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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6kZQZeqwN 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvPbOMyQ9T

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlBCLtHb2J 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHeYWajA5J

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡHObKki4cE5 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVPeoCVlx5

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kiAq0xLXt 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf890QDzeIf

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpdabx7bvK 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqnDKamRvY

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡocDxv0fXmr 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jygXnAIdc

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWNs8b8Pv3 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdiH2IBvRU

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRri0Bh1sj 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyN2Fo3nqe

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡFla4nWUjLe 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYtyOyFf0U

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHHtnOgde9 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVSYggjEi4

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrzQa4X5dh 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Pxgy5FANi

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UHvF7NSJU 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zcFKUcehq

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR5YRizxNN 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oI4U9fOws

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡGupeisbTBh 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUfRROmVwY

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡATjMBYThME 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg5lydLdb7

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gBeFPSisY 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA4gQoAL7K

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡilHpW61Wyi 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdOda70uOd

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoT7qdWhIp 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfD0gTDPgE

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yYR5ATRAb 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hdWNTiJbS

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDDgUxuwUv 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4gYZO32e3

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7ibU7xrk0 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh5zK3eN3Z

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06QJ6eTNZr 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlsQTVcmUQ

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡq76zzWgEVi 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VASPeT6nQ

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3KChfcUQM 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavqEwk4PX4

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XrGaiY3rb 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kg3OioGas

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHKyeEF1pb 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8gIGWEtDH

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyWK9Dweql 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAotrPZKMwZ

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWsjaHKO6b 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ59CK0jEUR

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡodyPesg5ue 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTmQjIENt3

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc4XwSJHef 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNVLv1Syjw

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQIEB3EAjA 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1upfOj7CiU

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKQOg2OJQz 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rerkeg8lZ

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡT59Z6AO0IU 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdQ60WNbfy

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yIHfaL1np 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEJ5Lvdf4A

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxmzhsiDC3 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcmxOTLSlz

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN3ZakDDQx 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUgWFacK8G

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP0yhsCO2P 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs776FGCAs

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UoOpJBCio 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t3w9vy6Ze

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEBrVqmBJv 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGG329k4fP

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTFd9khuUQ 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH19puRyf7m

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rANWGw504 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MNy5kAjOc

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡx57tIMpjdz 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMOhMtqw9W

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoSxJmMrDt 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA0ktMaKct

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ih6cILdsy 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRGDTGdfmJ

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GUMWstRGl 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfVwfordu3

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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHSrUFWaA8 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy5jpXLwSh

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpcoGwyedO 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iWYc1YapK

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9sKJkftf8 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL10NaM3r3

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTP7uvyOgj 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSIrptXOV5

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDvhH48fK5 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk5RavzZEJ

"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 protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uVVHQBIsl 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMT2LT1fxH

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection344ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJscuKbR1x 維尼348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsTpe8pdC6