Chapter 2

Della had originally planned to wear a blue dress with an overlay of black lace and spaghetti straps to Harvey's party, but at the last minute changed her mind. Instead she chose an olive green tulle fit and flair dress with winding gold lame' leaf and vine appliques and a gold lame' waistband. It accentuated her tiny waist and turned her eyes a stunning shade of gold. Estelle had loaned her the delicate gold vine and leaf necklace, bracelet, and earring set she had paired with her creation, and satin pumps and a satin clutch, both dyed a slightly deeper shade of olive than the dress, completed her ensemble. Evelyn had worked magic with her hair, taming the curls into sleek waves that framed her face elegantly. She thought she looked outrageous.

Perry was speechless when she opened the door. Yesterday she had been all business in her brown suit, cream blouse, and pearls; still feminine and exceptionally attractive, albeit proper and a bit conservative, as befitted a legal secretary. Tonight she was ravishing, her beauty unabashedly on full display.

He finally found his voice. "You certainly do make that dress look nice, Della."

Her smile was wide and brilliant. "I believe that is the best compliment I've ever received. Thank you, Chief."

"Shall we go? By my estimation, we are right on time for being fashionably late."

"You're really getting a kick out of this fashionably late concept, aren't you?" She turned to allow him to enfold her in a gold lame' wrap made from the same bolt of cloth as the waistband of her dress, and leaning into a quick embrace.

"I'm looking forward to making an entrance with you on my arm. You are absolutely stunning, Della. Are you going to be warm enough?" He asked as he closed her apartment door and made sure it was locked.

"We're going directly to the car and then from the car directly into a warm house. I won't be cold." His words made her warm enough to withstand even the coldest temperature.

He looked down at her with the same thoughtful expression he'd had the night before as the elevator doors slid shut. "May I kiss you?"

Her face registered a bit of surprise. "You may."

He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, his lips soft and sure. The kiss was almost reverent at first, then more ardent as the tip of his tongue flicked at her lips and she allowed him access to her mouth. Only their mouths touched, their bodies separated by several inches. Perry broke contact first, drawing in a shaky breath.

"I've never seen anything as lovely as you," he said quietly. One hand came up to brush against her jawline. "I'm the luckiest man on earth to be your escort."

She slipped her hand into his and squeezed it lightly. "I'm pretty darn lucky myself," she replied softly. "I've been looking forward to this night."

"So have I." His eyes gazed at her with a mixture of tenderness and desire that sent a shiver through her.

Their arrival at the Sayers family estate was everything Perry had hoped for. Most of his friends had already arrived, and when he escorted Della into the ballroom, all conversation ceased momentarily. Then everyone surged forward to greet them. He noted the unanimous admiration for Della, how she gracefully handled compliments and quickly turned those compliments around to include everyone present. She had a sincere and natural interest in people, and as everyone became reacquainted, Perry found himself separated from her and backed into a corner. Emory Markle, a tall, thin insurance expert he'd met through Harvey in college, swooped down on her and guided her to the opposite corner of the room.

Perry maintained polite small talk with Jim and Anita Brandis, congratulating them on the imminent arrival of their sixth child, until they wandered away to greet Frank and Jory Heartwell who were the last guests to arrive and who completed the guest list. After quick handshakes and effusive slaps to shoulders, the McGreavey twins Fletcher and Everett moved on toward the bar, dragging him with them. They sipped cocktails and chatted about their respective practices – Everett and Fletcher were both attorneys as well – and ten minutes passed before the twins wandered off and he could search out Della in the far corner. What he saw put a frown on his face.

"If it bothers you that much," Paul Drake said stepping up behind him, "go over and drag her away from Emory."

Perry hadn't seen Paul when they first arrived. Paul's services as a private detective were used by almost every one of Perry's old friends, and Harvey had begun including him on the guest list several years prior.

"Excuse me? What bothers me?" Perry Mason swung his gaze away from the corner of the ballroom where Della and Emory Markle were engaged in an animated conversation, her wide-spaced hazel eyes sparkling with indulgent delight.

"Emory flirting with Della, you big jerk." Paul replied. "Standing here tossing silent daggers at him isn't going to make you feel better or stop him from monopolizing her attention. He's had a crush on Della ever since the party last year and since he isn't dating Yvonne anymore…"

It took all of Perry's strength not to return his gaze to where Della stood in the corner with Emory, who was standing too close, leaning down to her from his exceptional height, an expression of intent interest visible from across the room. Perry took a gulp of his drink and fished in his pocket for a cigarette. Damn. His case and lighter were in Della's evening bag, which was currently tucked in the crook of her elbow. He needed a cigarette. He needed another drink. And he needed Emory to get the hell away from Della.

Perry shrugged his shoulders with what he hoped was nonchalance. "I wasn't aware of that fact."

"She dumped him about two weeks before Thanksgiving. There seems to be a lot of that going around." Gwen, his most recent girlfriend, had parted ways with him just two days earlier. "Emory didn't bring a date tonight either."

Perry shrugged again. "That's too bad," he commented blandly.

Paul Drake gave him a disgusted look. "Don't pull that unconcerned crap with me, pal. The tantrum in my office over Joanne and her reporter boyfriend confirmed my suspicion you've been messing around with Della for a long time. You two generate enough steam between you to operate a Turkish bath. There's no denying it."

"Be nice, Paul, that's a lady you're talking about."

"You've gotten sloppy at covering up the office clinches, and everyone can see it's killing you that Emory dragged her into the corner the instant you escorted her into the ballroom. If it's that serious between you two, go claim your woman."

Perry smiled enigmatically and drained his cocktail. "Can't a guy clinch with his secretary on occasion without it being serious?"

Paul shook his head. "Della isn't a casual clincher. Believe me, I tried everything with her and got absolutely nowhere. Now I know why."

He could have done without that confession. His eyes seemed to have a will of their own and wandered back to where Della was still listening to Emory Markle's exploits in insurance. He really needed to get her out of the office more often if she found Emory's stories so fascinating.

"You're doing it again," Paul observed drily. "Are you worried about Emory beating your time? If it isn't Emory, it might be Fletch or Everett or even Art who goes after her. None of them brought dates and since Della is just your secretary and a convenient companion..."

Perry frowned again. It hadn't registered with him until Paul pointed out how many of his friends and associates were unattached. Only two were married, and Harvey was recently engaged for the second time following his third divorce, but there were seven more or less eligible single men aside from him attending the gathering. They couldn't all think Della was fair game. This was the second year she had accompanied him to Harvey's holiday kick-off party, and she had attended other dinner parties with him since being introduced into his circle of friends the previous year.

Paul nodded his head toward the McGreavey brothers' approach. "Looks like Fletch and Everett are preparing an assault on Emory's flank."

Dammit, Perry thought. If his knuckleheaded, adolescent group of buddies couldn't scare up dates for themselves, he sure as hell wasn't going to let them steal away his.

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret, Paul. That lovely lady," he nodded his head in Della's direction, "is my date. And now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to rescue her from actuarial hell." He set his cocktail glass down on a table and headed across the room toward the corner where Emory had his hand on Della's shoulder, leaning toward her with amorous intent.