Lia was surprised that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and that she slept deeply. She was convinced that she would be up all-night, thinking over Ben's offer, and dreaming about what she would do with the house. However, she realized there really wasn't that much to dream about since she had never seen the inside of the darn thing.

It was still early when she hooked Huck to his leash, double checking that it was firmly attached, and had started on a long walk around Savannah, there was something about the city that enchanted her on a Saturday morning while everyone else was still slumbering. It was quiet and peaceful with only the wind in the oaks and the occasional church bell, she could well imagine what the city was like over a hundred years ago before cars ruined it.

She had just settled on a bench, content to let the world walk by with Huck beside her when her landlady Ida came cruising by, speed walking and pushing her cat in its stroller. Her lime green tracksuit was catching the attention of anyone that walked by.

"Lia," she greeted, stopping in front of her while continuing to walk in place. "How is Huck today?"

Huck looked up at her with a moan, as if to say he had been better.

"He's fine, dramatic as usual Miss Ida, how's Buster today, and where is Babs?" Lia asked after her cat, Buster, and her parakeet, Babs.

"Babs is keeping King company,' King was Ida's iguana, "so Buster gets to ride in the stroller today. He's getting older and can't keep up like he used to," she explained while the cat licked its paw.

"Perhaps, I'll have to get a stroller for Huck one day?" Lia said, looking over at the dog who was eyeing the cat with his head down.

Ida nodded. "When he's ready, he'll let you know. I saw you in the alley the other night with our nice-looking neighbor, how is he doing?" There wasn't much Ida missed. She was never seen but she always saw.

"Why, I'm just fine, Miss Ida, I may call you that?" Ben asked from behind Ida. Ida was standing so close she had blocked Lia's view of Ben's house.

"You certainly may, and what do I call you?" she asked, looking him up and down.

"Ben Emerson," Ben held out his hand, and Ida gave him hers gently. "I'll call you Ben. What do you do Ben?" she asked.

"I'm a writer." He looked at Huck who only rolled over for a belly rub.

Buster didn't like the move and let out a howl, so Ida reached forward to calm him. "We have to go, Buster's had enough." And just like that, she walked away.

"What an interesting lady," Ben commented as grabbed Huck's leash and tried to shift him. Huck didn't attempt to help or move in any way as Ben slid him across the bench seat. There was barely enough room for Ben to sit, but that didn't stop him from almost sitting on both Lia and Huck. He picked up Huck's head and sat, laying it back in his lap as he was seated. Uncomfortable, Huck sat up, twirled, and laid back down in a ball with his tail hanging off the bench and his head on his paws.

Ben laid his arm across the back of the bench and Lia could feel his leg brush her side and his chest brush her arm. The heat coming off him was strong and he smelled like peppermint. She was tempted to rest her head on his shoulder, but when he angled his body towards her, her heartbeat kicked up a notch, and she kept her gaze straight ahead. She could feel the solid wall of muscle that was his chest pressing into her arm, and his hip was tight against her hip, she swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

"I saw you were sitting here and thought I would join you, so we could talk," he explained.

Lia knew they looked like a happy couple enjoying a Saturday morning in Savannah.

"I figured that much out," she said.

"You're smart like that." He nodded, watching a van pull up to the curb by the square and start unloading its contents. Ben sighed. "It looks like there's going to be a wedding today."

Lia nodded, there were often weddings in the squares, and with every square being unique a bride and groom had a wide variety of choices.

"Who's wedding?" Ben hollered over his shoulder to the event rental team. One of them reached into the truck and pulled out his list, looking at it. "Lennox and Styles!" he hollered back.

Lia couldn't control the gasp that escaped her lips.

"It appears he likes to twist the knife as well," Ben mused softly.

"Why, why would he do that?" she asked. Perplexed as to why Chance would choose the square in front of her house.

"Maybe he doesn't know where you live and it's only coincidence," he suggested.

"Maybe, but I had to list my new address with HR, he would have been able to find it out easily enough."

"Maybe they planned this wedding months ago," he tried again.

"He only asked her to marry him six weeks ago," Lia shook her head. "He used my ring too. I didn't have the heart to tell her." Lia shook her head.

"It sounds to me like he realizes what he lost, and he's trying to convince himself that he doesn't care."

"Or he's just an ass," Lia shrugged, leaning her head back on his arm as she watched the men at work.

"Or he's just an ass," Ben agreed with a twitch of his lip.

They spent a few minutes watching in a companionable silence, neither one feeling the need to say anything. Lia couldn't help but think that it was nice to spend time with someone.

"This is nice, it would have been better if you had brought coffee though," she said with a smile.

"My bad," he reached over and tugged on Huck's ear. "I'll know better next time."

Next time, Lia liked the sound of that.

"Uh oh, incoming," Ben whispered in her ear giving her goosebumps, he was so close that it must have looked like he was kissing her.

When he leaned back, Lia saw Chance walking towards them, and Lia couldn't help the resigned sigh that escaped her. Chance stopped in front of them, and neither she nor Ben made and effort to greet him.

"What are you doing with him!" Chance hissed.

"Well, he is my fiancé, and we're enjoying a morning in the square with Huck, I thought we would enjoy it for a few more minutes, but now that you've ruined it, I might as well let Ben take me out to breakfast. Then I think we'll do some laundry, maybe clean the house, possibly get some lunch somewhere..."

Chance had turned bright red at either her smart alec comments or the news that she and Ben were engaged.

"Clarey's for breakfast," Ben suggested, picking right up where she left off like a good fiancé.

"Sure," she agreed, not bothering to make a move as she watched the men working.

"Congratulations on you upcoming nuptials!" Ben said to Chance.

"You had better not be around here this evening!" Chance said, ignoring Ben.

"That will be hard to avoid not being around here this evening considering be both live across the street." Lia sat up, but neither Huck nor Ben moved.

"You still have that mangey mutt I see. I'm surprised you found anyone willing to let you have him."

"Huck has a certain charm," Lia said.

"Is that what's called?" Chance snorted.

Huck jumped down at the sound of his name and walked over to Chance, sniffing his feet. Chance held perfectly still. When Huck went to lift his leg both Lia and Ben yelled his name and he stopped mid leg lift, looking at them as if saying 'pleeeease'.

"No, come," Ben said firmly, and Huck lowered his leg and walked back over to Ben, sitting on his feet.

"Don't worry, we'll stay out of your way, we'll be busy." Lia stood, looking at behind her at Ben. "Ready, I want that coffee now," she insisted.

Ben stood taking her hand. "Good luck," he said to Chance. "I think you're going to need it."

Lia and Ben turned and started in the direction of the restaurant. Once they were clear of Chance, Lia started to giggle.

"I can't believe that Huck almost peed on him!" Ben joined in with a warm deep laugh that sounded good on him. It made Lia smile.

"I can; Huck used to always pee on his shoes if he left them out. I probably should have taken it as a hint."
They walked in silence for a moment.

"So, we're officially engaged then?" Ben asked.

"Are you still going to let be fix your house?"

"A deal is a deal," he agreed. "Although I feel your getting the raw in it."

"Nah, we'll be company for each other, and that's not a bad thing," Lia said softly, realizing how lonely she had been.

"No, it's not," he agreed.

"And look at you! You're wearing shoes." Lia said in a proud voice.

"I do on occasion."

"I'll have to learn how to deal with this new fancy Ben." She laughed again as she skipped ahead, towards the restaurant. "Come on, I see a table outside."

"As if it was meant to be, a good omen," Ben said, tugging at Huck's leash. He gave a happy bark suddenly darting after Lia, causing Ben to have to find his balance.

Ben had the feeling that his wouldn't be the only time Lia and Huck would knock him off balance, and he found he was looking forward to it.