Let me count the ways

He was crying. Sam Malone was crying over her deceased cat, and the thought of it comforted her more than she thought possible. But what had happened next- or almost happened- caused her to think about something other than her cat Elizabeth.

They almost kissed. It wasn't the first time she'd thought about kissing him, though she'd never admit it to him or to anyone else. But how close they came to sharing something so beautiful, so precious that truthfully, it unnerved her. He was Sam Malone for crying out. He had dozens of women, maybe more, so why should she give a second thought to a near kiss?

The thought wasn't totally unappealing to her; he was an attractive man. But the problem was, he knew it, and if she gave credence to his ego then what good would that do anyone?

"Hi, Sam. I just wanted to let you know that I'm leaving for the evening. Is there anything else you need before I leave?"

Boy was there. But common sense dictated he save his come-ons for another occasion. "No, Diane. You're fine. Go ahead and go home. And Diane, take it easy will you?"

She started to cry again. He went over to comfort her, but pulled back from an another embrace.

"It's okay, Sam. You can hug me."

"Are you sure, sweetheart? I don't want you to think to think of me as an insensitive jerk."

"Oh, I could never think that."

"Never?" Sam smiled, causing her to laugh, albeit briefly.

"Well, not right now, anyways."

So as he pulled her in for a hug, he wondered why he hadn't noticed how good she smelled before.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Diane sniffed.

"Nothing, nothing. I just...I think we've had enough hugging for one day."

"You don't want to hug me? You find me repulsive?"

"It's not that. It's just that, well, dammit Diane, you smell so good and you look so good that a guy can't help but let his mind go places that would get him slapped."

Diane started to retort but then she saw how sincerely sorry Sam was for his thoughts. It was hard to stay mad at a guy who showed such remorse for acting like an animal. "It's okay, Sam. I appreciate the compliment and...I guess I should thank you."

"For what? Any other day I tell you look good and you say something to make me feel stupid for even thinking it in the first place!"

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for me today."

He sat on his desk. "It was nothing."

"You're wrong. It was something. You provided something no one else in this bar did today- you comforted me. I guess I hadn't realized how sweet you can be- when you want to be."

He looked down, grinning. "Don't let it get around, will ya? I have a reputation to protect."

With her finger, she motioned across her lips. "Your secret's safe with me."

As Diane left his office for the final time that night, he knew that he also had another secret- a life changing, major one, but thankfully for him, it was still his little secret to keep.

TBC