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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRuEOIyP5l 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc91jLxUTJn

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8vHfVUHTq 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJON75K63uq

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NRC7XE7oR 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW1zVQVu2o

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡP866ENQU1k 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j2JYWfEn0

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡChkv7KsByM 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jUcNo16sg

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt4B5dQyaP 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5z71bRWOQ

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡrboSYXu7il 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oVnBl7PBT

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MLzcckeLW 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjRdPTpvGi

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIPCrIN03A 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3zsnBy23Q

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcdPDQysWR 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gpomBpsfF

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZFWnzjNLD 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyJa7YNGAX

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wFivSOXNd 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa287pE93tP

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfAZM7OSVk 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKKb2E3F1i

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIveDjiQuR 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULpK5b2T5N

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW5JcWqDsE 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWWagOVqIQ

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FZFfRfMgd 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvgFv1Nd7g

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdrF6wCChW 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pFdXk4J9u

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUYurL9EVQ 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVjXMIxoZa

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPkjhYhd5C 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0E7cuYKRZ

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj5feGfoHS 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiG96PbBTe

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡStNtrT78kj 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rIJdoAkSl

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfI26bRvm2 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBmXBAaASK

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF2elaYnSo 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNQA499Mvq

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡz55HC0TM8c 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNC8nat9Yy

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsnFESz2Ts 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscwpweOj1w

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1dX8qhajT 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGxFPh35xg

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TEe8Mz3w6 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXYSFQwxWf

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUeowC9qMy 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9KRQ6SsAg

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLAJvb0fqL 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWFVlLLZd7

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwdtffbzod 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsWbfMxgEA

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFtaRuuYrD 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMTHpIx4Ye

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrySB9A9Nr 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjIQ23nv1c

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtRwboV8ko 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xegDxBbUD

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa82LZgm0L 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbheZILj4O6

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZUg0M0c48 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L8rE9LDBZ

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8yNeBA3PK 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZxB7iMftI

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s3UxlyRZI 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wrCm2SkMd

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvtrtGhxUc 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISXhLkkTI7

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMQeMTHAZ5 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTshHw3SAG

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQhxtmhLOI 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfDxHSRlmv

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0yUDwoYxa 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMmrSBnoGX

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcuYrmUuqR 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OmeTt4hX2

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI0m98UYH3 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KNWCfBEep

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡr28TLmIqy7 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdHgYgmPDP

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwi4kHJVag 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRbtfC1cWS

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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ140PozRZpl 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ04tNSOtOP

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNwUEWjHsU 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1RbcIMtzI

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9LsNDkHni 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj3qyrrBqv

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9DSGof6mx 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj48kR08Rk

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡvig4EJsGNr 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF4xHZccIW

"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 protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUPBm0CFUQ 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDppbCWhscE

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection318ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UmJj0Detz 維尼322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLmGtamaEr