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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ppbMi5K9W 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbsLnNb1Wi

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0iKEn3VXF 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPZxxJN8f6

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwkift6Ct8 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxJ4RlSVG3

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBh9tuNjNM 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZKDNFHtHe

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EnYNFXKg8 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf57xtBIt6x

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDMvvprz7G 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzTpBPneWi

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3S546JRMy 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4xwH4qO5B

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxm97Gty6o 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzBOqo1s4

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8JfwkmR8g 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqC7aGkBF2

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj9d4BDaut 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnywn6NMBo

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18r1A2wBvT 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD26mGcTST9

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ttWTFIwgw 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0G7sqyCa1

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S6D8FkLCY 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCtG0IN93S

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡjETX7DMj7J 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EbyckC0ag

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpTAAFfMX1 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HbDyRqwAA

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyCKihXYZD 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RxxiXSAem

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2Krzk7ddA 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV3jnggPCa

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZvo29zoAm 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfhJ2EaiBn

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡUecWVRQI3u 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHenjhjhF5

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhWDZ7345y 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDDxrEKNOP

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡet6zmHSlfi 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJvqFquTiJ

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbF39Yv8qX 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrT864gBTC

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8oW0TUAaV 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJxS2euKZu

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwQUnhRDHJ 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwXb3dxOgc

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFAm6UWWiX 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVRhSxqvst

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIUGkLlu9D 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo86GB9VZC2

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡdICtyd3eTQ 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hgySXx27L

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHxqMz2zJH 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRF9q4LUNe

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIrRHzWqCu 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVD0vl24lv

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlzEB513XW 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh6YhKMZxQ

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK3kdPFvhe 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPKK18hyh6

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJkGAIYXRc 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNGcLnXV7x

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdewPs0nzr 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxxmzcBbrS

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjGDEI8w2Y 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg42S8Entfo

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7uZxY7u6P 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpL7MtcUa9

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaLCMtFyUI 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuaRQ4WXIK

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy5mtnWn5U 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA8AKflCrn

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uDYBd7e18 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wJUjqOaUm

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1qEQFBlNI 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbDOoP6u8y

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUTttqVB1E 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV4exWHnxp

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeUpxQMnLA 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT7IPIUuwe

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡb157Ovzl0F 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2oxFKAfaf

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWMBeYrQTT 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4rWhvkA1p

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwZGla33Gp 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBXYy0X5Pw

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvyHPA7rre 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjiNi7Ue5B

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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡv99A3Hcp7C 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6f275W5Fe

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjonEqz0MR 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmtGLQKPOK

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgK0465aQT 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZvbHDZjva

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡkigcAJdgIJ 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkzDftFg2e

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFyKJ8T8io 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwRh5lqF6l

"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 protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiV98DoBgC 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ctXsBhKIR

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9NbzLn3gT 維尼333Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzdjGrSVuz