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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKfmz7DA34 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI0GaOEJJ7

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv0D75y6nG 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqFFqfBVtX

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZM87Pefuz 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY3LzpuqiW

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkiAYCVSRC 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuPC37d9GZ

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL6bLvm8QZ 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm0vT3TRnq

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYylp1bSrz 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9EBucouOW

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡROj2ac9sT7 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSR4h53CYu

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzPD3TgjHV 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRhjhmltQ0

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoqd4ulOaq 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7CYKnZu0F

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡc61A7xPltK 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55nOr8Ayu3

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8O14MHLdO 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu3lxXIRRW

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv7lVqB45v 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5MYMlSg91

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1WTnLFDyl 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYsqSZqEKM

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxN8HriIie 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddqPcBxmax

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ia7uE0joh 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7MUyPCsVN

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0AknF7gC7 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5hvNnFbGp

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRjBozCKPM 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItexqd22wc

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G45XTBIbL 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7nElVet70

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVmENLRjPP 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc0eZ7eVvr

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sTaIkyVvd 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmrsbBaTgT

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYZHjiWr6w 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl4bCaRv8F

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mT6OT7RT8 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7WyEhZAht

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXavGqJbFe 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4fjVOlZLU

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTcIXG4Fra 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32mva6Co2n

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsieEdif2p 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8onlsVl93Z

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBmbntX4Qq 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJc9ZEriqB

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM8pGe867I 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1lgTZeZvk

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT7bLGzen7 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJxk46oFbD

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkbqarb8vs 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkItXMyqcH

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TRChGgVtb 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACpgoatkPP

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQnfKYRIyl 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iXT9F7D7z

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCNyOBt9Wa 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngHseZOSMt

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3XQmDBppj 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinTHp2B2SG

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7HbBzflqA 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuwsyHubgP

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIeTiFsndf 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtfB4QkqpJ

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI4yMc6Qny 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CuvLkOJWF

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDtrnrL6vv 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMLp5xIwVK

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBr3M8OK69 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc0n7vvdZF

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsjC7qiny6 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHdaKyjb6R

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YxtO05mte 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpF4ZuAx6d

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtAs74TBdG 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbInnjYxtR

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54Omts8xPx 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kiqvsSKT2

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡciiSOWAKiQ 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdz4bFrtpL

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6fxfZgfFZ 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB97TMsq7IJ

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0mkIrfkgB 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmM16WCbOH

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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lBWAl8ANt 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD4em0S92l

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡUziMB3h3B0 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXsP3iracA

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dABPkgtO2 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZr59nUCu7

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbaFJcU8hw 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWXOG2kNOI

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MKRNVLzSu 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE46yfJemUM

"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 protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5OqXhBKqY 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtl2XhupGU

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection299ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWAu1mvdHC 維尼303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN1RLgG1Zp