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either since she also loved Norman. It was … complicated. Very complicated.
    â€œI’ve got no right loving you. Not when I’m such a jerk.” Mike stopped speaking and sighed deeply. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Hannah. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me since my wife died, and I keep goofing it up right and left. It’s like I don’t want to succeed in love again. And as long as I’m fickle, I don’t have to try.”
    Hannah didn’t know what to say. Mike was being brutally honest. Everything he’d said was true. “I … I think I understand,” she said.
    â€œYou’re too good for me, Hannah. If you hook up with me, I’m just going to break your heart. You should marry Norman. He loves you. I’m sure about that. Norman’s a really nice guy and he’ll treat you right.”
    Again, Hannah was at a loss for words. She just stared at Mike, wondering what he’d say next. And then she realized what he’d already said. “You want me to marry
Norman
?”
    â€œNo! It’s not what I want, that’s for sure. But I think you
should
marry Norman. I know you want to get married. I’ve seen you with Tracey and Bethie, and I can tellyou want kids of your own. Norman would make a great father.”
    â€œTrue,” Hannah said, giving a tight little nod. “But I don’t want to get married to
anyone
! Not now. Maybe not ever. And you can’t palm me off on Norman like I’m some kind of bad poker hand!”
    â€œI wasn’t …”
    â€œYes, you were!” Hannah interrupted him. “You were being all selfless and sweet, and trying to pull the wool over my eyes.”
    â€œWhat wool? What are you talking about?”
    â€œYou don’t want to marry me anymore, and this is a good way of breaking up with me. It makes you look like the good guy. Why don’t you just come out and say that you don’t want to marry me anymore?”
    â€œBut I
do
! I just don’t think I’d do right by you, that’s all.” Mike put his hand on the doorknob, but he didn’t open it. Instead he turned back for a final word. “I’d be the happiest man in the world if you’d marry me, Hannah. I can’t think of anything that would be better for me. But it wouldn’t be better for you. You’d be miserable if you married me. Every time I turned around to look at a pretty woman, you’d wonder if I was going to make a move on her when you weren’t around. Think about it, Hannah. I’ve already let you down a couple of times in the past, and you’d have to be the biggest fool on earth to take a chance on me.”
    And with that said, Mike pulled her into his arms and kissed her until her mind was spinning with joyful abandon.
    There was no way of telling how long the kiss lasted. And there was no way of doubting that Mike desired her. It was a lover’s kiss, a way of communicating the closeness they both felt. Hannah reveled in the feeling forbreathless moments and then … suddenly … Mike was gone, and she realized that she was standing there alone, with her fingertips touching her lips, swaying slightly, savoring the memory.
    â€œOh,” Hannah gave a soft little cry. Mike was willing to sacrifice his own happiness to keep her from making what he thought would be a dreadful mistake. She felt like running after him, throwing her arms around him, and …
    The feel of warm fur brushing against her ankles brought her out of her imaginings and back in touch with reality. Was Mike putting her on? Was this a little game he was playing? Did he want her to feel so sorry for him, she’d race after him, tell him it didn’t matter, and melt into his arms?
    Hannah pondered the questions for a moment, and then she sighed deeply. There was no way she could know for sure. Thank goodness Norman was coming back soon! Of