“The Passenger Information List! The same way I find out about my male prospects is the way we’ll find out about yours. Since they all have frequent flyer accounts, I’ll just get my agent hookup to punch in their names, pull up their frequent flyer numbers, and we’ll know the next time they will be flying the friendly skies! Then, we’ll swap flights, switch routes…do whatever we have to to make sure you are on the flight, and then voilá! Snip snip, hair gone!”

Suddenly, what seemed impossible became almost probable. It was a shot. A long shot, but a shot nonetheless.

“Again, I hate to admit it,” Sam begrudgingly added, “I really, really, really hate to admit it, but she’s got another good point.”

“But I’ve dated all these guys before and I’m not engaged now. Why would this time be any different?”

“’Cause this time you will be different,” Sam said with confidence. “When they see you this time, they won’t just see the woman that they remember, looking the way they remember. This time, they’ll see a new and improved Montana. Poised. Confident. Self-assured and self-aware. The woman of their dreams. A woman that makes them believe they can fly. And to be different and expect a different outcome, you have to first change your actions. Same actions, same outcome. New actions, new outcome. First thing is—and this might be one of the hardest—when you see these men, all of which you’ve probably had sex with, under no circumstances, no matter how hard it gets and no matter how hot and bothered you become, will you engage in any sexual activity.”

“How about if she just—”

“No.”

“But what if she just—”

“No!”

“You mean she can’t even—”

“No! No high heels, no hot pants, and no sex!”

Feeling the need to bring my earlier indiscretions to Sam’s attention, I offered, “Uh Sam, I hate to tell you this but—”

“Girl, I already know, but read my lips: same actions, same outcome. New actions, new outcome. Consider it a fast. A sex fast. Think of it as your candy machine having a broken quarter slot. The candy will still be fresh, protected, and visible to the naked eye, just temporarily unattainable. It’s more intoxicating that way, anyway. We all want what we can’t have, agreed?”

First looking at Gail, who was rolling her eyes, then back at Sam. “Agreed.”

“Rule number two, no matter how tempting the choices may get, you can’t make a decision until after you have spent time with all five. That means you can’t do like you usually do—”

“And what’s that?”