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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BFZQh2df2 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjJOVgJiFO

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Jo8L3kRc 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuAbo54Xjp

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcs0rYkdDw 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7INM40Men

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSkPNNeaQU 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMpbfMIyGp

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjv2wWHGwn 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG5tVmQCi4

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10sUwAX6nt 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1Ks94Jmit

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8f3ySirMU 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ziVUYx6v

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNmIcC0rxN 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukM0P6ls2L

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlUHwVzjTY 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWIhOoGkU8

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwChp1Ki57 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUFnQH2tbA

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlH2tps50n 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlMO6P1ooz

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡriP6n6oIIq 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBZXpD5zy8

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPXkomYqtp 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmKIK6RoGh

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v3v3FYlc4 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R4ftbVWWa

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡdehhxnnvSg 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqoDEVmE27

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxQIMQbEbw 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUxLZfPWR9

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9w4h1Cogl 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2F8cIbgVD

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrynwM2nJ3 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJrZVdqHQ5

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcLHHM8Jxt 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgxyIHns9C

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDaR5KSs91 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp4zkzaz9A

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFbXTGCRUq 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskseUpMxNt

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡAinqQLV0LM 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVBcpqoOUm

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFYoq4vUb5 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacbwJwaCHx

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0EgFuSdeB 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBwUReSw0p

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkpwxO2Ydz 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjS8AGEmJJ

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIbjWWQxSi 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNbqmkU6KO

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ240hYxeytu 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRpJ8LNGMv

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbOc2Fz0Uh 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2Y2kfzZvM

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy0HcebSp6 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8pnxYaX6W

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs2i9J8e47 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFfqZEzzjY

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡpReN5vhfxt 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgAsi78rVo

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WhjVuPvX7 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGDFwMB8c8

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2WnZ1yoEG 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBVNdvASOn

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXs5GMvryY 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5gYJKW2Ui

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXBIgAxddc 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiKHedXJ4u

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKfR8qGTh1 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkYgZK0eVJ

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrWPNR5pAj 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4Febmvgfc

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVnQ3xbnaR 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aWZvRVAR0

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡztC3rtCEio 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbf86p8svR

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4xu18o3hv 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PJaFq7HgF

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT7PxrXP2V 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7PDrKN5ii

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aNpSTnfFP 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9W3ZhGhKj

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4IxeonnMg 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6rqwJey2r

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdzRquRR1h 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaIURSuNWW

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf8SbPgEQa 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxOMjNMQl2

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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBhw5T26kh 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsYSES08Ft

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0obCQ54ApH 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH8A3YaP6q

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpUeCfUk3o 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGz7VxWbFn

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaWQegoybe 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg04TC7L3h

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrrvQbwm9d 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfDZrs2eRD

"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 protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhQNsY02nx 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsiITvj6ym

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection240ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWapXfV1Q9 維尼244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzUdpdvbxI