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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgAZv8UdV2 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMIYM2ETqN

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKGBRUQSLt 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKgHODoMIU

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwd7YSLj0Z 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T2M8EIeRD

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm2rfEgQKA 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnnj25boIX

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv9mYVX7OT 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1rUVsT0ss

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3wugDQ1TB 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbapWJhgImf

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiA9l93MaV 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfUEkC6HvP

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSX0yIapiI 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Og1MKbvjF

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmeaKHxPV6 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeFwxISk1Q

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlotY0AGzU 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUzElkgv4Q

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP6hVOBwBh 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkuI6E2s3l

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V3HIwAjOd 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdiDsaS82Z

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBYN4MaUtS 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTwuvPRLVq

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmLF1pXUlp 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPWuoNkP1C

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡojyePYp81t 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4Wc11CN66

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNzJeAlasZ 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhSSfi20jf

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFYw7zNWTr 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPViU2SfoZZ

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kcQj6TJ7T 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOmcYKfwrH

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDuSNs0D8e 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjq0BupyxR

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡee4vsyIeXr 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDnpJLD683

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFKHOo3Lcm 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4Aa9iuEco

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjtT6ORrFk 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMEPrBL61j

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGFsHcRUYZ 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVgJtGpCzm

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡenwDs64hOg 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TTjV0aBZB

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8jdi6fOaW 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4fuTfZzWz

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVVXtw2Hmb 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqYKm9bn18

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEa3JivQPo 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9ZnM4UHMT

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RmbF4BvE1 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXeObGwiYM

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRhMc74SWB 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFVWcJt5ld

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k0sw8KMsP 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I0Hj7bLw7

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmGTULBgf4 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhvz62HSOi

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO1oXjOvOA 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHYCX8fF7K

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb4GDJOqYB 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVtsFiUS8P

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKo6L5d6NP 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT4800gtEP

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjl2ATFeuO 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGZk76GCnh

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡetb4cmtkDD 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlROatnRaAF

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvLbWgJKHn 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYcfFz3VMW

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIY9lZsvvZ 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0fuX8CDSf

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6YgstGPwr 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MUH8FIHlN

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRRNbU8mL3 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK2YTX8vPY

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsLguFhdVf 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45fHKvL0pd

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jxl1QIgjL 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh7RJbdHKN

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXYblJuJBO 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaoY2tOz4x

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlesVHyI7B 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqjoRsJEa1

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0hYO0wbuU 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zcJ07JQW2

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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0PAxxNY3l 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH8e19IF9v

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yPFmK5mJo 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4PxzoukeA

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Y9cjtErT 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtnN6iCP1v

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ej9oLtD3s 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU0jE2ZxS8

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwzVr8Kb11 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntAqguE9a7

"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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOzzbZEFxy 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAg3e7SDGw

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ8klBigPm 維尼324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7HTCVytG2