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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfzbb8QsnE 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNeCch27zN

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVzdvva7OA 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FO5XM2ZHt

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡNok0hMX6Nv 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uRFZF9O5P

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtZ8xmyFWY 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhYtmCEODS

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vAjO3NFnl 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWWSjUfwVY

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlXnNRZQ0s 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDRsyCOSNn

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC1cJmofX4 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUN9HWED34

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2uhqXhILa 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjgimr944B

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi5EwpIkU1 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmidsPW0uV

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYqQIoOnI6 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK8kvYBIPB

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfrBmYYH4Y 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xS0D0LNny

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV86mrS874 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsVtdyZETd

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡjArmnTzPvt 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU58Sj5lkFM

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlIc44gJC1 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhfhgyGGEi

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPHnulxWbX 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDUrLPWhYQ

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0omAj49aKl 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTHzRc8wk6

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg6CsLg85o 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZTDqxxnvE

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGE6rYu0C0 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXuPZWDpPl

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2TKacPxuX 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI4VGC9BQM

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yTDOQU0LV 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDxrjJtQ7A

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡruIXU7ODo7 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKjeMcdn8F

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡL309ir83mH 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiQm4EzuJu

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8tRiuNrQT 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRpZuKjbTl

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡVry3ar5RRI 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpxiLnjsQr

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRbcJoqpmm 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEmlLWevrT

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRTOtkXs3r 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHjm67FI6Q

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV4cU8IrET 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDktbHG84e

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hJDdor5jM 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2K3C48sRy

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZHH6CzZiZ 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXk6DwIfxf

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr0mLc5ujV 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1IjkXEdp1

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAfdYZxbmr 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hd8AGDD9g

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o5VVS5vxv 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZ5SqwojJ

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg5Q4iGzvQ 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SGpsxYvjx

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc53SFQYuR 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88C1ye8Hig

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡisUOMYgqeL 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ulo95VE8B

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cmFJNunYu 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ203aYCBd1E

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzI8BoICi5 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm0IHNyqcj

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKLjSXCvK3 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCwx6RUdjU

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSos4IxqLT 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRSuXDGFRu

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmMatD0RHc 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOoX9RxXXN

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIlRE4c8Ve 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL2hPNXzwv

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡic4iBtSgwd 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcm7gnc6Qe

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnqClQECxV 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAZmHPTbWc

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCirKVdl3X 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Sd7VGwnVO

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡot025btBLP 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUaCsYm9RM

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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP1na3HNlR 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3YrfQPOBB

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyz3U8CdW6 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUm3ioikXF

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4NzV7XH4a 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv6DYbg5uy

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡARE0Mv699Q 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykPDpjznXh

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSNh6uX2HJ 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnoYuJT1xb

"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 protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaXdcaNouN 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3Ox7NUBX9

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection361ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWYxw2bLJE 維尼365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw18aDxCWr3