(Finally bringing this story to an end. Huge thanks to Karen B. because without her help I never would have finished. Thank you all for staying with me for so long.)

Epilogue

3 Days Later - Valentine's Day

Della stood in front of the full-length mirror, examining her image. Her dress was a deep burgundy velvet, clinging to her curves perfectly, swirling around her feet. A dark red satin collar caressed her shoulders. At the waist, a velvet panel, lined in the same red satin, swept back to the left. Her hair had been pulled back, leaving her long, slender neck exposed. This would be their last night at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel. Perry had arranged for them to attend a Valentine Dance held in the Gold Room of the hotel. Pleased with her appearance, Della walked to the dressing table for her gloves and evening bag.

She stopped when she saw the single red rose laying there. First, picking it up and holding it to her nose to inhale the sweet scent, she then untied the white card attached to the stem. It was in Perry's precise, neat hand.

One rose, one tender thought of you.

Della smiled and tucked the card in her bag, then drawing on her gloves, left the bedroom. As she descended the spiral staircase, she stopped halfway down. The suite was filled with red roses. There was a bouquet on every available table, desk and shelf. There were vases in stands covering the floor. Dozens and dozens of perfect red roses. And standing in the middle, in a black tuxedo, was the most handsome man she knew she would ever see.

Looking up at her, Perry thought he would remember this moment the rest of his life. She was so beautiful that he was sure he had forgotten how to breathe. He crossed the floor to take her hand as she took the last few graceful steps down.

"Della..." At her demure smile, he couldn't finish his sentence. Slowly he drew her into his arms to kiss her. When her arms went around his neck, he tightened his hold and deepened the kiss.

At last she pulled away, looking into his eyes, now the color of a storm-tossed ocean.

"Did you buy out a florist shop, Counselor?"

He smiled down at her. "I tried."

"They're absolutely beautiful. Thank you." She gave him a quick kiss. "But shouldn't we go? We don't want to be late for the party."

Perry chuckled. "Of course. But there's something I want you to have first." He reached behind a vase of roses on the table beside him. He brought out a flat, black velvet case and handed it to her. When she just looked at it, Perry reached out to touch her cheek. "Open it Sweetheart."

Della lifted the lid and gasped. Inside was a teardrop ruby on a simple silver chain. There were matching teardrop earrings that sparkled that same deep red. "Oh Perry." Her eyes filled with tears.

He gently took the case from her and set it on the table, turning back to her quickly and grasping her hands. "Baby I didn't mean to make you cry. Please don't..."

But Della threw her arms around him, kissing him again and again. "It's beautiful, just perfect. I love it and I love you."

Perry drew in a small breath at her words. After the events of the past 2 weeks, he knew that he would never get tired of hearing or saying those words. And most importantly, he would never take Della or her love for granted. He reached back to the table and lifted the pendant from its case, fastening it around her neck, and leaned down to nuzzle her in the sensitive spot behind her ear.

"Perry..."

"Yes?" She turned and put her hands on his chest.

"The party, remember." He sighed and backed away from her, putting his hands behind his back. He watched as she exchanged the pearl earrings for the rubies. When she finished, she did a small turn. "I think I'm ready."

He took her hand, placing it in the crook of his arm, and together they left the suite.

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When Perry escorted Della to the doors of the Gold Room, he felt her give a shiver. He looked down at her, seeing the apprehension in her eyes.

"I promise there will be no bad memories here tonight, only happy ones."

Della smiled back. "As long as you're with me, only happy memories."

Perry pushed open the doors and led Della into the ballroom. She gasped, "Perry!"

The huge, lavishly decorated room was filled with more roses, in every shade imaginable. Perry leaned down to whisper in her ear. "They ran out of red."

Della's laugh echoed around the almost empty space. Because, with the exception of the flower stands everywhere in the room, the only other furniture was the large, oval table in the center of the floor. Seated on one side was Paul, still in the wheelchair, with his lovely nurse, Andrea, holding his hand. Occupying the other seats were Arthur Tragg and Hamilton Burger with their wives at their sides.

As Perry led Della to the table, Tragg and Burger both stood and came forward to embrace her and whisper how beautiful she looked and happy they were that she was safe.

Perry only looked at the two men. "Alright you two, let the lady go."

Perry introduced Della to the other two ladies, then helped her to her chair. Andrea smiled and added her delight at seeing her again, gushing over Della's dress and jewelry.

After the niceties, Della looked around the beautiful room, admiring the roses, and noticed an orchestra was tuning up on a raised stage set up at the end of the room. She turned a questioning gaze to Perry.

"Party?"

He took her hand and raised it to his lips, seemingly oblivious to any other pair of eyes in the room. "I thought you might be more comfortable with just a small group of friends."

The look she gave Perry was so filled with love that he was tempted to just whisk her off her feet right then and take her back to the suite. Instead, he took a deep breath and turned to the rest of their little group and smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day, friends."

They all raised a glass and chorused back. "Happy Valentine's Day!"

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Dinner consisted of steak, Lyonnaise potatoes, and tender asparagus. Champagne flowed freely. And, as if any of them had room for one more bite, there was a red velvet cake, shaped like a heart, for dessert.

Conversation among the friends was easy and entertaining. It seemed that they all had been able to put the past terrible weeks far behind them.

The orchestra had been playing softly during dinner but now that the table had been cleared, they increased the volume and began playing some jazzier tunes. Unnoticed, the servers had quietly moved some of the roses to create a small dance floor.

Perry stood, offered Della his hand and helped her to her feet. "May I have this dance Miss Street?" Della, lost in his eyes, only nodded as Perry led her to the dance floor. Taking her in his arms as the first strings of Etta James' "At Last" began, Perry knew he had found the only woman he would love for the rest of his life.

Watching the two dancing, Burger leaned over to Tragg. "I think our monomaniacal lawyer friend may finally be starting to mellow."

Tragg only laughed. "I wouldn't count on it Hamilton. What do you say we join them?" With that each couple stood and joined hands, dancing toward the middle of the room. Andrea, not wanting Paul to be left out, pushed his chair onto the floor. She held his hands as she gently swayed to the music.

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Quite a while later, after they had said goodnight to their friends, Perry and Della, arm in arm, rode the elevator back to the suite in comfortable silence. When Della walked over and collapsed on the couch, Perry just smiled. "Surely I haven't tired you out, have I?"

"No Counselor, but my feet are killing me." She started to remove her shoes, but Perry knelt in front of her, pushing her hands away.

"Permit me Cinderella." He removed her shoes and set them aside, then took one foot and began to massage the sole.

Della let her head fall back against the cushions. "Oh my." Perry continued his massage, moving his strong fingers along her foot to her ankle and back again. When he was satisfied he had relaxed that foot he moved to the other. Her sighs of content seemed like gentle music to him.

Della raised her head to look at the man kneeling in front of her. "You know I really did feel like Cinderella at the ball. It was a perfect evening. And you are truly my Prince Charming. Thank you Perry. For everything."

He took both of her hands in his. "I would do anything for you Della. I love you."

Della leaned forward to kiss him. "And I love you." Then she gave a small chuckle. "It's a shame I'll turn into a pumpkin at midnight."

He stood and sat next to her on the couch, pulling her into his arms. "Sweetheart, midnight was two hours ago and you are definitely not a pumpkin." She rested her head on his chest, the steady beat of his heart like a sweet lullaby.

"Della?" Perry suddenly realized that his girl had fallen asleep. Glancing at the staircase and deciding that carrying her up might be more dangerous than chivalrous, he tried to gently rouse her. "Sweetheart?" When she only snuggled in tighter, Perry figured he had no other choice but to attempt the stairs.

Perry carefully stood and gently picked her up in his arms. He crossed the floor, and was halfway up the winding staircase when knew he wouldn't make it to the top. Setting her on her feet, he kissed her. Della only mumbled and leaned against him. "Della. Please wake up."

Finally her eyes opened and she gave him a dreamy smile. "Hello."

Perry chuckled. "C'mon Sleeping Beauty. Up to your tower."

With Perry's arm around her tiny waist, supporting nearly her full weight as her eyes fluttered, they slowly finished climbing the stairs and made it down the hall to Della's bedroom. Perry opened the door and guided her in. "Goodnight Princess."

Della suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him in. "Wait! You need to help me out of this dress."

Perry let out a choked gasp. "Della..."

Still feeling a tiny bit tipsy from the last glass of champagne, Della turned and laughed. "Oh Perry. It took me half an hour to get into this thing. The least you can do is help me out of it. I promise not to jump you and take your virtue."

Now Perry laughed. "Turn around, minx." Della did as he asked, holding the bodice of the dress to keep it from falling completely off once the zipper was down. Keeping a safe distance, Perry reached out and slowly lowered the zipper which extended from the neck to just above her adorable backside. Perry had to back away quickly when he saw the white lace underneath the dress.

When she just stood there, Perry cleared his throat. "Think you'll be okay now?"

Della turned and slowly, deliberately, let the dress slide to the floor. She wore a white lace corset with tiny red bows, white lacy panties and silk stockings. She blinked sleepy, sexy eyes at Perry, who drew in a deep breath and backed away. "Della, please."

At his reaction, which Della interpreted as shock and fear, she bent and quickly pulled the dress back up. She blushed a bright red. "I'm...I'm...oh Perry. I didn't..." She turned and hurried to the washroom, slamming the door.

Perry sat heavily on the bed rubbing his hands down his face. Way to go Mason. Now what do I do? Just as he started to slink toward the doorway to make his get-away to his own room, the bathroom door opened and Della emerged, wearing a robe and holding a damp washcloth to her eyes. When she saw that Perry was still in the room, she spun around to go back.

"Della. Please don't go." She turned back, her hand still on the knob.

"Perry I think I've embarrassed myself enough for one night. Maybe we should just get some sleep. We need to be ready to check out in the morning and..."

Perry stepped toward her, and reached out and took her hand. He led her back to the bed, pulling her down to sit beside him. He put a finger to her lips when she started to say more.

"Della Street, I love you. You did not embarrass yourself. I'm the fool. I was presented with a beautiful, enticing, very sexy woman, and for the first time in my life I didn't know what to do."

"Oh." Della's surprise was evident in her face.

"Sweetheart, believe me, I wanted nothing more than to make love to you. I still do. But I don't exactly have a good record with women and I just don't want..."

Perry stopped and looked away. Della put her hand on his cheek. "Perry?"

He looked back at her, brushing his lips against her hand. "I want to make sure that I do everything right this time. I want to make you happy; I want to protect you. I want to make sure you know how much you are loved and cherished."

Two tears escaped Della's eyes and streamed down her cheeks. "Perry, you are the most perfect man I have ever known. I want the same things for you."

Perry used his thumb to wipe her tears away. "So now why don't you get some sleep and tomorrow we will start planning how and where to take this new relationship."

Della leaned forward, gently kissing him. "I think that sounds like a perfectly wonderful plan."

Perry stood and walked to the door, turning back to smile at her. "Goodnight my only love. Sleep soundly." With that he closed the door and walked the short distance to his bedroom, knowing that he would have wonderful dreams tonight.