Hamilton and Alexandra
He had hired her on Lieutenant Tragg's recommendation and he'd never once regretted it.
The snowy haired police detective had been a good friend and trusted confidante ever since he had joined the Los Angeles District Attorney's office as an assistant some years ago. He trusted Tragg's judgment implicitly. Hell, he trusted Tragg with his life and had a few times in the past.
Hamilton Burger, the Los Angeles District Attorney, gazed into the bathroom mirror pensively. He had just returned to his office from court. Victorious even, having defeated a foe whose name was not Perry Mason. Victories over Mason occurred only once in a blue moon, but nonetheless, Burger's mood was bolstered by his success in court.
The office Christmas party was due to begin within the half hour, eliciting a sigh of resignation and disappointment from the prosecutor. He had hoped to have more time to freshen up; even run home for a short while, but the afternoon session of court had run long.
He loosened his tie of the same sky blue shade as his enormous eyes; and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his pristine white dress shirt. His black suit jacket he had abandoned momentarily on his coat rack back in his office. Staring into the mirror again, he contemplated life, work, friendship, love, his future, if he was going to change his jacket and tie anyway. All of it. Relief washed over him to know that it still wasn't his father's face staring back at him.
What does it matter what I look like? He groused to himself. Or who?
But he knew it mattered to him and why.
Her.
His thoughts always drifted back to her when he had nothing more pressing occupying them.
Alexandra Mullen. His secretary of the last several years; and the only woman of the last few decades to make him question the wisdom of remaining a single man.
She wasn't glamorous or beautiful, but then he hadn't been graced with Paul Drake or Perry Mason's good looks either. In fact, she was only mildly attractive in that plain, girl next door way. Her most striking feature was her statuesque height. Without high heels, she was nearly as tall as he.
Whether she realized it or not, Alexandra made a successful case daily for herself as his wife if she wanted to be. She had a calming, soothing effect on him on his worst days; and her cheerful disposition and good humor never failed to lift his spirits no matter how bitter the loss to his courtroom foe, Perry Mason. Her mastery as a cook and a baker was showcased routinely at office parties and potlucks. And then there were those fancy tie knots she'd sent him into court with… How she hadn't already been taken to wife by some lucky man was anyone's guess, but Burger wasn't complaining.
He wasn't in love with her yet. The operative word being yet. The cold, unvarnished truth if he was honest with himself was he was terrified to fall in love with her. Terrified of becoming the surly and abusive drunk his father had been. Terrified of losing another love to an untimely death. Terrified of dying alone even though he believe he was doing the right thing for everyone by never having a family of his own.
Untying his tie, he yanked it from around his neck and tossed it on the counter. Splashing some cold water on his face, another cold truth hit him like a ton of bricks. His fears of becoming his father had intimidated him into settling for less than the life he really wanted. His father, long dead, apparently still held power over his son.
That angered Burger.
Toweling off his face, Hamilton Burger snatched up his tie and exited the restroom. He strode down the hall to his office and caught his old buddy, Tragg in the process of hanging mistletoe in his doorway.
"Just in case you and Ms. Mullen want to take a break from the crowd this evening," the old man winked, mischief twinkling in his still bright blue eyes. Tragg didn't miss much and he'd caught the younger man's lingering looks at his young secretary on many occasions.
"I can always count on you, Tragg," Burger grinned with equal mischief and slight hint of teasing sarcasm as he entered his office. His tie landed on his desk in a pile of black fabric. He'd put it away later.
Turning back toward his doorway he discovered that Tragg had shuffled off elsewhere, already having accomplished his task at Burger's office.
Someone else was standing there.
"Alexandra…," he breathed. His face flushed deep scarlet to match the fiery red waves of his hair. Here he was suit jacket and tie off and the top few buttons of his shirt unbuttoned and now he was inappropriately addressing her by her first name. This evening was getting away from him quick, fast, and in a hurry.
She on the other hand was a vision in a strapless cherry red dress with cherry red lips to match. Her long, sunshine blonde hair was loose about her shoulders in soft curls and turquoise eyes twinkled with merriment from behind her black rimmed glasses. A single strand of pearls graced her long neck.
He began to apologize profusely, but her comforting smile stopped him.
"I heard court ran over today. I know you've barely had a chance to catch a breath. Let me help."
Letting out the breath he'd been holding, Burger rounded his desk and reached into one of the drawers where he kept an assortment of regular ties and bowties. He never knew when he'd have to dash off somewhere right after work. He wished he had a closet in this place. He did however, have a full length mirror hanging on the same wall he'd hung his degrees and awards. It had been a habit of his to double check his appearance before dashing off to court.
His mischievous smirk tugged at his full lips once more as he motioned for Alexandra to come all the way inside his office. He rummaged through the drawer and with a victorious grin tugged out a red tie of a similar shade as Alexandra's dress.
The grin widened at her delightful laugh.
"You're ready for anything, I'll give you that. Come here, Mr. Burger. Let's get you fixed up."
Joining her in front of his mirror, he swallowed nervously.
