that she might melt, then and there. Jake looked at her as though she were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. And Tori was certain he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. His tux fit him to perfection and it matched the black of his hair. He had worn his hair loose, at Tori's request. Looking at him, Tori couldn't believe that this was really her life.

The words that the minister said were etched into Tori's mind as she took her vows with Jake. They had met with the minister over the past several weeks and had worked out exactly what they wanted to say to one another. Tori took her vows first, then the minister directed Jake to repeat his vows. After promising to love, honor and cherish Tori, through sickness and health, plenty and want, good times and bad, Jake added his own unexpected ending. In a quiet voice, barely loud enough for Tori to hear, Jake added, "And I promise to be your cheerleader, until death do us part."

Tears ran down Tori's cheeks as the service came to an end and the minister blessed their rings. After their first official kiss and husband and wife, Tori and Jake walked, arm in arm, out of the chapel.




To Hire a Cheerleader Pt. 06



Tori and Jake had agreed on having only their closest friends and family present at the wedding. George and Beatrice, the Samuelsons, and Paul and Stella were the only guests. Since there were so few of them, everyone was going over to Paul and Stella's house for the reception. Jake had arranged for his driver to bring a limo to the church, in order that Tori could leave the church in style. After being rained down on by birdseed and well wishes by their friends, Tori and Jake slid into the car and the driver closed the door behind them.

Once inside the car, Tori turned to Jake and gave him a passionate kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him as close to her as possible. "The car isn't the best place for making out," Tori muttered against Jake's lips.

Jake laughed and said, "Well, if my little one weren't so impatient, we wouldn't be making out in a car!"

After a few more kisses, Tori pulled away from Jake. She had asked the driver to give her at least thirty minutes before he got to Paul and Stella's house. Afraid to waste that time, Tori pressed her hands against Jake's chest.

She said, "Jake, before we get to dad's, I want to give you your wedding present."

Jake's brow furrowed. He said, "Tori, I'm not really sure that this is the time or the place. I certainly didn't bring your present with me. It's at the house."

Tori shook her head impatiently, "No. Jake, listen to me. My gift to you not what you're thinking, although I am looking forward to giving you what you are thinking! No, my gift to you is something else. Are you ready?"

Jake nodded his head, looking somewhat doubtful. Tori took his hand and placed it over her stomach. "Jake, you actually have to wait a little more than seven months to get to hold your present, but this is sort of a preview."

Jake looked at her like she was speaking another language. "Tori, what are you talking about? Seven months? Actually hold my present? And what does your belly have to do with . . . Oh, my God! Tori???"

Tori smiled broadly at her husband. "Yes, Jake, we're having a baby."

Tears instantly welled up in Jake's eyes and began falling down his cheeks. "Tori, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, I . . . what if I . . . Tori . . . I never thought anyone would want to have a child with me. " His shoulders shook with emotion. Tori knew that he was remembering Candy's vicious words.

Taking his face in her hands, Tori looked Jake straight in the eye. "Jake, I'm not just anyone. I'm your wife. You are the only man that I would ever choose to father my children. You will be a great daddy. And if you ever doubt that, well, that's what I'm here for. I believe in you, Jake. After all, that's what being your official cheerleader is all about!" Then Tori proceeded to kiss her new husband all the way to her father's house!