Oh, those handsome, hunky, romance novel heroes…even their foibles and imperfections don’t keep them from stirring up our insides as we read about them. They kind of set real-life men up for failure. What guy can compete with the suave, attractive Josh Carmichael in Asking for Trouble? Or the charming, sexy Beau Evanko in Heart of Hope?
God love ‘em when real-world men try, though. I came home one Valentine’s Day evening after a long day at work to find the table laid out with a candlelit dinner for two, complete with cabernet, homemade lasagna, salad, French bread, and a cheesecake (also made in our home, though it was from a mix). So thoughtful…and so much work for me.
Turns out, my Valentine had used pretty much every pot, pan, bowl, and piece of silverware in the house and left the kitchen a disaster. How could I be mad after he’d made such an effort? How could I find the energy or the hormones to be turned on after setting the kitchen to rights and washing every dish we owned? It was touch and go for a minute (and not in a good way), until my sweetheart came through in the end by drawing a steamy bubble bath and allowing me to soak in it by myself. Plus, there was a silky new nightie laid out on the bed waiting for me afterwards…and that’s when I got my second wind. 😉 I suspect the scoundrel had it all planned—including me doing the dishes—from the start.
This Valentine’s Day, I hope you have someone thoughtful in your life. Even if your sweetie isn’t the most romantic guy around, give him a break and a bit of credit for trying. They don’t always know what to do, what to say, or what we 
expect, but every little bit of effort should be acknowledged. It’s part of training them. Respond positively to their attempts, and they’ll do a little bit better the next time. By the time we’re in our 70’s, I expect I’ll have quite a considerate, charming man on my hands. Better late than never, right?
In the meantime, wherever you are, whoever you’re with, whatever you do, have a beautiful, relaxing, love-filled Valentine’s Day. XOXOX
