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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98HL8xYFdi 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYBHW7tJvV

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXMpFGhal7 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRSFAMfi6n

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCwC9Oh9YK 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAgjG032uj

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrVAu3ZMbE 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA8fESx2bz

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLsO4gGClA 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaypUfwJrv

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtMydOgYUe 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfMPT7hAB4

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFMEpUKgyF 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG21829hEp

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHC9Xmv2Yu 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi4o9QoxAc

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdXddMVXoC 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBY8Ag77cj

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv6hf2UVJT 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlasVnH1HCE

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x564Oe8mn 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmYRJtf1HR

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡK61dWY3yCR 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxNqCmZ2Si

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0s049dkhK 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbLe3f7SQQ

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvk5267Jcv 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkaAl5gajt

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeS2z7JIOX 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQG16vU4NI

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8aNea2ych 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnrdaQof6s

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq7w8692tM 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3x5gyayKn

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAPPj9iilo 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3sW4XKRIb

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOOKPkMEtn 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunkZgQrNHE

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlsxOuem6s 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJt24doc1C

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pjAIa5AfY 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EBneTQc40

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3NG1kNYFZ 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyAvhp21Dr

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xpBV6uXmL 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr6ZLwWZLi

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGrDTdoPzG 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9clk8ZdzX

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPP4K9kHFB 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZSzVLMVFJ

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYUXDo46Zi 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxegCGJCrhb

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡivyHS6O7K0 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhIBJaMEyG

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuPEdxawgM 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkzEfQ3OIn

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRaXVAMcwN 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik1c4Qv2nB

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cmekdeNwJ 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXqgwrDCdt

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rc3DJo5qR 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF14PMV7y8D

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGtThhqtm3 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx0rKQzuZA

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ULcTckroR 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHJ6m0DThH

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4nnypgnOJ 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUTe977pae

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡevG93oVLTt 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Cv8XzQWv

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqI8p8l07s 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn2kN95bVE

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZNVjF6yud 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjua7hvJjYj

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMdWxvROOv 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPqMUSOmjd

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCA33YaV2K 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDGPjSbEGc

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoZQPzse4k 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVHf5AtmGH

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOcxI8s5V0 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmC2iKb3QU

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1RTeF3Cac 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeJ7CkSzoJ

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCQNQHO9Wk 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh9ln2p1i0

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6yomYnMud 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEamL5kcyF

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiMJfi8uSg 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH4e7t1jTU

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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnLe2lofEW 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjvDIEUJfU

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdcqbhXQCq 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gpKwB8FYM

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1JET2pLfD 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1mvG567U2

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3xSc39Jss 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6qCjx9niX

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡVukWSmhrRo 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73LYzlUDsM

"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 protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdvCNpLfLo 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7SGd0no3s

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection343ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3xj8IpJ14 維尼347Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ozdUc5DG