Chapter 33

When he was gone, Dez lay down. After a moment, Riley came up to push his head beneath Dez’s hand for strokes. Dez smiled at him and obliged. Riley settled down and purred like a furry ginger dynamo. Dez drowsed, just like the cat.

Words Fran had said to him last night drifted around his mind. Could Dez believe them? Was he enough for Fran, just as he was, hero or not? Damaged as he was? Fran could do better. Dez had seen him attract plenty of appreciative glances in the pub. Perhaps it couldn’t last between them. Fran could find someone better in the end.