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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Zfxn2lY1c 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DTZqD8GGs

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡB76AYUEFap 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwCfGwRUD9

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8i9mQ1xTe 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0piyVHNk3G

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡReqRUP4B0j 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlPMdMLmbK

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOXulQ5bh7 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIgevjvKTo

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMIdoU14Vu 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkPOre6yct

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLp2L42RNr 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDVyrPDkQh

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP5lmcSDVw 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB7CfBQIdz

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7DE2OEsVg 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD58m8IjNM

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ENkN7reez 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdngKV5HRVW

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18sp8fcGMy 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhU7e5QM0Z

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM0f1Mqui0 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVY4Ajt2SC

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcKzbXqn8y 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvlMDASs5x

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP26qBP4bJ 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s5cO9pl1G

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6d8qzR88A 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX662iTJPI2

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3fgTPFhrK 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ByQ28tgeT

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM6BJmn4Yi 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqgaPCTdnP

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XqkYWbMVZ 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbI3z7mVSq

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8h5wAlXe9 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gtatntNAk

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡthd3p4JPac 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b8bwpKOaf

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxXJpkLVBL 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoe2anR4n3

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYb1kUiWpZ 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y4jebl2gr

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUueM5afng 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTHTMlGvMl

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNaBYnrDb8 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdY0LRaRff

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM1PBG832A 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV27cEiFyx

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXeLtiEGVU 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcPsLJgEUr

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhxd8iv3ms 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyHzuMGO1b

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡamg35qZNSB 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP2sHmVxjg

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn5sJhO0N7 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66RTxlH3zc

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFRQPQuMzE 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA9tA2xWSu

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡryTtLnprn0 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye9uMMuBFU

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pvJsgkd84 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvrJaovUut

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YXG1d6Eqz 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsNHFRBDY0

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUW66tn1Ap 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IrpbZkdwP

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6pQ3Wxne8 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Tqir8gjz

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR91kJbcB3 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngmVuwQwHT

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJkZ0k2UZ8 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGNbJJRLyW

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTGxRpCzIk 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdfD99xORe

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQfpXEokeO 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbCVIug2p2

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS3AjJWDDA 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFN9r8lqE1

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvUcKVcn0l 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfBarxjufW

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSBGNowwXL 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK5N2HxnHk

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvbo4LooPN 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRDAhM9yWp

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1vBGvDGTH 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNKOtvNV7R

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyBZtuV3VS 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwJvCeUnMD

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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUm1w8aLer 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzoV1KZCOq

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPuvdfGPU7 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tj2UZYIWy

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvIOMgFtUX 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq62O6JarP

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBhl2HbUVt 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNcnpVJf7T

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGYanfZtc9 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFcBZb4Lz6

"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 protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR0rHsbVF3 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuy25vY3qC

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection325ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgHZE9gVPC 維尼329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ4HY2Iy0N