He was still somewhat embarrassed that she'd caught him so unpresentable, but that wasn't the only reason for his jitters. Gone was his dutiful secretary swathed in drab, neutral colors and in her place was this vibrant, delightful creature that smelled heavenly and looked every inch a woman. And as he drew close enough to her that she could fuss with his shirt and tie, he became more and more excruciatingly aware of how much he was responding to her presence.
He tried to remind himself she often tied his tie for him when he wanted that extra touch and that this time was no different.
In his haste to find his red tie, the flustered prosecutor had forgotten to do up the remaining buttons of his dress shirt. It was an oversight that, unbeknownst to Hamilton Burger, thrilled his loyal secretary to no end. She bit her lip in a futile effort to stifle the delighted smile that tugged at her lips as she glimpsed the springy ginger curls on his chest and imagined running her fingers through them.
The red tie was next and Alexandra adjusted it around Burger's neck as she contemplated which fancy knot would look the most striking.
Burger gazed at her intently as she efficiently worked with his tie. Her efforts culminated in the somewhat triangular Rose Knot that had seemed appropriate for the red tie.
Sensing his eyes on her, Alexandra glanced up with a shy smile and pushed back a stray blonde curl, tucking it behind her ear. Their proximity and the intensity of his gaze suddenly felt intimate and her breath caught in her throat.
His brows furrowed in confusion and curiosity. Surely he must be mistaken, but her reaction to him seemed to suggest interest on her part as well.
But what would a delightful young woman like her want with an ornery old cuss like me? It must be my imagination.
"There," she said proudly, gently touching his elbow and turning him to the mirror. "What do you think of that?"
"I think you've outdone yourself again, Miss Mullen. As usual."
"It is going to look very becoming with that black suit jacket of yours…," she noted appreciatively. "You're going to look very handsome. Not that you don't all the time."
"You think so, huh?"
His smile was warm, but the shyness with which he accepted praise was still apparent. Her admiration and adoration of him was showing now as it had in many photographs and newspaper articles for some time. He couldn't bring himself to embarrass her by teasing her about it. He was just grateful someone felt that way about him, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to her feelings or if he was just imagining things.
They both lingered in front of the mirror for a moment; Burger admiring her skill for tying ties she never had to wear and Alexandra admiring her boss for looking impressive in it.
Realizing that her thoughts about her boss were about to take her into unchaste territory, Alexandra shook herself and she traveled the short distance to his coat rack. She plucked the black suit jacket from it and helped Burger shrug into it.
He buttoned it as Alexandra centered the eye catching red tie and smoothed out the sleeves and lapels.
"See what did I tell you? You look handsome. And charming. Good luck finding someone that looks sharper than you tonight…"
Burger couldn't deny the way her words and efforts made him feel. Looking in the mirror and hearing those words tumble out of her mouth made him very nearly believe he was everything she said; and suddenly those wonderful words were cut off as his lips captured hers in a deep, passionate kiss.
Her response was enthusiastic and eager, her arms encircling his neck and pulling him closer. For a long, blissful moment, the pair found heaven in each other's arms. For Alexandra, Burger's kiss was almost as she'd imagined. His mouth tasted faintly of black licorice, likely owing to the Sen Sen he'd used to camouflage any hints of cigarette smoke. The pressure of his lips on hers was more forceful than what she'd imagined, but he'd been stressed for some time. Or perhaps he'd been holding back for so long.
Suddenly Burger pulled away, the kiss ending as abruptly as it had begun.
His eyes were wide with horror at what had just transpired and he blushed furiously as he gently pried her arms from around his neck.
"What have I done?!" His voice was barely a whisper, but it was heavy with self recrimination and embarrassment. How could he have done this to her; to their work relationship? He wanted a romantic relationship like he'd wanted few other things in the world, but his work demanded so very much of his time and attention. And then there were his fears about becoming the abusive jerk his father had been to his family. How could he possibly be the man she deserved?
Turning away from her, he placed his palms on his large, wooden desk and leaned over it, a deep exhale of frustration bursting passed his lips.
"I'm sorry, Miss Mullen. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me. I acted inappropriately."
Alexandra's face was a mask of confusion and pain. Why was he fighting so hard what they both wanted? "I don't understand. It's not as if I don't want it."
Burger didn't look up. Instead, his eyes squeezed shut as he struggled to contain his emotions. "So do I, Alexandra. So do I. But my work demands so much of my time. I don't know how I'd ever be able to give you the time and attention you deserve."
The statuesque blonde stood there in shocked silence for a moment. How was he not seeing the flaw in his own logic? She was at work almost as often as he was in order to support him as best she could. Marching over to him, she grasped his elbow and turned him to face her.
"Don't you think I should be the one to decide how much time and attention I deserve?! How long have I been your secretary?! Who knows your schedule better than I do?!"
Her hand stole out to grab his tie and she gently pulled on it until her lips found his again. It was a little forward for a woman of the times, but the surprised attorney was left with no doubts about her feelings for him.
An eternity later, Alexandra released him. He blinked in surprise, his mouth still half open as she swept out of his office with a confident air, leaving the stunned District Attorney in her wake.