She smoked in the car on her way home from work Friday afternoon. She smoked again out back on her patio before getting in the shower. Elise knew she would still be a hot mess by the time Danny came to pick her up for their date in 2 hours, but she didn't dare risk the chance of smelling like cigarettes around him. She was aware of how irrational she was feeling, but Elise was scared to death of doing anything to fuck things up with this man she barely knew. But why?8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv2ctLzKCS 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE34SArmYh9

Would it really be the end of the world if they didn't hit it off? If they found they had nothing in common? Continued on with their separate lives, seeing each other briefly in passing at work for who knew how long? Months? Years? Always wondering what could have been? The heavy ball in the pit of her stomach said it would.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCNQGbSTLT 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK420FRYp0W

She tried not to sweat as she dressed after her shower. Elise chose a red sweater and skinny blue jeans. Everyone always said red seemed to make her green eyes even more dazzling as well as bring out the natural red highlights of her auburn brown hair. Though she still felt a little self-conscious wearing them, Elise would have been lying if she said she hadn't chosen them on this particular occasion to show off her ass. She curled her mid-back length hair in big, loose curls and pulled it backon one side with a large clip with tiny little silver rhinestones on it. She applied her make-up more deliberately than usual, pausing at her lips, the final touch. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgSeS3dXhM 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKQ1WNwSAe

Elise couldn't help herself from thinking about Danny's lips. Her own reminded them of his, in a way, as she stared at herself in the mirror. Not too big, Not too thin. Just right. She finished with the lipstick and took a deep breath, continuing to look herself over in the mirror, secretly hoping some wise, subconscious part of her brain would suddenly make itself known and give her the best pep talk she had ever had. Elise resigned herself after no magical genies or shoulder angels popped up after a couple of minutes. She made her way to the living room and waited on the couch.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlOZi9lvNy 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPBaA2BlKS

"Hey, Elise," she opened the door 20 minutes later. Reading a book while she waited to calm her nerves proved to be an effort in futility. She was fairly certain she couldn't remember a single word she had just read.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡigZl4UMLdw 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVftUKFDpX

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94ZeiJYHt3 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQqVm2DYn6

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DL2Auva5T 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuhSx3IUOB

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMyZ0PNImO 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM2p5dPMRD

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoQEqNZ6VC 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0MhD4JMXt

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg7sKsgZiR 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ7rrYj8wr

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTRbCdlPDy 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3I9Okhi9Y

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h6G2H88OX 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKftPgN3M1s

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tmzaqHkhM 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6EKwoKibX

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWAqOrRX5N 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kAqHkZ6Kb

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFvklhjRM0 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rkgXR3ZlP

"Which one?" he asked, turning to get it for her. She indicated her black pea coat to his left and he helped her slip it on. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtojYxyukV 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRf0Rq8zUv

"Thanks," she replied bashfully. For some reason, he was surprised by his manners, thoughtfulness, whatever you wanted to call it. She wasn't complaining, though. Elise only hoped it wasn't just part of an act to win her over. She deserved someone genuinely nice, didn't she? 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93cS7S5gVF 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWJDomV3G5

They ended up talking for hours. They talked about anything and everything. It had taken Elise a surprisingly short amount of time to relax once they started chatting at the restaurant. By the time they left, it was nearly 10 o'clock. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡB27x0o4JX3 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqyNdnukjk

"How about a walk?" Danny suggested as he helped her with her coat once again. "Or are you ready to call it a night?" he made an anxious-looking face. Elise wondered if he realized his brow was furrowed in an almost scowl, deep in thought, it seemed.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WilNE60Cw 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6D7x7Sj2X

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxyDIgJaH9 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLMutRKVbd

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL8LHdXrb9 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHNjk5xUpm

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD0fo13LcO 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMjNU1Diim

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWXGQKhNeT 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc0v1WwNMK

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZuldJ5ERf 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbIVzaSFky

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtRHQL9aro 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHTQL6H6ky

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSD8VMy5rU 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjFXqoBPWT

"I did. You just didn't know me," a small smile played on her lips. Her face was beginning to hurt from smiling and laughing so much all night. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much. That was one of her new favorite things she had discovered about Danny that evening: How easily he could make her laugh. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44FN1AFPYp 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gnTIYRer8

The late October air was taking on a bitter coldness. She searched her pockets for a pair of gloves, but came up empty-handed.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RM5luJGYE 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqpWnRkUzb

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡt50fb9HTLU 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJXuMTOxqu

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUF0LJ7hh1 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Qib57vV4

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3DqmEEb9w 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUPZD10jpk

Suddenly, without asking, Danny took one of her hands in his. Normally, she probably would have tried to jerk it away, but she welcomed his touch. Their hands had already brushed against one another several times on their short walk. She savored the warmth of his strong, slightly rough hand enveloping her own small one. They both looked down at their entangled hands fleetingly before looking up at each other, stopping momentarily. Danny still didn't ask if it was ok, but he didn't need to: His eyes said it all. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4teMkGv97 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEOdkZDgWG

"I didn't let go, did I?" This seemed to appease him and they continued walking, crossing Main Street, headed back toward the parking lot where Danny's truck awaited.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN4uKkDq3P 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFMDxrP2g3

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3LovhLyw5 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMclFV1mXsS

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN75ARyEmX 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp4o2kad4f

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY2xH2EiVv 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cXZYHctNe

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj9Hq5Yc87 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC6j8rhI8b

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJxPmzUITm 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V0L12BRvS

"You might be surprised." Elise kept her eyes forward, not wanting to see his reaction. It would likely only lead her to more inappropriate thoughts.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡz09xVIaCAO 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12FpBvfdAo

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMa9hjwXr7 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgQmyJjOUq

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡviZOJAvEji 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9AzodOaAs

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL1giwWINH 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubCfkji1uF

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZk6RRiPrg 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBJwM2DTA2

"And you are exceedingly charming, but I must get some sleep," she said this while resting her other hand on the side of his face, looking him in the eyes.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvjwKI30qH 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yjim2dNxV

"Besides, you're parking ticket is going to be outrageous. Are you sure I can't give you any money for it? It's the least I can do. It's not as if you talked to yourself all evening," they both chuckled.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMY4HtAwFC 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJfRV9PG0d

They each fidgeted nervously in front of Elise's apartment door upon returning. She didn't dare invite him inside. Her brain was telling her to behave herself, but every square inch of the rest of her body was telling her otherwise. Not that she had much experience in the dating department, but she was trying hard to resist the urge to rush into things. She had a sinking feeling she was going to fail miserably at this in the end. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3LZlczCcv 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUdX5CyOUH

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX5gBTK7e2 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGejOjd6Wr

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OmlVtVcSV 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtFWTe5zsI

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vyym3ypIk 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZD8vkOfqP

"Yah," she tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She didn't want to see him at work next. Elise wanted to spend more time with him now.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGEU3ZZDLL 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwubllW5Nr4

"Oh. And happy early birthday," Danny finally made the decision to kiss her, but confined it to her cheek, the "safe zone". Beggars couldn't be choosers, though, and she took what she could get. Unfortunately, the feel of his warm lips against her skin just added more fuel to her pre-sleep daydreams, fantasies, what have you later that night.8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jtVjjfApZ 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi5I5Oajqw

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection346ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUGzYiBk8A 維尼350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr23avU8Gsc