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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ7T2O4fKx 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rnVVZnNza

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZiJrQeRfQ 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkHK2XzJXq

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2VZjbL2s8 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc7ApIGR6Z

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcBFIUE9KH 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdBmcKYqVW

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtNLyeGoXy 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgImPVk8xy

"You look...wow," Danny trailed off, staring at her, mouth slightly agape. Elise's cheeks began to burn. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOGvhVyABT 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0MZStxRwU

"Sorry," he shook his head after what felt like an eternity of him looking at her in this way. "You look amazing."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcYSg34kTG 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BrcWVDMrn

"Come in," she said shyly, standing to one side, making room for him to enter. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJTTJJXYIo 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum0IKiWTIc

"Thanks," he said, still staring at her with an amused smile on his face as he stepped into her living room. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoLNWjGPTY 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzH5kUOq6a

"What?" Elise nervously asked as they stood awkwardly together near the door.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWUWsQt9Dj 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk699BQaoZ

"I'm sorry," Danny apologized and shook his head again. "You just look so different than you do at work."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcfYccVqJx 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXCkCDivly

"Yah," she laughed softly.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqkz9NGjfD 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZmyeLDkfD

"Not that you look bad at work. Just different. Wow. I really need to stop talking," they laughed nervously together.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3jGGTc2Vn 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCv9RTTCST

"Are you ready for a fun-filled night of me sticking my foot in my mouth?"8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡX80SNwTb9R 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrLL7cCmKS

"Yes, I just need to grab my coat," she pointed to the wall behind him where it was hanging.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWMC51LoMG 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MmhIAGPJg

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8dYqvExSE 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEA0MZAX5t

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt8T5ngDrC 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpPy71mqdu

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCyv6xoybH 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAb99fPa1v

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GnbMcAcs3 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFseRLjrUJ

"A short one. My parents will be here in the morning, remember?"8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWUBpH2nXn 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDIue6ttrn

"Right, right, right," he nodded his head vigorously. "Totally up to you then. I know it's getting late."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Xf4RwYNs 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVnaATRBNj

"No, I'd like to," she smiled at him wanly. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡos9RRB296a 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uu9JQsKRo

"Brr!" Danny rubbed up and down his arms when they stepped outside. "Sure got cold while we were in there."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dakusOJ1 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNtX4YYOIF

"It has been like 4 hours," Elise chuckled.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJbmOa2b90 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp3j9vdUrZ

"True," he joined her as they started off down the street towards the main part of town. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjQRHwf1co 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hHVAcIxt9

"Still. Why couldn't you have moved here when it was warmer out?" he joked.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTD9nCjuhd 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3wPWM8V6m

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J5ixsqhMy 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQKrltzwsX

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wsypkSJN8 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZak3jy6Bm

"Damn," she mumbled.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhdOXEKiS4 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqNP58XtjK

"What's wrong?"8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHKwx4bOEp 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD3AZjA6Dm

"I must have forgotten my gloves." 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsVr9wWidZ 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg9NxZIuIn

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08YX4m81a1 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqXQWIcB8u

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13DViMl8xi 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvZrXQnbBy

"I'm sorry," he said after they walked in silence for half a block. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi070vV5ap 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD3yvzzyAT

"For what?" Elise looked to him. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1XFPoivMb 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd804NGgg2

"I'm not usually this forward. Well, not with a nice girl like you."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lMmBzjAlX 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RtYCdWMhW

"What if I weren't a 'nice girl'?" she instantly fired back.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9okc2et2Pz 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWGH7JFLq4

"You probably don't want to know," he gave a nervous laugh. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHCCY95QJi 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV844RbgkZi

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡz10CzzKDBd 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuKSVPSpef

"You're treading on thin ice," Danny laughed.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsuKh8AOce 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3UYvhVsIT

"I might not be as nice as you think I am. Never confuse shyness with niceness," she let his mind wander.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtoQq93RsZ 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmuRTfJG3d

He burst out laughing as they neared the parking area.8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY5FCsdT4v 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6db2EzFFi

"You are something else, Elise Roberts. Hard to read, if nothing else, but certainly something," amusement filled his face. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAUFoHdxpJ 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOjo2e6WH3

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCM94lOdNz 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSm552QVMe

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY1AXHpIXP 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGa3Hi443V

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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwVrRRCY04 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQye1f5dfef

"I had a really good time," Danny offered. 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTfE1M71FQ 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFMhnY5nXx

"Me too." How had they ended up standing so close to one another? 8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HquYaEien 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GITuCJQtb

"I guess I'll see you at work Monday."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7i0Cd6Z24 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzNELucCjR

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡijY44jvVot 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8m1HvlOCS

"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 protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡDElL4vmhhM 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimrhANKdQy

"Thank you," Elise squeezed his hand before letting go. "Goodnight."8964 copyright protection297ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxTX6rcEbY 維尼301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn18iw5Mdw