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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYVFb4NDPo 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQPMp3lKTm

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXlaFAgAVP 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCzt1Jb7H0

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBn8QMTEJZ 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQFjEoyhQ

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ8qXSk7Mz 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0smdgMjLS

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZwvsUHdnM 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NuwdgxdXq

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb4mF9hM03 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXmLRJKOih

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡawVAfAeMT0 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPDicpj2sj

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGgHmo36qs 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EmxK2btm1

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLxJbXeVIl 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VlB0Vxv5O

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn0d0c3aFT 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuxwUd97IB

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RLbRl051R 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzFwEhasBy

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hObHIun0G 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceLAIAoeJi

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb1QM1lvaE 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1jTXSiSEL

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqRDu91KKY 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn7MUvonz2

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCmpPiUzro 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5VLZNDKnG

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWokvECv3v 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9yuogBQbj

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiTJmoR6CU 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD2GjoGzYD

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhqBtgdz1j 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bfwbVAkWK

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1UEL2IuHm 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZljuZnNMs

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj4z2kPyvW 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BOWxgQpCC

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTLWU4w0Uv 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gmiiFQVRT

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjbDTo7fqT 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o0bvsUCBb

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41Ep5OmE0R 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7UWu5TTqc

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrHQpeCRop 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvFGc12E4z

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27HSoRtDDy 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD9HcFORin

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeks7BYZiZ 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFxLP2obg8

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNkc7dInuH 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZAnokdJnu

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9xUQsC0hw 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolAGypoRGd

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHV4zsMQqm 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SDrjAytaO

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9qPgRseet 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6464CXt9z

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AFXMh64Q8 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHK5DdlA7Z

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8aF1J5Mfn 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRyTXhCzW9

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwv3P7RrKV 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODd986vbtO

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnl7McZIeW 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT0Ay6Zglo

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡCflYinK4ZR 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9SdeFT0Tu

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wqfPXtSup 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QSX75SNf9

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QgIhbFxx8 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBKzmPokaz

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJw6tHcAPn 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2VAKEm2A0

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡgphKiXom6p 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsVXbiutT4

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q8tsdrNKK 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3pgbL93bK

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeVdWmO2ku 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrvOLEVGo

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tbT3HV9kE 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaeAPghhgT

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33JDvzdxiv 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEmqNBCBhG

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dEUJKwUKG 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i0TEiyAUd

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FM93gHD9n 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuciMAFTE0

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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyrlxcyw0z 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELDJTKjRRW

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡMujb2qOkxQ 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXPyMIXtrj

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA8hBvOAiO 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0A02dex0Tt

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y85sJGDrD 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyzuFEMMiX

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7ztTFobUY 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLJCRmjD4I

"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 protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzf37Lmk3h 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cO6fQjs3D

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection391ＰＥＮＡＮＡENcEjuZI5s 維尼395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBl2E5eRTI