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Della settled into the tufted green leather bench across the booth from Mason, her gaze falling anywhere but on his face. Her embarrassment surprised her somewhat. She had been a willing partner in both his kisses and the sex that followed, the decision to participate all her own even though somewhat hastily made. She glanced around the full dining area at the other restaurant patrons. Did they know? Could they tell that she'd just risen from her employer's bed? Her hands once again ran automatically over her skirt in an attempt to smooth away the wrinkles, bold reminders of their recent tryst. She'd found the pink silk blouse wadded up in the corner of the room where it had been carelessly tossed. At least her jacket was in good shape, having spent most of the day hanging on the coat rack. Buttoned to the top, it hid most of the damage to her shirt.

"Two steak dinners, Morris, medium rare with Lyonnais potatoes and coffee to drink. Oh, this is my new secretary, Miss Della Street. Della, Morris here serves the best steaks in the city."

Della greeted the restaurant owner with a brilliant smile and Perry knew from Morris' answering grin that she'd made a conquest. He couldn't help but notice that the eyes of most of the male population of the room had followed her trim but shapely figure as she walked across the floor. But why should they be any different from him?

"I hope that you don't mind that I ordered for you. I should have asked..."

"Your choices sound wonderful. And I am hungry."

"Me too. I'm always starving after I... well... shall we say... exercise?" He gave her a cockeyed grin.

"Mr. Mason," Della decided to jump right in, although she still wouldn't look him in the eye, "I need for you to understand... I've never... I mean with my employer... with... I don't make a habit of just... acting so impulsively. I'm not... that kind of girl..." Her voice grew weaker as she finished, knowing that her actions of the last few hours belied her words. "I don't go to bed with men I've only known a day... at least I never have before..."

Perry reached out and took her hand. "Della... look at me, please?"

Once again those lovely hazel orbs graced him with their gaze. Perry was amazed by the myriad of emotions he saw there... embarrassment, defiance and... Satisfaction. Being extremely male, that satisfaction made Perry extremely proud of himself.

"You did enjoy what happened? Did I... was it pleasurable for you?" He desperately wanted to hear her give voice to what he saw on her face.

Now Della's cheeks were flaming red as she glanced furtively around the room in case anyone was listening... but Mason had dropped his voice so the inquiry was strictly between them.

"You know I did... very much so... more than I've ever..." She held his gaze but Mason could see her struggle and admired her all the more for her courage and forthrightness.

"Your private life is your own and I have no business prying into it... but you know that I did have my private investigator do a background check. I know that you are a lady, in every sense of that word."

"Your investigator told you I was a lady?" Della's eyes sparked with amusement.

"No... He didn't have to. You did. Your looks, your demeanor, your work ethic... everything about you tells me. But he did confirm enough of your background that I know how you were raised... It was obvious today that you weren't inexperienced in what happened... but it was also obvious that what happened isn't an everyday occurrence for you."

At these words Della's face fell. "I'm sorry you weren't satis... "

Perry mentally kicked himself. "That isn't what I mean at all. Being with you was... glorious... one of the most amazing experiences of my life. What I meant was... you don't fu... ah... scr... Damn!"

"I know what you mean..."

Relief washed over masculine features. "You don't... that... like a wh... like a woman who does it frequently... I am going to sit here quietly and chew on my foot."

"Then you should take your shoe off first. That leather looks tough."

Shocked by Della's playful response, there was no way that Perry could stifle his laughter. "I am going to have to keep my eye on you, Miss Street. You are entirely too sassy for your own good."

"Thank you," Della offered quietly. Perry squeezed the hand that he still held.

"Della Street, I need for you to know that 'that' is NOT the reason that I hired you. Your employment wasn't and isn't and never will be contingent on anything other than the way that you perform your job. Judging by the amount of work that you accomplished today, I suspect that hiring you is the smartest decision I ever made."

Before Della could respond their waitress arrived with their coffee and salads. Mason finally had to let go of her hand but he gave her fingers another firm squeeze before releasing them.

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Within three months, under the expert management of Della Street, the law offices of Perry Mason were thriving. Clients had been billed and payments were flooding in. Publicity from his brilliant defense and the subsequent acquittal of the popular young actor had new clients flooding in as well. Both the office and the storeroom/living quarters were neat as a pin. Appointments were made in an orderly fashion and Perry's schedule ran like a well-oiled machine. Plus he got to look at Della's pretty face every day.

Paul Drake had practically moved in, spending so much time in Perry's office that the lawyer had threatened to start charging him rent, his tone only half joking, several times. The detective seemed especially taken with Perry's secretary. For her part Della parried Paul's intense flirting with rapier wit and good humor but she had turned down all of his persistent dinner invitations. Paul was unused to defeat so he grew even more dogged in his pursuit of Della, ramping up his already ample charm. Women in general just didn't turn him down so why was Perry's beautiful new secretary any different?

Paul had tried to pick Perry for information as well, his observant eye finally detecting 'something' between the two that he suspected went much deeper than the amazing working relationship they had quickly developed. 'That' would explain Della's continued refusals and assuage his ego. But Perry demurred and as hard as he tried Paul could not find positive evidence of a romantic connection between Mr. Mason and Miss Street beyond his 'gut feeling'.

Late night dinners almost every evening were habit by their third week working together, the volume of work necessitating the extra time spent in the office. The young actor's case was proving difficult, clues hard to come by. The attitude of the handsome thespian was cocky and infuriating and while he found Paul's flirtation with his secretary amusing, Mason was ready to smash the young actor in the face for his forward and inappropriate comments and actions toward Miss Street. But Della handled them all with grace and dignity mixed with a touch of attitude that quickly put the young fellow off his game... at least until the next visit.

All Della could do was laugh when Perry complained to her. Della laughed a lot, a pleasant melodious sound that always brightened Perry's day. She was quickly becoming indispensable.

They had settled into a work pattern which suited Perry to a tee. A small desk held a typewriter and other essentials for Della to do her job, but for the copious amounts of dictation and research necessary he found that having Della sit on his left side at the corner of his desk worked perfectly. Either of them could grab the phone if it rang and both had a view of the entry door. Due to the close proximity there were several intense moments between the coworkers, the accidental touch of a hand or brush of a leg causing a flare in the chemistry between them, but nothing more had developed, Perry intent on his secretary knowing he wasn't trying to take advantage of her and Della wanting her boss to know that she wasn't 'after' him.

That changed one night a little over a month into their working relationship. The first day of the preliminary hearing had not gone well although Della had attended with Perry and found him enthralling to watch. A random seemingly insignificant comment had wedged itself in the lawyer's brain and the evening recess had him sending Paul Drake out on a desperate search for new evidence. Mason and Della retired to the office to work on the following day's strategy but for the first time since she'd started working for him, Della saw the lawyer's amazing brain let him down.

Exasperated, he snapped at Della several times, knowing he was being unfair but his frustration was mounting. The answer he needed was teasing him, lingering just on the periphery of his thinking process. When he gave up pacing and threw himself into his chair for the third time Della had taken all she felt like taking. Dropping her pencil and steno pad on the desk she stood and moved behind him, her strong fingers gripping his shoulders. A deep groaning sigh escaped Perry's lips as her fingers massaged tight knots and solid muscles.

"Relax!" She commanded. "Stop trying to force it. Just close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply."

Perry wanted to do as she said, tried to... but as her hands moved over him relaxation wasn't what his body was suddenly screaming for. He had removed his coat and vest and the thin material of his shirt did little to mask the warmth of Della's hands. His mind did drift, wandering into thoughts of how her hands would feel on other parts of his body.

Suddenly realizing that he was obviously aroused for Della and the world to see, he jerked and shifted his hands over his privates. He turned to Della hoping but the look on her face made it clear that she had noticed. She licked her lips as she raised her gaze to his, her eyes filled with... longing.

"I'm so... sorry..." he stuttered. "It's just an involuntary reflex... Your touch... I know it isn't right."

Della bent down and touched her lips to his. Immediately they opened to each other.

Falling fast, Perry managed to pull back long enough to gasp. "I don't want to use you..."

Della smiled, the expression dripping desire. "Perhaps I'm using you." A quick movement brought her pale pink sweater up and over her head. Without that covering her own desire was on display, tight peaks drilling into his chest as she pressed her body back into his.

Della wanted Perry. She'd made that obvious. He'd tried once to be a gentleman and he had no intention of trying again because he wanted her too, more than he'd ever wanted any woman in his life. Sliding his hands down her back and bottom, he gripped her thighs and pulled her legs up around his waist. She obligingly locked her heels around him as he headed toward the bed, kicking the door closed behind them.

And when they were done, a quick and explosive joining followed by a marginally slower encounter that sated them both, Perry dozed... his mind and body relaxed. The answer came.

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