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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR73oe4RKq 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZjd7qKPrJ

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHtHOcnLin 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I2J4Ld3TB

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhxSYHByEQ 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntkvuSOL0v

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh2RLGuLqb 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT0nwFS0eS

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lpni5Vglg 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgAHpbgiy5

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mM2XRKFIb 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq6AORHr8T

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiaSnaGtLc 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgZjIGZKz0

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡem4Lij5AAb 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGeVz6abPL

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQjwCYWcfn 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSSu86jF5A

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lDkJZxBBU 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXQTeBs8uo

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuyYD7k9Tl 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzBPRKIvlI

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMwscLwAEn 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7C2iolWM8

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjLB89eu2K 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPzwDECe82

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM6l8XjSdX 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqMYWf7alj

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaoLXJFYMH 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOX97m1Zgd

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdb8ggBWZw 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUQbksMOl9

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkxuN5FAv3 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4o4K2CQtg

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdsvfXFmCr 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8Uu4quvDg

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlafcAKQgF 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjjo7k3MB3

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69NZB0ZUSB 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RD7FTi0IN

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa1PzJD5E5 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jCPmeDrdj

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgJH6G52v4 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieP60T8muz

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzyZU99vh6 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdMbojf7HL

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMXUPyEQyn 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwqjQ49O16

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhky2ObrYQ 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXSDgrcrXQ

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j8FGLu2uI 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmbo32rvUt

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ1oohHxrc 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9eXKPEWz1

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyUPjCwvvy 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMRF7YH8mA

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8smT47eWJ 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqFexbgKd4

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7AyoqX5iz 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi1pU3zlC3

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5OqRu6TkH 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NKlbIiGrr

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmArbXrxux 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02kaKEsXn2

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gbnftUao7 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iLaD2Vlmx

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K9r60wDFC 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC60pV3I02

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiKkCpbI3C 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg5XGafhDy

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq6OTeCvw7 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0mT9HkHm6

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3a2NdTaw5 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfyn11IVKq

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsW1C1BHsJ 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKkHdYrgjK

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzllNbcAcb 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHbk4YlCVn

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡb29tWQAvjp 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7C8LWtTm8

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzUtW4KfyO 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhn3K7Rpgw

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTBSXDV4S7 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUo2H4aP9E

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMQJYTbZHk 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CDBRmAa2f

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡITURa9FYqg 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBHNGOiPTw

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkbhvVtXLO 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuSSGC7VYb

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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMUKZPW1KO 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmgs5dmRPx

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm2OTgmgfk 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsASr8xSzkB

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlgkHGXV28 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgveI83Lhpg

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn7RCRiXuh 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QvvtyLA6W

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYoTu2fWny 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH7BoJMdBs

"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 protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nXfjXFJZe 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIaCWurcEK

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection308ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzoGbBHZ0i 維尼312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48sV9v6hNX