Paul Drake to the Rescue
Two months later, true to his word, Perry had Della lying on a secluded beach in Hawaii. Just to sweeten the deal, the two had traveled via ship.
While Perry was still on crutches, he used them as little as possible despite Della's admonishments he might do further damage. That beat a cane, which he stubbornly insisted only men-about-town and the aged used. Della, on the other hand, was almost completely healed. Her shoulder still ached at night, but other than that, she felt as right as rain. When Perry questioned how she healed so fast, Della just smiled and put it down to good midwestern upbringing. (She secretly added that Perry's excellent massage treatments helped a great deal too.)
Now they lay together on the warm sand, watching the waves roll in. It was peaceful, warm and perfect. No one was around them, nothing was going to interrupt them. The timing was perfect.
He dove straight in. "Della, will you marry me?"
"Of course," she murmured lazily.
Perry raised up on his elbow, gazing down at his beautiful secretary. Her eyes were partially closed, her lips curved in a smile. Perry reached out, tracing a finger down her cheek.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Um-hmm."
"Della Street!" he laughed in amused concern, "Will you marry me?"
Now her hazel eyes popped wide open, staring into a pair of eyes so blue the ocean paled in comparison.
Her mouth parted and he seized the moment to kiss her. She sighed into it, then held him off. "I thought—I mean, are you serious?"
Perry sat up, reached into the pocket of his shirt which was thrown casually over a beach chair, and pulled out a small velvet ring box.
It felt light, but the ring inside was a symbol of something heavy with import. He took her hand and placed the box into her palm.
"Open it."
With shaking fingers, Della pushed open the lid. The ring that glistened in the sun took her breath away. The square cut emerald was just the right size for her small hand. The center stone was surrounded by diamonds, with similar diamonds traveling down the band on each side. It was, in a word, spectacular.
Perry watched her face transform as she studied it in awe. Then he reached out, removed the ring from the box, and, taking Della's left hand, slipped it onto her finger. He set the box on the towel, then leaned forward, placing a kiss on her lips.
"Once again, Della Street, will you marry me?"
"Yes."
She said it so softly, he wasn't sure he had heard her. Worried he had jumped the gun too soon after their ordeal, he frowned.
"Della?"
She looked up at him in response.
"Are you okay? You don't have to answer. I know—" he stopped, unsure how to phrase what was on his mind.
He needn't have worried. Sensing what he wasn't able to say, she flung herself into his arms, knocking him back onto the sand. Leaning over him, with her eyes aglow with life and good humor, she smiled radiantly, then lowered her head so that her mouth was even with his ear.
In a warm, husky whisper, she tormented, "Yes, yes, yes. A million times, yes! I love you, Perry."
He held her cheeks between his palms, and kissed her lips lightly, with reverence. Then he kissed her with a newfound hunger. His lips traveled from her mouth to her eyes and cheeks, and finally, back to that teasing mouth he loved so much.
"You had me a little worried for a minute," he confessed. "I thought—"
"You thought my feelings for you were what? Fleeting? Not strong enough? Fickle? Mr. Mason, I will have you know, I love you ardently. Passionately. Eternally. Does that allay your fears?"
He dimpled adorably and was working up a suitable reply, when she rolled over, bringing him on top of her.
"Chief? There comes a time in every lawyer's life when it is time to REST YOUR CASE. Now, shut up and kiss me."
I will love her forever, he told himself. Then he laughed and happily complied.
Sometime later, lying in Perry's arms, Della turned her hand this way and that, admiring the engagement ring. The sunlight caught the stones, and the ring came alive with sparkles.
"Do you like it?" he asked drowsily.
"You have amazing taste, sweetheart. It's perfect, just like the man who gave it to me."
"I thought maybe with it being an emerald you would be able to wear it in the office without it causing too many questions. You could always say it's a family heirloom."
She smiled, warmed to her core. "You are wonderful. And I don't give a hoot what people think."
He grinned. "For the record, Miss Street, I am so proud to be your future husband. I know your desire to keep right on working matches mine to have you with me. After everything we've been through, I'm rather attached to you . . ."
"Likewise, buster! Besides, I'm rather proud of you, too. Not just your record in court, although I do brag about you all the time, but because of who you are. And how you are. And while some other man might get me to turn my head every now and again, my heart is aimed in your direction permanently."
He looked at her in mock surprise. "What other man turned your head? Do I know him? How do you want him prosecuted? I know people . . ."
She laughed. "Have you ever seen Paul in a tuxedo?" She licked her lips playfully. "He's one handsome man."
Suddenly a familiar voice sounded across the beach.
"Should my ears be burning?"
Both of them turned as Paul and Marica walked through the sand towards them.
Perry growled, muttering under his breath, "You're lucky he's with Marica, darling. Otherwise I might have to . . ." He didn't finish the threat. Instead he greeted neutrally, "I thought this was a private beach. How did you . . . oh, never mind."
Della stood and hugged first Paul and then Marica. While Paul flopped down beside Perry, Marica studied Della's ring.
"I always knew he would have excellent taste. I'm so very happy for you! For both of you."
Della colored unconsciously. "Thank you, Marica. How are you and my favorite detective getting along?"
A frown crossed her lovely face. "As much as I might love him, Paul is a . . ."
Della hugged her once more. "Never mind. You just might be the one to tame him. Don't give up. I didn't."
A few days later, Perry and Della, along with Paul and Marica, stood on the same beach just as the sun started sinking into the ocean, turning the sky into brilliant oranges, reds and purples.
Perry wore a light linen suit while Della wore the traditional Hawaiian wedding gown. Both were adorned with beautiful fresh flower leis of gardenias, as well as a crown of the same flowers on Della's head. The minister recited the wedding vows, his timing perfect as the couple sealed their marriage with a kiss just as the sun was sinking into the ocean with an almost audible sigh.
A white tent had been set up with lighted tiki torches at the four corners. A small buffet of roast pig and other traditional Hawaiian dishes welcomed the newlyweds. Two waiters served them, then discreetly disappeared.
Paul offered a champagne toast to his friends, saying he wasn't sure he'd ever have lived to see the day Perry finally popped the question. Perry told him he was fired, but his laugh said differently. Marica followed with another toast, saying how very happy she was to have met them and to be included on their special day.
Perry toasted to his beautiful bride, proclaiming this to be the happiest day of his life. Della toasted to her husband, she too saying this was the happiest day in her life, both of them so lost in each other's eyes.
Once food and champagne had been consumed, Paul and Marica again congratulated their friends, saying they would see them in a week when they returned to the real world.
The two servers had cleared away the remnants of dinner and had in its place arranged a large, soft down bed. Along with the torches, luminaries now sat in the sand along the outside of the tent. Somewhere out of sight, the strains of the Hawaiian Wedding song floated on the breeze.
Della stood at the entrance to the tent, looking out on the ocean, shimmering under the full moon. Perry stood behind her, his arms wrapping her in warmth and love.
"I love you, Mrs. Mason."
"I love you, Mr. Mason."
Longing shook him. "Della, I . . ."
Turning in her husband's arms, Della kissed him. "I think it's time we started our honeymoon, don't you?"
The next moment he had her in his arms, carrying her to the bed. "Your wish is my command."