That 'Bachelor' Bob sure likes to kiss -- but he's close-lipped about love


		Scott Eklund / P-I
	Bob Guiney toted up 14 kisses by episode three. He says he's pleased with the outcome of the show, but his final choice will remain a mystery until the end.

Fans who got to meet Bob! in person! last night at Pacific Place's Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant say he's just what they expected -- and maybe a bit more.

"He's awesome. He's really cute," said Ali Warren, 22. "He looks even thinner than he did on TV. And he seems down to earth."

Her friend, Juliana Parsons, added: "It's a fantasy. We all want that world. We all want to fall in love."

About 50 people mixed, mingled and snapped plenty of souvenir shots with Bob, who passed out red roses to many of the ladies.

But Guiney, 32, says fame isn't going to his head.

"It's been flattering to me. It's been very humbling, actually," he said. "About 4 1/2 years ago, I was married and I didn't have the intention of being the bachelor or being famous."

Last night, Bob eliminated Meredith, a brunette from Portland.

He has chosen a woman from the remaining three, but can't say who or if he's in love. Though he's not ready to head to the altar "tomorrow," he'd love to be married again. "And, I think I'd be a great husband.

"I'm very happy with the outcome of the show. I honestly believe that the real relationship starts with the cameras turned off."

He said he learned from his two-year marriage.

"Divorce taught me a lot of life lessons. I'd never lost at anything before. I always thought everything would turn out perfect," said Guiney, who was high school class president, winter ball king, fraternity social director and lead singer of a band.

Guiney, 32, was a contestant on "The Bachelorette," and though he wasn't chosen by Trista Rehn, fan mail to the show poured in and he became the fourth bachelor.

In a two-day visit here, Bob's engagements also include joining a blind date hosted by Star 101.5 FM and appearing on "Northwest Afternoon."

He's also written a book called "What a Difference a Year Makes: Facing Setbacks and Coming Out Ahead," and his album "3 Sides" will be on shelves Nov. 25.

Average ratings for "The Bachelor" this season put it just into the top 20 most-watched shows. But, ratings for Bob, bachelor No. 4, have been softer than his predecessors so far.

There has been much buzz about the ample kissing that Bob does on the show. ABC's Web site counted 14 kisses by episode three.

Diana Ehlers of Bellingham said she finds Bob funny, sincere and more attractive in person.

"As a mother, what bothers me is that, well, I call him 'lover lips,' " said Ehlers, who has a 13-year-old daughter. "He's always kissing."

But she did not object when her mother-in-law, Ruth Ehlers, 70, received a nice peck on the cheek from Bob. Nor did Ruth Ehlers, who was grinning from ear to ear.

Bob says the smooching is part of his decision-making.

"To find out if it's going to work, you have to know if you're going to have chemistry with someone."

He says anyone who's dated 10 to 15 people has likely kissed them all.

"I just happened to do mine in six to eight weeks on television as opposed to five to six years," Guiney adds. "I don't think anybody in glass houses should throw stones. If they think about the last 10 people they dated and kissed, they should get off my back."

As for his future, Bob says he doesn't have Hollywood fantasies. He says he plans to keep living in Detroit, helping to run a mortgage company that he co-founded and keep playing music.

"I have no misconceptions. I'm no George Clooney. I think it's kind of funny how everyone on a reality show moves to L.A. and thinks they're the next Gwyneth Paltrow," Guiney said.

"I was a musician before I was on a TV show about dating women. And I'll be a musician when I'm 50."

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