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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVsrS0nWQi 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEnjPq5J6c

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Iv1B5DZq 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT3zPt7nvV

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMptDenOw9 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblPPAFcNqm

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRLwxpyI0C 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnDZ2ZAkfq

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡPexs4grezM 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGK3grq3yp

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiXpTqF0cA 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZBKv53Z4R

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡHymKiye4GX 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhKx6XTtQo

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtefOgqu8D 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy4BkK9dtO

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzry6tGRX1 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7uyiYAfIJ

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2zeRxcjzl 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYp0NRo6F6

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDbd644Xj6 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgz1BoPNgJ

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzLKytqcMr 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP6inxKJga

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVz4QHwrNT 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTA76XoTiu

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAg0OjUAcn 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWS7WXTwu6

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4sz0jcPrn 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB3IPR5NTx

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvuA4pkWKO 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLScx2NMeoR

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c3nyMaNDA 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3z9ci0m8y

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYenGgSJz7 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFBMXt7TJI

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡH706zG41PG 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6zdBt2RxJ

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡszDLv6oROx 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQOrnFXuxV

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnEXRsw20Y 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uIVONbb2u

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvCVQ1wGai 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfszrxsSqy

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBkmf8MaXd 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwPPjsfiL0

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T1EKj0CZJ 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcKGQU58cS

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQCTQWKE9A 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZI4ME6plt

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6EdhwzJJv 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iNWHBLsVt

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡchhqKL4Pw3 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh56KXA8kF

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4oFmmHXSC 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJihi2ndlS

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UZhKKNa8U 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQyEHELICL

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWMYYFcxAc 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLB1HAfvCw

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFJ8doqt00 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBe1jY1uCg

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o3RhVH6RL 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepJBCNlik9

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpQWHMTa0r 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yHt8Bdtju

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C4NogJcom 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd5cFSvOO7

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgxavgzlXf 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeujik654n

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzeUpPe8VP 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGOVmxlQPp

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bKGIcVis0 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwKjAtAfKr

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGRW0ROtwd 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA7Z3NIBqr

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiCXMAQwq6 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qLyNN8TrN

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65e5dsRuSK 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN0H9BN2w0

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLxNku6tQP 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCKxeFBII0

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ64tM0gA8P 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71wVH7SUsD

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xbh7KUUJe 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bo5FeiWEy

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H2rgU6cZb 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKqp7XuAzs

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡevEcpwm6kz 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhX3uWkia8

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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF4zdZiBZo 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPB7NM0h3Q

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡypef6ab1UX 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO3OcsiY7M

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OCsT9IVTG 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7QzxGy4Wx

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBIIlVKmGe 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphRsZrmffX

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx0sjuccaV 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5C1vk8Jnb

"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 protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXzNU9HFmB 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3YLL1uCpg

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection300ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTu3vFreHS 維尼304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8faCxhVk0