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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOuYP3aI4m 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm2LKqOHRT

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XqP5BAMRR 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsVJwwxOOE

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡnudZjD98yh 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKez3F5nHM

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09727QRKha 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmju6wI0tYQ

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2amN2xCXi 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnXEIMaE3V

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡz79zO8V5tl 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk4ZaBePxf

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLFDtITvBV 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHmWgbnvEA

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhBUAC45B6 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PSqZ2O1Xk

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqJjY44G2K 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡior64orArx

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXS7SVbns 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7G0Mv1z4U

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxaQoLFsyW 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4jtU9ydz9

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgrD2EhYQb 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxUX7N5Mjt

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8VERwODDm 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY675ZEhgx

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZgZFvgNOL 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7avYCXLbZh

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwnzEtWlh9 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD3igPlPZF

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TMFwQvxcD 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqmy3VZ3Co

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrIUQzAcdG 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e7IJaRqk0

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlTUfZT0rc 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAE6cOX7YL

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtmCJ5lhBm 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9THoOQqml5

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS7NkOhxZu 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zHTin5HEf

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0JxlRgQD1 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDR7mtEHTk

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l5Cs7Yn9t 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ogk3Or3Lm

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrdOk8tyTz 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQvLA4TM8N

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZobTrOjl7 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDER6uOHkk

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgAXB2SF3T 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTueKm0JTGU

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV0YaUu26P 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJyiC8GGnU

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmbwRq09jF 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhkX5LRg9c

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkIZQgUWIA 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9JjWXjIbV

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqShb84lg8 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yxw27xm3j

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRGOA5Uqf9 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvru3Uwsxwb

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVK9cRaQGf 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwZY5zrZSE

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0X62MI0gT 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobriTxDDkY

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1aUJEtzPv 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF1P66a5Lx

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8zprgZAD1 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03sJIqpili

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOWR8H3XBc 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKME5uaNlMJ

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTY8JZ9EvA 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwruC1WNfi

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPhhP2j6Ru 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVrNU2hUin

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FBWhSse5m 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLL1MM7obn

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcYvdfKQhG 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU01RewEMtr

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcSk0uMzVW 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTMDsd4CPH

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mkWD29BgQ 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrJoByjKhq

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡsixL4pT3dn 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIvETT8eTM

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡINpUwqiNqM 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHd3Kzk3nc

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqNlolLJGx 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdfaQ48CdU

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKSzC7ehDZ 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGcdrTpCdZ

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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqvI98JvqG 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKQXOwOI6W

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL9WcRI9ep 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH0CVjcMRx

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLHebsTB4x 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI1AGP8rHn

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2dqUU0PTh 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8M6L7fJRY

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1HtpsKOXh 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh6HZwyjVO

"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 protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk1vvvzsqR 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3GYmZGRtE

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection252ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49r19MH4xh 維尼256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryYQ2g8tDa