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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmcq6jWHgy 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu2V2qgHv8

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwKyEdyLjh 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR27Kyrr3l

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCLSgzuqWf 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3BNZ0nPrC

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yHauECXw6 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G27de6svU

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2Zo1aR5xN 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHWclIybvm

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqgGDZkQft 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi9bQP3f8z

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡn64DZR77Hj 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1GdlE6G7u

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkYXmu7buH 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CzlJ6hCvT

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SThEHtS9f 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzp0znLMx5

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SAQtIH3Zj 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A8axkEFkP

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSji9xG1lE 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWun0U8cHd

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSv9ZPFG9W 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YAVB4LPju

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1AMQxVCOO 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowU25eMuUv

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQFihyK9qd 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONRMOzrcs6

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mmlzjzi6c 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkIP3aPK6n

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJVyKkYMev 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRjdFFIyVg

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnqEs2tVfD 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjh93c63Al

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeXYQ7HKPc 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63aXI9SBol

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CAm90CIfC 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufxmXwcHHd

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfnIXI5S3Z 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNnXHCP3hB

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMNDqHGZ1k 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGsgCZ3eUi

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHAA98cvD7 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqozXaaQPy

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QNBQvi9i5 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP6CQCY35d

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1MYZT0Rf7 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjJQLLj4pW

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqaDwDejgT 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifTK3nCC0g

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8rL0GxS0N 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKJWX6R52Z

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0siwmacl9 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdywjx2U3S

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM68ITNkkp 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDTq7Lpeoj

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡD08AnUx21H 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofFESM06hN

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQfHxCVmCL 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTn6jP2gvx

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrSoBHwRjQ 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2LOxKVwcp

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡInjiYfSTfV 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9JlgLhV5a

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWHodwxLz0 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwOWDl1NMA

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡafmtfYt7it 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ679AABNHjY

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkLUJh3wSD 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrFzGw5KgA

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeLgU3EoiI 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8PXlS5KNn

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7X23Vu5AQ 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs4gjwTqYD

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pWfppxSRp 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCM0hB6Wov

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QyGwVBjfq 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoutJxotOb

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQQC3Se5f0 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb4BxFPVkK

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWUYBtiqgM 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF67oJKqEJR

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMXbh1exDD 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0KXqWwIDO

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMEWFeC4x3 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4xak1J3JN

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZLyqXj428 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ299T3xtEof

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6C9nYVpAy 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE6UBn005g

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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Fnw8DxBX0 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb90TCerh6y

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUneJtZyGV 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJbU1vB1oW

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFkAbSbf0w 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBP6czAXbp

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYJPg3oTU8 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYr7ETkeuK

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡahUB22UwA0 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4OFCLmaoe

"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 protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeysbU3qwX 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeAN35DzWQ

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection385ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8eEXEkNVg 維尼389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbPsqlqxf0