Stepping Out : Young Adult Romance Books (A New Adult Romance Story "Swanson Sisters Series" : Book 2) by Amelia Jones Page B

she hadn’t asked about him. It would only be polite to ask.
    She continued, “ So Howard, who are you?”
    “I’m just Howard.”

Chapter 2
    It was at that moment that Sophie showed up. Alicia saw her coming towards them and she saw Sophie hesitate. She could read Sophie’s mind right now. Sophie was debating whether or not to interrupt.
    Alicia took the decision out of her hands. She waved and called, “Have you come to get me? Is it time to go home?”
    Sophie resumed walking towards them. She held out her hand to Howard in introduction and he took her hand and gave it a shake, “I’m Sophie.”
    “And I’m Howard Wentworth.”
    Sophie turned to Alicia and said, “Yes I think it is time to go.”
    Howard interrupted. “I can take you home.” Then he added, “I can drive both of you home if you like.”
    Sophie said, “Thank you. That’s very kind of you but my boyfriend’s driving us.”
    Alicia and Howard were both still clutching the glass. Howard smiled at her, a mischievous little grin. “But what about the glass? One of us is going to have to let it go.”
    Alicia smiled back. “You first.”
    He shook his head slowly back and forth. “Only if you give me permission to call you.”
    “Call me what?” Alicia joked back. Then she let go of the glass. As soon as she did she regretted it. She saw the surprised look on his face and she felt a spark like something magic had just appeared in the air between them.
    Howard must’ve been startled as well because he let go of the glass a split second after she did and it fell to the patio floor and shattered. “Aw Ohhh” They both spoke at once.
    “Please don’t move. Stay right here.” Howard said and he turned toward the patio doors. He stopped and looked back, “ Please don’t move.”
    Alicia was about to move. Sophie put her hand on Alicia’s arm. At that moment, Jack appeared. “Hey Alicia, are you having fun yet?”
    “I think she is.” Sophia said. “Did you see that gorgeous guy?”
    Jack laughed, “Yes but I don’t know about him being gorgeous. I don’t usually check out those things.
    Sophie turned to Alicia, “Did he say his name was Howard Wentworth?”
    Alicia looked at her sister and nodded. Alicia braced herself to hear a negative stream of context about Howard and something dreadful he had done to one of his friends or colleagues or some such story. “Do you know something about him?” Alicia asked.
    Sophie was like that. It was fine for her to move 300 miles away and breeze home and still be the big bossy sister who knew everyone. Alicia grinned. It was hard to think of little blonde Sophie as big and bossy but that was the family role that she assumed and when Alicia was four and Sophie was nine, Sophie was big and bossy.
    Sophie frowned at her. “Well I know he’s a Wentworth .” She turned to Jack and said, “One of the area’s richest families, full of philanthropic deeds.”
    Howard returned with a little whisk broom and a small dustpan. He knelt and swept up the broken glass and then swish ed the little handheld whisk over Alicia’s sandaled feet. “I want to make sure you don’t have any broken glass on your feet.” He grinned up at her.
    Sophie meanwhile had written her cell number on a piece of paper and she gave it to Howard. Alicia protested, “You can’t do that Sophie. You can’t be going around giving out my number to people.”
    “I didn’t.” To Howard, Sophie said, “That’s my cell number just in case she doesn’t give you her number. I can take a message and pass it on.” Then Sophie turned and guided Alicia along with her. It was just past eleven o’clock and a beautiful night.
    Jack said, “Well ladies, I guess we have to leave now – Howard will wonder why you brushed him off and then hung around.”
    Sophie teased him about placing the blame on them when he was the one who wanted to leave. He didn’t want to stay out late because the seminar that had brought him to this town