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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy6KcBWxXp 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDTZ4mBtBz

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCa4i3zyld 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h8aXC0EzS

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL9OCUrRk2 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDEnxhLFhi

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xSjqurspT 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQcgrmjttA

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5iAY3orVh 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vR2f1MvTD

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWMxNDck7p 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc1YUXLyEo

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡvroBV5IYeg 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lEpvEPV7U

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ickOVRG2V 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8RUcUtCOv

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj5JwVEXBN 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5uobuT96l

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEaJ5gzlGE 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJDsdcUcGp

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡk23DWAJTRw 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoPyywAStA

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡSILuDq5YKu 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBi3PJN3VN

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6RIhgaRac 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyinlNlHvB

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4BtKFAdUX 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ7WeDnN1p

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OLmVwi8hV 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf040vrqluU

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBBX5nxFNI 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj6sCAvUTl

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡku1ogbNkZZ 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17xQpdMNP1

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1m6uh6ET5 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZftfKyt9lb

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgrOIkPLYx 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yn23KeEVZ

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWvB4AtT74 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkLAueulk6

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTV4e0dmFv 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwflL3htEu

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡS60tnVTdGS 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB3gmwELEq

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE4PoFfEb1 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7q1t98Ypp

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI6WSJJ6oe 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5SBthIl0v

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6E8oaFeGL 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDnLms88DW

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm0fc3f0DS 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMqankz7qs

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ZmEc7MN0 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUYXlN3K42

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ15LbeZFLF 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUZQt0LQOP

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb5OBGf4im 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QoBqbCnHd

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWcMS1zCax 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBVP6r93RZ

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcM95xzbBZ 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMKVV0DJAu

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bhu6A13KM 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ZHgRMFuP

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡInbwaqw3VJ 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mqkLR4Hal

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqq0H5H483 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPGb3Fg7oR

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh1Ru1Zkf5 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG7STj2iZ7

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIN5Ps13Ck 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQIHfe3WkR

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8hfzam0z0 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYynBPciv0

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwRFcLrZi3 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmEXJASJc6

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuie2C2JCe 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGuePGMvk9

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPo3VvRLmz 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmash6HROSK

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7DlAF1mRg 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba5yxLGJph

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GRJfpnRBQ 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcWsM6jZRf

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8ZfvWjll2 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMrcpVCIYL

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSHXKIjZVM 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFOuKtSgmE

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gXhKYA5gx 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eqMl3XZBz

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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5uLa7YfgG 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEZt39EtBT

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lhNfDgc2H 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4hAAxOWLs

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rkfqB0Z1D 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JbPY1ZCpq

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHKnS1Bg4Y 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1mYWbSglN

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTastEeHNP 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X0VIC2GLB

"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 protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMssR7S0CW 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3sy90irQJ

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection303ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE5xAMy5tQ 維尼307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAySOtlKzb