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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsF8rBG1mx 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jENV94DI2

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSufwIVDlP 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWiELMr6h5

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMVuWfvwck 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXMk0Rttk0

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn6Khwd56N 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsbzPcsG8Q

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQEtpfIwXu 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLzajdU02n

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW5T3yLq4Q 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCfeFCuV1s

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt31368ZQk 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhox1BIwBzK

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LA53qV2N2 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0E0D4OcSc

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ULEVuOLBj 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoxNFMk5wB

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Ttl70Bod 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtXXn55N4E

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqTSzDZC9U 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqdefZ6unm

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡue4HkPKZYw 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWfJlKh6v2

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡopLPo1XKgM 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeabfN7K5p

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAuOnGq7Dh 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlYI8vLuoF

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPGi7dj4zk 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKQZBdd0Za

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡheWNyqEAo6 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LFhBtkdIp

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvaXHpRBdT 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRLIixVDKc

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfIETguMTI 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrKeiqlBqO

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHqKI55dcs 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73It4qKxwG

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fq35lcgUA 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUjMhK0eWO

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSZ2NxNf4k 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALDaUFOqol

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68U3jh3S5u 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡastlwr3CQq

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡU80xQ0ROWK 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67gJ5QQaKv

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdeqb0AWBJ 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN26SNhyVG

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmBhsoYPYC 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifi4GhSSJk

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3GUbYddW4 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfskcKQ6IYu

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56fWta9Cbs 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKd6j5MzUK

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8A9dN7lam 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wRMd867KY

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E6QR9bmRi 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqiGLE9dDU

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡot9VHacPwy 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uVOuQFlnd

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC2yPe1GKg 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tgMBuzXsl

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVgWWAtcdg 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YPT7RpLYI

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKEg1xSE2o 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhPIwcOx35

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB1RLBiNUM 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMD8lzuEXV

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLhN8hSkC1 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t1veLNP3P

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtRBq0DdAS 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSN2naNKcG

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQhXSekqvl 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAa0jJdgo1

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQub1M4Xnv 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rzCopdRdR

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvFW4wnElf 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS5VPoyuq8

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx4QoSWeWa 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZQyVWE7yR

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YEnU06uCS 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j0gxk8U5O

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGTXAbggx8 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QEaNCR0C9

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aSrojacaW 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvtrZFIvqV

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG1KgHtNXY 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdYIQpHflU

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQqBYHCvSQ 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0oTGUM3Uq

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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWopFm96we 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV1JzEp0Ra

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtm0UKQyeJ 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aQq3w8L3u

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Upt1fQJvV 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFokRwaT6u

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡDciqGT5pNy 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMHGa0cJmj

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡROT6LHuzjy 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqbamqblO1

"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 protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡujhXAQqnt6 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYT91uRVIb

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection345ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNBXeSK3zA 維尼349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbUpXXKH8O