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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEQGgGMEqp 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rb9eyzJlI

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7azkIRRMo 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJegyyjX7Pj

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpklh6JI6f 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bixkz6jxy

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHsKFjtlbS 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCnKejXOeF

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr2FSGKAPX 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHis9KIBXFk

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡliOKcKvMZx 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZpX1EWWha

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ0yRGSTmr 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDRVXzixrc

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxvm7C9Njp 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7CIs9iDle

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvvSyh6H9j 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW5PIwHrPa

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj99TqVIB7 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbtD6a4S44

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRT426G6MW 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8BvLG2hZp

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYDer7g03c 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL97riZDzgV

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0Ii4KGxoM 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fEvXC5AQZ

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGyN78uuPX 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyBtwdxbLB

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡU59j8iBxqM 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EftHYTtAi

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYZLBfInlZ 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv63LRaCyx

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWpu9LA2zb 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDCaMRrmzW

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmIZ41EMMe 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYK9fw9678

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYgVhuUhD2 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXQd0ktqDz

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM2a6SD2nX 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluapy196Nt

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcIwgWRGST 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8TmPwR6de

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWUOtfOgAF 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhijTfvbVJ

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnKTRUVTGM 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LW4XUID8e

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgIBmJFL6Z 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r3TyGMM3D

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkIqJFzt6A 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQR9cPnGSQ

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡj22Y0Zxtg8 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FxUHLn3sv

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCtOagHHVF 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSoPerKoW5

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJMhM87mns 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIiGP1fR7O

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1joe70PtC 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBto2rderr

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOk9nKhDEO 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N6I3IOBL6

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUjY6HJIJl 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64SJMat9Tr

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY6LsNI5aM 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uaQTXipC7

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzo1MV2VTF 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGHBMA7tNP

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvf7utIGhh 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwtE2kh2cx

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiBUVQbPPa 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfVqQRwRZf

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡKawuQGSEck 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWailHHoq3D

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZCjbB5D5X 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgUc1vt93G

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eXacQWwRX 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48N6CVnn4M

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqW9uNeTWq 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2tyvfvPnx

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtyFddSwKR 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6HPyFqPvs

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj18IL92nY 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y6PlSInwx

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0MSdIhYlm 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndxgCBSyd9

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHlEWnPMor 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPBHWZBcju

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxJBC6fNlj 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhm1dySA0z

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TKYqry9jS 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPafk8xQROM

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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTaFscfw4S 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPro6CCkccQ

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡCim4Q0kj9U 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgDRs4rCGm

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsyTNjfAp5 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8GTsUX6M5

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP13QOU5D5 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPugg2I0Gsp

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpKS86tl3o 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFMG7nnhbt

"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 protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTUfskg5Yr 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSYqVdgqye

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection370ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2w3qecp2n 維尼374Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5pVB8V6nq