Love Me Sweet (Love Me book 1)

Chapter 9

         

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.