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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeYwVp5IbK 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVSdF21J5F

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpLb6Ccnjs 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCrucbxyy5

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡALborQ12HD 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dBLXYuiaZ

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQsj1z5GWn 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVFF4GAEtt

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡa71rUstdCu 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSFNd4yegp

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTrcPCioHj 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HVUvtqe2I

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9SiRDA3Nl 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWS96a1qV7

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJFpXP87Lx 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8X8ps6VmX

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2LVeqK9fE 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P5wBkMEJP

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGtCU24xLb 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLVaup2cjE

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDpvBjGA3a 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJJJrbgDny

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYZZLSANut 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS2XlC2Stu

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGfCnp8QxB 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P6TL2MsKJ

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95AzqHpMOn 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mfqeTvkjn

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡikpxf5jIRI 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3SyiIuXOW

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoBAYbBjKO 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy6XNFEkqu

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPzS28q2df 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7o2ptoHusK

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHkpYAiaaD 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTiToWv51T

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr0nFMzgAM 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ExCdFWRRa

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7OI34kxBn 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ETKGW9oh

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0Dob5XqVa 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z6OmOvHD7

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡjECnjeTdMh 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39qjA1adFD

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lReK3w2FC 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GeL3FdEgw

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbGZCpZEnc 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveodVHSUKw

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKW364uKUj 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTEV9UAekv

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX9o5BwKVQ 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyow2w9IGx

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP1ToNsMmd 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nLOwuwPa7

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5sfOwSWdq 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjHeNVDesI

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vqTETa43A 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0wZ8yqicU

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDwG9TY6v7 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBT7YwWvRj

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HUIJ9AKKy 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPftHJaFf5b

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0ojPEBh0M 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiqSb12P9w

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡmestYsdNSD 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazwaaIv2W0

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwwXJROtJr 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1HTLKDqyZ

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVu5w38r2a 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBEh64uuhG

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvvccK3fLB 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0iKAScz56

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj2hYtyrov 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLoYWZs7F1

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bvR6gycAO 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lJQPPRb2p

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkAqZco4Fh 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoH9JFhjvw

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3d5Vu0hET 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nEEh8Q6f0

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvcAvdK3qs 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifXoMSawVQ

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfK80omgQ2 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPxVvkq41v

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRrkyPvfly 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKrIyoZtsJ

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNq1IgxqaS 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznBk2XZU1R

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpJ6wWjboO 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSKtNugirM

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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI5xiN2xDQ 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSqxGqphPk

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTtP5k3eib 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJowNjomRTj

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VuS5b0as1 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwMEH7lLSY

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ5Lpj39Fn 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05O57tklH6

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIxiV3W2Ao 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57Sw28MFS5

"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 protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjAVtRm0O3 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphsiMMLpZU

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection321ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83NMtGGDsR 維尼325Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpddF63w4r