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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcCNmfwKnA 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m4ZeKRyDz

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6XA3pJKjT 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KUvpCRQs5

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pswDWEa6K 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwEGkWiVHo

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6MdnxLXyG 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Cv6b7mpY

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WYCPiq0Zn 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqo25473DD

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWqhom6kYf 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxNsI98APi

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6xpxvEzks 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjmcaEJpZB

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi6tUPvRsN 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKLDuEt2a4

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9deJvyunY 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j2TeCc5JY

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C5bE7KJvh 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOBybPU4Cj

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsf3AFVnPr 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rhumYh8e7

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxQb9fED0b 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwIh1Hkjag

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMYeMIQNwn 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn9g0aFdKh

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡt44hFIoglM 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr5Jc4vXof

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyuGaUWGtq 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIRu7SL4Rp

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡafQpZ4PYH8 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWAFu5ZTZ9

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxxeN5gLka 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp85O7Sn8c

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF1noWbgdm 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ5mmDVDgj

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡusRgoIeZnN 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TfHuM653z

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT5uU2Qpiv 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqICX8aV0t

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDiFfa6qzK 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8IkXecuGq

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6QLJ86x4A 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWFH2OIbMS

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2jkYayUNX 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MzHlDozbf

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH8f72W9F1 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP9obLC8qL

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrOtnF0u1m 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36rVsBS061

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoA7JClNNI 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxNbUgFbV2

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFO9Yjg7wE 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9juBD1ZaMH

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡttacqjelr2 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitw1sFcoZA

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzRP4UUYs5 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg0OJmI5Zm

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4InKsPXvB 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmOyFSyyGA

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡgONzHcUe2O 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oZIaczoqN

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I4waExsSX 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFvng2HhNA

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaYepmCPbX 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gueFtewFQ

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRfDzaU1s5 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBvK7mdCU7

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qOhBqpfhX 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9VksRZpQs

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIGuREvvnK 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv541g3AC57

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡM104AhFaV1 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2dMZ0D1BF

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BeBXXK8LZ 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhcIIdSpnk

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gpWAtNC2d 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3H4Tmj9QR

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡha0Ml9TuIr 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOPOkVf6CX

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc4xFE06Pt 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIKukdwha4

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3a9fvC6P1 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8kltdQrGH

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yHGkgnLEi 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4Fo5cA58v

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PuXhsbDqs 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd9BZYsrfs

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQUofHBy8x 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8SuaXx9Jf

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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xypH2Zh7o 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyRYPZEIBL

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP9ZTg6CJp 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmspfIgD4g5

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4vDPe1Ui1 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaNtgCmSwU

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSXRFL6HKT 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zP4FbcUFk

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTmrLoBcE7 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qehRQatUY

"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 protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXbfulLijr 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtkHVqXh1D

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiZmmnDk0a 維尼346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebMbpAaS9s