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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJTgBMwk67 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBshEiMYomi

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZh3szXDg0 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEMevK9Wwk

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBZuGII2aw 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzd3k8pMKC

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCaJmKQspP 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl59mfoQom

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt2x1NjJNX 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3RYyTc4PI

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZgXazHCOV 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6hEJirgIT

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDnpvwuO4y 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJoZ3aJqeb

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZG14XLebJ 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiTsxiFmnv

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0tlyrfRUj 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBykt30wLkW

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUKHPEGGKu 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxL0gw4zlJ

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbzllzhfcu 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYpp9ZJgv

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡQarlfCVhHk 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLayMYpNtTH

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0qNcHsj3L 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlgZGLrTHT

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhObzTju3k 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TXqfk7wny

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjqeeBLvtt 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbsb1EY59S

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AupdwMJYt 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8G1Jw9h0e

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxLbQkKTPM 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZD862ev7Gp

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3ZWYTAOtA 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbUI4JylSm

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyk0edpQ5y 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82Z49yzZi6

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡScL0sFUiVK 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HZUvmhnia

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrlkvAKYQl 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQb0L11VhW

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡS385IUEvQD 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecSw7uBKA9

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAEls6X1Ha 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEfHm0bOE0

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p8TS7LJA7 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT7eK0wnJc

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4W5gfBho0 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQSrSclYxc

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnIfwAdSng 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8XDFTllj1

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzgezNkLTK 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMampt3FkG

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW9Q5U9Ome 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVirJHwPH8V

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L63kV6qXf 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DcWuzaedw

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SaXCjmpLR 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BQjVbJVbT

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbMg7qWhxR 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx8HoWhn47

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUuuyyUWay 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr64vgUXJxy

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5I4xlfnGq 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3MrwhPrPw

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPwGQ8CRvW 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpe9hcnZj7

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZoQqIQkrB 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeimYcINBT

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9Qm9QnGg6 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZaN7aidDQ

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9Tr3oG44F 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMe89FMUSL

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfCKoI18A3 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z6eWBwHBV

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMR3XYDlhL 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ePJQtxq7q

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfEqaNWGIG 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOtbtIxnh2

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqhb0GfAlH 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Nn8T3K0ip

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0L5r5HDpY 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVcso3W6ym

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TotqNMLk9 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOWKVjpdwD

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bj686ETHX 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxtdvZJFlc

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeQfu48MpH 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhQHDgsZFt

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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO5kjXS3y1 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFRs99fSOg

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡswjZmV5Hgj 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd3Bf03Fto

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLGtza2vDL 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR03V9dUqg

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwfEYPUEKs 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QsUBuNKRY

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡOme6ZsT8dZ 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwj3S4GtU6

"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 protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D8KdZmH1s 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsJXayp5ml

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection347ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFN6zkLemx 維尼351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZana7KtohV