Chapter Three

A few hours later she approached the small group with a smile that didn't quite make the grade. Gertie, the one who knew her best, looked up in excitement, then frowned.

"Della, what's happened?"

Katherine Burger pounced on the topic. "Gertie is on to something! Della, you don't look like you've slept in a week!"

"Oh, dear!" This time her natural humor made her laugh at herself. "I must be a dreadful sight. Truth be told, I didn't get much sleep at all." She told them what she wanted them to know. "I thought Perry was going to answer the door, but I found out he left early."

Gertie's wide, wondering eyes widened further. "What happened? He was so excited to make all those plans! He said he wanted everything to be perfect. I thought he was going to propose. He was acting like my kid sister in a candy shop!"

The ache in Della's heart intensified. "He certainly didn't propose. In fact, between us, we barely spoke at all. After what happened at the restaurant, I'm not sure where our relationship stands right now."

Janet, whose dislike of Perry was the equal of his toward her, asked, "That brute! Maybe we can put our heads together and help solve this problem."

Once they placed their orders, Della proceeded to tell them what happened from the time Michael visited their table to the argument they had in the study. She finished by describing the note Perry left, stating he was going away to give her space. By the time she concluded, she was crying quietly, and the three women were doing their best to console her.

After a few minutes Della wiped her tears with her napkin and composed herself. Katherine studied her thoughtfully. She saw the pale color, the troubled eyes that glistened from the tears recently shed and knew more were not far off. Reaching out, she placed a hand over Della's.

"Della, how do you really feel about Perry? Isn't he important enough for you to introduce to your former fiance?"

Della stared at her. "Of course he is! That's just why this was all my fault!"

Janet glared at Katherine, but she ignored the look to ask something else. "Well, why didn't you mention you were engaged before? Surely you weren't going to build a personal life with him without bringing it up! Poor Perry was completely blindsided by this whole situation."

She absorbed that in silence. Gertie looked at Katherine with something like gratitude for putting in words what she thought, too.

"I think," she hedged, "Perry was right to go away and allow you both to have space before things really got out of hand."

"Yes, I love Perry with my whole heart and soul. He's the love of my life," Della whispered. "I was so shocked at seeing Michael. So flabbergasted that I didn't give Perry a thought! And then he—Michael, that is—gave me that kiss, and I really couldn't think at all." She hiccupped, then blushed. "But I'm thinking now. I know my love for Perry is completely on another celestial plane than any relationship with Michael ever was. And I know that my apology to Perry came out wrong."

Janet, despite her dislike of Perry, felt horrible for her dear friend. "Della, Perry knows all that. He isn't going to let something so silly as a missed introduction ruin your lives. Deep down, you know that. But I suppose he's being a man. He has an ego bigger than all of California."

Della inwardly bristled at that, but instead of defending him, she admitted softly, "I really want him back, Janet. I want to be his wife. I never mentioned Michael because, from the moment Perry entered my life, he filled it so completely that it was as if nothing had come before, and nothing would follow after him. Michael simply ceased to exist. He was of no consequence. Perry owns my heart."

A moment of silence fell at the table as each lady considered her declaration. Finally, Katherine suggested, "Della, how about you track him down. If you want, hash everything out and spend the much-needed time reconnecting and celebrate the reason you were out the other night. Don't let Michael become a specter from your past. Perhaps you should get some very risqué lingerie—something he would not expect you to be in—and wait for him. When he walks in from wherever he is, he won't know what hit him."

Della's face flushed, but she listened.

Gertie's eyes brightened and sparkled. "I agree! Take the initiative and show him you are in it for the long haul! You aren't a quitter."

"Well," Della hedged, "I suppose that could work. If I can figure out where he went. If he doesn't get mad at me invading his space."

"Paul knows where he went," Gertie asserted with confidence. "I know him. He didn't tell me, of course, but . . . he knows."

"I still need to buy that risqué lingerie you suggested."

Janet frowned, then smiled. "I tell you what, Della. If you can get the information from Paul, I will have my husband's private plane take you to him."

While Della was at lunch, Perry was up at the lake reflecting on his relationship with Della. He had talked to both Paul and his best friend, Harvey. Careful to limit what he told them, Perry gave both men the broad strokes of what had happened, and of his deep shame in how he had spoken to her. Harvey had stupidly asked if he still loved Della. That had led to an explosion of frustration. Paul had asked what he was going to do about their relationship. Neither man had asked if it was worth saving.

She's my soulmate, and I would be completely lost without her. The office is one thing—it would fall apart without her, but it could be put back together. But me? If she isn't in my life, not even all the king's horses and all the king's men stand a chance at reassembling me. She makes all the cliches real. She compels me to be a better man, a better human being.

He had told Paul about the flowers. That had produced a classic Paul grunt. "It's a start, Pal. What you said to her—that was raw. I'm not saying she didn't need to hear it, but . . . I'm glad you apologized. And I'm particularly glad you honored your anniversary. Women remember things like their men forgetting anniversary dates."

Harvey had simply suggested that he fish while he was there, and that he use the time alone to do some soul-searching. And thus, there he sat, rod in hand, waiting for a bite. As the minutes ticked into hours, he was missing his fishing partner. With a sigh, he allowed himself to remember the other fishing trips they had enjoyed together.

He thought about all the fishing trips Della and he had taken over the last two years. Each time the fishing had turned into more leisurely activities. Cooking, shopping, laughing, dancing. And those things had led to their bed, couch, tables and dock. The first time stuck out to him.

"Della, I am closing the office for the long weekend. I thought," he had broken off to clear his throat, "we could go away for the weekend. I rented a cabin near Bear Valley. That will let us unwind. We'll be able to enjoy ourselves away from the city and get some much-needed rest and relaxation."

Della had beamed with delight. "I love it! When are we leaving and, more importantly, what should I pack?"

"Pack light. Wear what you would on a camping trip since we'll be fishing."

"I don't know how to fish," she had confided shyly, and he had dimpled in reply.

"Never fear, Miss Street! I'm an expert angler! I'll teach you."

"That isn't just some fish tale you're handing me, is it?"

He had grinned at her again. "You can trust me. I'm a great fisherman. I once caught a fish . . . well, let's just say the delight will be all mine."

Once they had made it to the cabin, Della had come out in denim cut-off shorts and a snug t shirt. Perry had lost all train of thought. I might have to go fishing more often if she is going to dress like that! I'm so turned on, just looking at her!

Explaining the equipment to her, he proceeded to teach her how to do the fishing line and cast the pole, allowing her body to touch his. That had produced a further lack of concentration, but she had been delighted. After a couple of test runs, she was ready to cast her line. After casting, she had started the trash talking, flirting with him until he couldn't stand it. Then, just when he had determined to either smother her with kisses or toss her in the lake, she had felt her line pull. He had helped her reel it in, and she had been so delighted that she had turned around and jumped into Perry's arms and planted a big kiss on his lips. His only rational thought had been about finding the catch of his life. Then he had returned the kiss.

That had ignited the passion she had held in reserve. Their hands had roamed everywhere, and soon the poles and fish and bait were abandoned. The rest of the afternoon was spent making love.

end of flashback *

On her way from the boutique, Della decided to pay Paul a visit at his office. Margo, his secretary, looked up and offered a pleasant smile. Instead of heading back to Paul's private office, Della hesitated.

"Margo, would you do something for me?"

"If I can," she replied right away. "What's on your mind, Della?"

"I need to see Paul on a personal matter. About Perry. But . . . I don't want him to get his hackles up. You know how men are. He'll think he needs to stand by Perry down the line."

Margo rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know how men are. And Mr. Drake is, if nothing else, loyal to your boss. Alright. Leave it with me. I'll tell him he has a new client. What's the nature of the case, anyway?"

"Perry ran away," Della supplied, and when the secretary arched her eyebrows, she nodded. "Yes, from me. And no, he left absolutely no clue. It's—well, it's imperative I find him. And I am convinced Paul knows his whereabouts."

With a small laugh, Margo rose and headed down the corridor. A moment later she stuck her head out of the office and waved Della in.

"I didn't tell him your name," she whispered. "You're all set."

Paul Drake was busy lighting was likely his twentieth cigarette in the last two hours. As Della's familiar fragrance wafted toward him, he jerked his head up, unmindful of the match still burning. Then he was very aware of it.

"Yow!!" He stuck his fingertips in his mouth and grimaced. "Ouch!"

She laughed in spite of herself. "Hello, Paul."

"Hi, Beautiful. What are you doing here? Not that I ever mind, but Margo just informed me I have a new client. I'd love to chew the fat, but—"

"A missing persons case, right?" she said, her smile holding. "I'm your client, Paul."

He lowered the cigarette from his mouth. "If the person is who I think he is, the answer is no, Della."

She didn't bother acknowledging that he had spoken. Instead, she went right on with her case. "I'm searching for a missing person, Paul. My other half. He's tall, dark, and handsome with mesmerizing blue eyes."

"Mesmerizing . . ."

"Pay attention! He is missing from my side." She came forward, leaned on extended arms on his desk. Meeting his eyes, she purred, "And I know you know where he is. Perry would never drop completely out of sight or touch."

Paul felt his mouth go dry. Crushing out the cigarette, he stammered, "P-Perry trusts m-me to k-keep his secrets."

She smiled and he had the uncomfortable feeling she had been waiting for him to say that. "Paul, where's Perry?"

"He isn't missing. He went away so he could think, and I agreed with him."

"Did you, Detective?"

He gulped. "Did I— You bet I did! After that stunt you pulled at the restaurant, I felt sorry for the guy. So," he looked away from her, "I will consider this case closed."

"Paul . . ."

"No. Oh, no you don't! I'm not going to betray my brother. Forget it."

She forced patience into her voice. "Paul, I'm trying to make things right. But I can't do that if I can't talk with him. I'll be sure to keep your name out of it."

He sighed. "Della, I'm the only one who knows! If you show up, he'll know who gave him up. The answer is no."

She played her trump card. "I'll pay for you and Gertie to take an immediate vacation. A full week. Anywhere within reason. Effective immediately." She grinned. "The honeymoon you've been promising Gertie, only on my dime."

Paul handled his defeat as gracefully as he could. Relenting, he said, "He's staying at your cabin in Bear Valley. He plans to stay until Sunday. I'll take Gertie on that vacation. But Della, this one is on me. I don't dare let you have leverage on me. Ten years from now you'll hold it over my head that I didn't pay for my own honeymoon. I couldn't face the humiliation."

Smiling sweetly, she said, "Thank you, Paul."

I'm going to go get my man. It's time he came home—to his wife!