Opinions Needed

Okay, I have a question regarding heroes and other male characters in a story. I've got a manuscript that I'm going to be overhauling (still in the think process) that has a hero who's clearly the hero and my heroine's ex-husband who clearly isn't the hero. I've been considering making life harder for my heroine by making the ex a little more sympathetic, a little more like the man she would've stayed married to if he hadn't been the cold jerk he was before the divorce.

How do you feel about the heroine having a choice between two men (though I know who she'll end up with)? Do you like the it to be clear cut? Knowing there's no way she's going to go for the other guy because he's the spawn of Satan? Or could there be that element of "hmm... okay, I could see her with the other guy even though I prefer the hero".

I started another manuscript, only because I was getting tired of the one I was working on and needed something fresh for awhile, and I was thinking the same thing. The heroine has a best friend who's a guy and her fiance, one of them isn't going to be too nice, but it could go either way. Or maybe the "not so nice" one will just end up as Mr. Pretty Close But We Want Different Things.

I've probably just confused everyone. But why should I be alone in my misery, right?

Thanks!!!