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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTbW7Qmtoe 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS7aiKL7Tf

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9bonGnHYC 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT9sR8qRA8

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRfHGiemjO 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE8Zem5MS7

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsHFUqeNQr 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCv7R9osFg

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxX1f21ny4 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRSzfAkbMJ

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3KUmfWoGv 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M8uG5YVos

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡbViOxkIosa 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVANyTlsJrK

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡy248Z1FDKm 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnFCRWs3kQ

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUsSHZrt5y 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31Enqax4vV

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22WEKL7fEC 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj0UHL7mil

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1ehTdwsOh 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYjlfyY9ui

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XOF3laaCk 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h6JD8bWaH

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BxhekovxE 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwiiiSt3t4

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVNHKqbQvT 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOrXeivpTC

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNvydxiVrc 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCln5fQdAo

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡysxWt5lmEe 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2OHhxryAx

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlFANdjIBE 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfmwslrwW7

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr5068My1i 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx49koH72Z

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡX88DKluH3w 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56GovFxTNs

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwIv0AUwBY 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIZphOeJiu

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzRihCtL6I 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjNXlp0WfX

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsbcm7TmFa 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmn2z9EkRk

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOngUlcJHc 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP4wOFGscJ

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWyyJjntKF 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQyQCvo3vw

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZQQC7P1uA 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK246PdmwEB

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡQddzlA59iK 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I6gvMlYGS

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡYocr0k2cmt 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKsQcrKaWY

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6LonSIA5y 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm99fqXaA8

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LNKLQl5rs 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg79i4ns43

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvTbeFsR1R 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy85XfOmps

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡZONZOVVrAr 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHcqgfx2u1

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b8fiFF8Vs 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6zLDYQNX4

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7TFhJPYxP 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SnldTW2bC

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBNdxEgD6o 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvefPmLpO9Q

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AVwtJ2nXx 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdErU2Ojnn

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbMtebNF6v 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90OoXzr1uI

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAQF7SXcQq 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7akTeFC215

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zOneomOJs 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7yVxhYiUs

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX46Ks2zpv 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadKEvkjtrx

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡanvywbUprB 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy59eeeInhY

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeNpl6TDjO 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMbzSvVJJx

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAD8Cl9rsZ 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkVhITh1kX

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K236C84ev 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hsPj0TXJ1

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4gTzEry2b 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2xv6UWsmG

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyN8CwkrQR 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h14Sp5wj8

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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcFDYNfkLd 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj2uQr7jCN

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡil2JYLjYKA 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhHjKNU20W

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq4XiZrLpc 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIfqFq5eJu

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdpPO14mef 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2hqDMMLR

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCCjjWuusN 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7WS9C5JNv

"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 protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaXKzh1Bf4 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVJ33Tfp0I

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection362ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKiELCvz3K 維尼366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB74VdYdVV