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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r8w7ZwdvV 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl5BtNVCP8

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K68rIOcxV 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5h2NamgbM

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiYp5fV2xZ 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLGSMVxEZk

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyESoWC2gc 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UwRLF2WXs

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pbsXBRkgj 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqLpmkTr9c

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRBXRZ31ZT 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8PEsT1DYD

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzoBMKxWFS 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdkaajAniX

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHywhOL2VF 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqWEkXfFww

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrBk8J0WBL 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXbcEU2OMe

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ7a6o5dyb 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqlfOF1xzO

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmlSdqOm92 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLtEoDHpec

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78103Gc3Q7 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0ivM3JTB4

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyYYcVffep 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTvgM3guva

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRvRB0D94K 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eC7R619AG

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE46nXCH6Z 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXIeOZQ3aV

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIrauBDHnO 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1CHfC6gvU

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnmpf4HLMS 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FwU8OJYo9

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1jIGp2l1E 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEfutE6KVa

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAT4oB0Avy 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JcmnEUxHm

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrYR4UuWHY 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31w8jLmeOM

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKFu5QvkyN 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNXYEwSSX7

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwkCF0kzld 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF33mKI4Tl

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIRIdzIZqa 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36MnIvKfqb

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡYofMZMjb39 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoiQ7kYoB8

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡD66zrzUpdM 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUhTjHVX7E

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4GVUDY2Ie 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64LBmYW6W7

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDBmFaBdyO 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUaULDfI3t

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11HDp0SAnV 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSggxeUWTGj

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVKyNI8v9F 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvV11oSQGg

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeMmJ03E40 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT034Hpg0G

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqSMFk8WqK 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8blTXoCiH

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78O8qMylaX 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY1hrOhYoa

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNy6OsKgII 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlfKuvA356

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jISeYxxFN 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUYNgkz07m

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jRFyfkfNB 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej3uGpgYxI

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWLXKUBFuM 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPfC9wVTJI

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtdt2ff2MT 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2jMXjAnYl

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡi94CBapo2T 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkup4xdG9U

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEdJUFocYn 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv21vk1edGU

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtg2qUjYKp 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIHq9oPAAo

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWzxqN1EGj 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnRUBhcKrh

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdZfKnfIG2 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oZRKn2bDr

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBA3Y6CMqT 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n5HoCyPJY

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKnPjK0XkB 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio9zBJSsWj

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YZ9uddFIC 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl2bGDq41C

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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC0cgiTnu6 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEckBJVc8Iv

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yrxMSotLp 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jo5eorMcW

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi8zJIcJpr 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gkKGwgLTb

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSjgLt7089 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6YoLv0HN3

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDRW8VqQEY 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysJpZQpEjK

"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 protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQgIinu7KV 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPSB082cfl

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection278ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk7ymjIE7k 維尼282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDF0GL93gx