I knew they would and as much as I don't have a problem with multi-shipping or with Han having had flings in the past, there was nothing to suggest in the OT that Han had ever loved a woman before His pursuit of Leia seemed unique for his character.

I think that's the problem. Trying to link a backstory of an original character to a new version of a character means that they take liberties with their character arcs and I don't find it believable at all that he felt anything beyond sexual feelings for women before Leia.