Danielle Lombard has one thing in common with The Bachelor villain Corinne Olympios -- Nick Viall appreciates their aggressive pursuits when their fellow bachelorettes do not.
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While Olympios has been Public Enemy No. 1 this season, Lombard also took a lot of flack during Monday night's episode for stealing Viall away for some alone time at the cocktail party when she already had a rose in hand from their romantic one-on-one date in the Bachelor's hometown of Waukesha, WI.
"I was looking forward to the cocktail party. There is always a looming sense of grey during cocktail parties because they're followed by a Rose Ceremony, but it does allow us all to spend more time together," Viall wrote in his People blog.
"It was disappointing to hear some of the women give Danielle L. a hard time about pulling me first. I know she already had a rose, but in this environment, putting your own relationship first is key."
Viall is defending Lombard the same way he has defended Olympios in his blog posts so far this season.
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The Bachelor star wants the women to be themselves and be determined to find lasting love, even if it means slightly upsetting their competition at times. Viall also loves a confident, feisty woman who knows what she wants and goes for it.
Viall relates to Lombard and Olympios because he behaved similarly on both Andi Dorfman and Kaitlyn Bristowe's seasons of The Bachelorette. He was persistent, cocky at times and entered the process with an "I'm not here to make friends" mentality.
"I did the same thing during Kaitlyn and Andi's seasons, and I don't think pulling first like that should hold so much negative weight," Viall explained.
"I celebrate bold moves, and I felt like it was great that Danielle pulled me."
Lombard's "bold move" only strengthened her bond with Viall after the couple strolled the streets of Wisconsin together and connected over a dinner in which the bachelorette opened up about her fears and parents' unexpected divorce.
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"We came off such a high from our date, and I fully support wanting to end the week on high," Viall said.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski