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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJeEMXAd9Z 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lwwXtUWey

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIpkTtfB6k 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqghf5v7A4

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIdvZ79nZY 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dOWGG30rG

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDZagAVGN9 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqFmmdyCuC

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sH6hMNjx0 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUXI0n2ZHy

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0QrYdrfE5 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxdJr9bziR

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUQcsoV5a 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50MHmDaS6s

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDGCuiD3Pd 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhJSlAY6w5

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHxcVyI7KY 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1LigaZJZs

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvPsEyM8yL 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmntBCdA0C

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFDeCW2nU4 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMcYIoSHfH

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtyyr1hl0u 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmHiDtn46E

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0laBtBOsga 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCLt3IZYm0

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mLVyWLMwu 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPwV2pgDWZ

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f6sottVOk 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInnrRmvF5C

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLbgiwpEiI 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtgMelgZTm

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkCsAvzwbB 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E2UtY5R2R

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkmneV9YCK 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jZArXAJhp

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7Lwr6UPM4 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8kJWvRbfM

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cig3AHfto 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntI6vHrus8

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAwhBU0WUG 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMr5OPhzNp

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7yPqVAGR4 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEEsF9f0O9

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEzvSh3vCX 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsAI5eMUki

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKk5ZB86kJ 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugH8YSV4cI

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzMryCxAXj 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX10kQgD0q

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXCtYlgSLM 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISsmmFN6ES

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qfV5LC75E 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxOalFStTu

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZFNakvQG2 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoy2iLWWxW

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XJhqQUOgb 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeaYat21Ks

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwPxEIdORO 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0F1Lfqtt6

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wkuX0PLOr 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznu5rJur6L

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjZWZOlr2B 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1lFZS8b5b

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF5jhXfgAP 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDgyUntDpP

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uQ8WpjYKM 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyLB6SoFUk

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo1pdANnuv 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydzSiwJS3v

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQEYXvq5jP 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzsLwQoIKO

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhsPKJz30N 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngNHNUV9uk

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡs10O2LWLeU 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s2ROWGY8p

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6qR5xC7vC 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicrfMZaLTu

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlqG4aMEBb 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljnyoctqdN

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZwIU7hbfc 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQBb5mKAm2

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡozjFaSMaE4 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP5B1NVnbh

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOTmLcsbKV 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiBheEJNRy

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡis0kLUYbqd 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENuwkoWHMU

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dyDn2zFqM 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJHv3wVogY

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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7uFYZ6ICZ 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGI0tu9J1f

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNhsEypogV 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlGA4cvbOe

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxa5NeSC0r 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhKTSHjaoE

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdLSdlPU5L 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlOvu2dxYr

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC5K5G3LyA 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDFIKSSf81

"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 protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTWYXqs8ah 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbGskk2lbh

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection341ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyxX7nF9P5 維尼345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jHyWvn3U2