is something about her, and then I’d start talking to the woman, and I’d be like yeah—her.
That’s how it was with both my wives. I hadn’t been introduced to them. I’d seen them from across the room. We’d looked at one another; we’d smiled; we’d shared a few flirty glances, and then we’d approached one another, and it went from there. What was so different about dancing?
You were seeing that person for the first time, and you were flirting, and being playful or serious, depending on the dance. Once that was over, she would decide if she wanted to see you again. The only difference was, you didn’t get to plead your case or give her a verbal reason to see you again. You had to convince her with your body and your eyes as you moved with hers.
The fact that I was competing with two other men hadn’t escaped my mind, and I was all about a little friendly competition.
“What do you want in a woman?” Tarin asked.
That caused me to pause as I thought of an answer. “I want an independent woman, but also one that wants to be part of a couple. I travel quite a bit and work long hours. I need a woman who can accept that schedule and doesn’t feel like I’m letting her down.”
“Have you had trouble with that in the past?”
I barked out a laugh and glanced toward Holly, who had her hand over her mouth like she couldn’t believe that Tarin had just asked me that. “You could say that. A few didn’t want to wait around for me to come back. Although back then, I was traveling a lot more than I am now.”
“Anything else you’d like to see in a woman?”
“I’d like a woman who doesn’t mind me being in the kitchen, because I enjoy cooking, and I want a woman who enjoys food and isn’t afraid to laugh or cry around me when she is feeling emotional.”
“Wait? Thought all men hated to see a woman cry?”
“Oh, no, I do hate it, but if my woman is going to cry, I want to know why and help her through it.”
“I think I just fell a little in love with you,” Tarin said sweetly, batting her lashes at me as she put her hand on my arm. “Do you consider yourself a protective man, Harvey?”
“Above and beyond what is normal,” I stated, being completely honest. “I’d give my life in a heartbeat to someone I cared for. Hell, I’d do it for a stranger.”
“Cut! That’s going to be a wrap for today with Harvey,” someone called.
Holly came to my side. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“It’s okay, Holly.”
Tarin stepped closer. “Did I say something wrong?”
I shook my head. “No, Holly was worried you’d upset me because my first wife left me while I was on deployment because she didn’t like military life, and the second one was in bed with her boss when I came home on leave a couple of days early.”
Tarin’s jaw dropped. “I’m so sorry, Harvey.”
“It’s alright, really. It doesn’t bother me to talk about it anymore.”
“Didn’t your last girlfriend have a problem with your travel too?” Holly asked.
“Yeah, she did, but at least we parted amicably.”
Tarin put her hand on my shoulder. “Well, maybe you and your date will hit it off, and she will be more independent and not have issues with your traveling.”
Holly was gnawing on her bottom lip as I answered Tarin. “Maybe.”
Tarin said she’d talk to me later and headed off to get ready for the next guy who was training after me.
Holly accompanied me out of the room. “So, you really do look like you’re having fun, Harv.”
“Ah, come on, Holly, you know I don’t do anything halfway. If I’m going to do it, I might as well have fun and do it right. Besides, maybe it will work out after all.”
Holly erupted in a quick burst of laughter. “No offense, Harv, but I told you before, she’s not your type.”
“Yeah, why do you say that?”
She shook her head and glanced around slightly. “I can’t tell you, you know that, but I will tell you that I know her, as a friend, and you are completely not her type. Or she might be your type, but you are not her type.”
I laughed. “What type am I?”
“You’re tough and controlling, and you expect people to do things your way.”
“I do not!” I said.
She threw her head back. “Oh, my god! You most certainly