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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxgUOSHI2z 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNZrZ8JqME

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aVqo5WVa8 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSESgyrJQX

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3EMc6YNeQ 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIrvQQgYjc

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aXufINuae 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7V5kVH2yL1

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVoeiZubGN 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFF5CKEVxj

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpepr76VA9 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbvx6oWQcO

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dZHfJurZp 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmKFf01bLP

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKZQm16rxb 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgfTdyMNwx

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZCHSMj0cx 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7O9vUm19J

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡASAZQGBKF6 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq8MlBSysq

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWKq3FqWNB 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ376hiDgnYX

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnLeXPh0Zw 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvKC7tUXui

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPqi47fNxT 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dPcvFGxz1

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfm9py0I2t 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvirXqLvuJq

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHhMve6it9 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU8LpeZtPW

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfWKeDWRU7 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv0A6Eef4C

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDZodZFHYC 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6naQNg6wYi

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdvj8lo8Oj 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmwEpb1NCY

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhrT6cXdJV 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosTFsb9IgM

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPLyzdUqLa 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi5FArmB7Q

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnUNjV9bfT 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp72t1bn6B

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfjRTywdEr 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U1bRCbfCI

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡnySTY0JkMj 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbgqKdXBY5

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZHsbmvP3X 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTD72z0LCD

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEQfRYQydG 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynaZ8jQ8bK

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSAlUjoOeI 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bmORr5j0O

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCtrEqWG8B 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuOe03Nw9X

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KIFRBQEVc 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXxTq4cYyN

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47jfDJsS3E 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdShpbRyuuW

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDZc20Reo7 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1imGM1HZ67

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x5d1eKIfx 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqYdGtMZkw

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Ewr0nue9 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SzLoNjh2o

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQiMJ7QsEt 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZP1SHo6h5

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkDp5cBdkC 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkbUNSbT8b

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLD6sILLvv 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FfHJ4Q3qW

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuLBGGcecR 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsEZh15ChQ

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu6OAI7MAL 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYWW2nbRjw

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6kL9IJYPM 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZEXMeAyfT

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBevB61fg1 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqmgCb3k0y

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI2VUuwpmh 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyZv9rAdqq

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIFaPFllaZ 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T0llSL1yD

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡISoudfmxX7 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLcAk6Qkm9

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu0ZISx3iA 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth1Dg2KN9G

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6UCKKGM8X 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzineP4NtJ0

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPj5nvhpl8 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vhwk1uQUf

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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxxGDH1CDz 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuBr90zNIn

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLUHjmZ2ZG 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIWcB4XkrP

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF0qlxCGzM 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YsyHLy5zZ

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdUWf8CqeU 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzemjzamlM

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMiQfXgF7l 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvHCh9lZzz

"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 protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVFZufTuso 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7fjGqkVMi

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection264ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNNLze0MBt 維尼268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbAivr46mo