The Awakening of Love Ch. 04

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::Chapter Four: The Move::

"Wow," Sunshine breathed as she saw the outside of what was to be their new home. Ashira and Jake seconded Sunshine's reaction.

"I can't believe Lindsey is paying for all of this," Ashira said.

"This is amazing," Jake chimed in. "Look, we're right on the beach," he added. Jake glanced at Ashira and then exchanged worried looks with Sunshine. It had been nearly a month since the attack and the dark circles under Ashira's eyes told Jake that she had not been sleeping very well.

"It's a fresh start," Sunshine declared. She grabbed Ashira's hand. "C'mon, let's go inside and pick out our bedrooms," she added, pulling Ashira into the house. Jake laughed and followed the girls into the house. "OOhh, Ashira, this room is perfect for you!" Sunshine squealed. The room was a large open space, with a large bay window that overlooked the ocean. There was a built in bookshelf next to the bay window and the floor was a beautiful oak. Ashira smiled. "It is beautiful," Ashira agreed.

"Sunny, the room down the hall is awesome, come check it out," Jake called.

"I'll be right back," Sunshine promised. She headed into the room Jake called from and squealed in delight.

Jake appeared in the door way. "Shira? I think Sunny found her room. Wow, this is amazing," Jake said. "You okay?" he asked.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine," Ashira replied. "It is beautiful. I think I'll love this room," she told him.

"You can talk to me, you know that right?" Jake asked. Ashira nodded.

"I know," she murmured.

"Okay, well, I'm gonna go find my room then we'll go out to dinner," Jake told her.

-3 hours later-

"Hey you three, how's the house?" Lindsey asked as Jake, Ashira and Sunshine walked into the tanning salon.

"This is amazing," Jake said.

"The house is beautiful," Sunshine told Lindsey.

"Okay, let's take the tour," Lindsey began. "It's a bit smaller then the one in Chicago, but we should still get plenty of clients once people realise that we're here. "There is only one floor and you guys are the only employees. Ashira, you're going to be the office manager, Sunshine, you'll be in charge of the salon, keeping the beds and rooms cleaned. Jake, you'll be in charge of security. Ashira, as the office manager, you'll take over Jake's job of inventory, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you out with that," Lindsey said. She handed out their ID cards and led them to a panel in the wall. "This is where you will punch in and out each day. There is an employee tanning room, but you'll need both a badge and a thumb print. This system is state of the art, if your pulse is higher than normal, it won't let you in," Lindsey told them. She brought them into the office where there was a thumb print scanner attached to the computer. "You're first Ashira," she added. When everyone had scanned their thumb prints into the computer, Lindsey showed them around the salon. "C'mon everyone, let's go get something to eat," Lindsey told them all.

"Ashira?" Jake called. Ashira opened her bedroom door. "Phone," he added, handing her the phone. Ashira took the phone and when she hung up, her face was white and her hands were shaking. "Shira?" Jake wanted to know. "What's the matter?"

"I'm pregnant," she whispered.

Jake reached for her hand. "Are you sure?" he asked. Ashira nodded.

"I'm late, really late, and the doctor just confirmed it," Ashira said.

"It's going to be okay," Jake promised.

"It could be his," Ashira whispered.

"I know. Is there any chance that it's Mark's?" Jake wanted to know. Ashira nodded and sighed. "It wouldn't matter if it is his, Mark made it clear he doesn't want anything to do with me," Ashira told him.

"What? Why?" Jake asked. He had known they had decided to take a break, he just didn't know why.

"I wouldn't let him touch me," Ashira replied.

"Are you serious? He understands what you went through, right?" Jake asked. Ashira shrugged.

"He knows I was raped, you called him and told him, but he expects me to be the same person," Ashira answered. Jake shook his head.

"What a jerk," he muttered. Ashira looked at him sharply.

"You can't tell me that if you were engaged to someone and they got raped, you wouldn't be a little bit hurt if she wouldn't let you touch her?" Ashira asked.

"Of course I would be hurt, but I would also understand that what she just went through is a traumatic experience that isn't going to change over night. I would try to be as understanding as I could be and I wouldn't dump her just because she wouldn't let me touch her," Jake replied. He took a deep breath. "Listen Shira, you have every right to be skittish and scared. I'd be worried if you weren't. I think you'll let go when the time is right and if Mark is too stupid to realise that, then he never deserved you in the first place. But I promise you this: I won't let anything happen to you or Sunshine while you are in that salon. If you feel like you need a shadow when you go places, I'll go with you. You girls are family to me and if the cops ever find this guy, they'll have to restrain me to keep me from killing him," Jake promised. Ashira gave a small smile.

"You're a dork, you know that?" she asked. Jake laughed.

"As long as you are smiling, call me what ever you want," he told her. "Get some rest, I'll tell Sunny not to disturb you but I'll let you know when dinner is done," Jake said.

-3 days later-

"Larson's Tan, this is Ashira, how may I help you?" Ashira answered the phone.

"Shira?"

"Mark?" Ashira asked.

"Hi." There was an awkward pause. "How are you?" he asked.

"Still alive," Ashira replied. "What do you want Mark?" she wanted to know.

"Jake called me," Mark told her. Ashira swore under her breath. "It could be mine, right?" Mark asked.

"Yes Mark, it could very well be yours," Ashira said. "What do you want?" she repeated.

"To come and talk," Mark answered.

"You've said all you needed to say. If it's yours, I'll let you know," Ashira said before hanging up on him. The phone rang again. "Damn it Mark, leave it alone," Ashira snapped.

"Is that the wayward fiancée?" Ashira froze as she recognized the voice on the other end.

"How did you get this number?" Ashira whispered.

"The website the lovely Lindsey had developed. How is the weather in San Diego? I hear the beaches are quite beautiful and that you and Sunshine were stunning on them yesterday."

"What do you want you creep?" Ashira asked.

"You." With that, he hung up the phone. Ashira sat there, receiver in hand, shaking as Sunshine walked into the office.

"Shira?" she asked, reaching out and touching Ashira's shoulder. Ashira jumped and screamed. "Ashira, what's wrong?" Sunshine asked, taking the phone from her friend and hanging it up as Jake hurried into the room. "What happened?" he demanded.

"He, he called me," Ashira whispered. Jake froze.

"When?" Jake asked.

"Just now, after Mark," Ashira replied.

"C'mon, let's go get something to eat while Jake takes care of this," Sunshine murmured. Jake pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the police.

-Later that day-

"Shira, Sunny, can you come into the dining room please?" Jake asked. The girls followed Jake into the dining room and sat down. "I've called Lindsey, and I've called the police. There is a tap on the phone, if he calls again, we'll get him," Jake said. Ashira fiddled with a hang nail. "Two things. If he calls, don't provoke him, but try and figure out what he wants. Second, neither of you goes anywhere alone. Linds is hiring some additional security to follow you girls around any time you leave the house," Jake added. Two tall and attractive guys who looked like they went to the University in San Diego walked into the kitchen. "This is Miguel and Steve," he introduced. Sunshine smiled but Ashira shook her head. "This isn't optional Ashira," Jake said.

"I will not have some guy I don't know following me around," Ashira told him. Steve winked at Ashira. "So let's go get to know each other," he suggested.

"Get out! You're nothing but an oversized boy who can't get some any other way," Ashira snapped.

"I did not mean that in a sexual way, are you nuts? I could lose my job over that!" Steve exclaimed.

"I will not have a guy I do not know following me around, and if Lindsey has a problem with that, I'll go somewhere where nobody will find me," Ashira told Jake. Jake sighed.

"Shira, just calm down. Steve, you and Miguel go wait on the patio," Jake told them. The guys nodded and walked outside. "Ashira, be reasonable," Jake began. "Lindsey is doing this to protect you," Jake told her.

"I don't care, they look like they could be a threat and I don't trust them," Ashira said.

"Stop and think for a minute," Jake pleaded.

"If Lindsey wants me to have a body guard and if you agree with her, why don't you do it?" Ashira retorted. Jake sighed. "You should understand Jake, why I don't want someone I don't know following me around," Ashira said.

Jake sighed. "But it's for your protection," he reminded her. Ashira looked at Jake.

"How well can someone protect me if I don't trust them?" Ashira asked. Jake sighed again.

"All right Ashira, I'll do it. I'll send Steve away and I'll act as body guard until this guy is caught," Jake told her. Ashira gave a small smile.

"Thank you," she murmured. Jake sighed and stood up to let the guys know. When he and Miguel came back in moments later, Jake was laughing. "Shira, you would not have had to worry about a thing with Steve," Jake told her.

"What do you mean?" Ashira asked.

"Steve's boyfriend lives in L.A.," Miguel told her. Ashira shook her head and gave a small smile.

"Then I don't think he would have liked going to doctor's appointments with me," Ashira murmured, just loud enough for Jake and Sunshine to hear. Jake shook his head.

"I forgot about those," he admitted.

"Backing out on me?" Ashira asked. Jake shook his head.