When unlikely attraction blossoms between a twentysomething genderqueer tattoo artist and an older, small-town veterinarian, both are forced to face their pasts for a chance at a loving future. Four years ago Padraig Donovan lost his husband, the only man he’d ever been with. Now his life consists of the work he loves, a big empty house, and the possibility of a lonely future. Kaos’s experiments with makeup landed him in the hospital at the hands of his disapproving ex. With nowhere else to turn, he flees to Acker, Wisconsin ... and runs into a sexy widower and the kindest man he’s ever met. Padraig and Kaos know there’s something worth exploring between them, and as they raise a puppy and deal with the ups and downs of their respective jobs, they fit into each other’s lives in ways they never expected. Being with Kaos -- who is so different than the guys he’s always been attracted to -- opens up an exciting new world for Padraig. But can he convince Kaos to trust another man with his body ... let alone his heart?

Four

The sky had turned gray when he’d been about twenty miles from town, and now it started to rain lightly.


“Okay, let’s take this reunion inside, shall we?” Makai said, and steered them into the building.


It looked like any diner Kaos had ever been in, and something about the familiarity made him at ease, even with the few people sitting at the booths and tables giving him curious glances. He probably looked weird to them, with his long skirt and Army green jacket that clashed with it hideously, but he couldn’t bring himself to care when Makai grinned at him over his shoulder.


They went to a booth Emil seemed to have picked by the windows. As soon as they sat down, a friendly-looking woman with Leah on her name tag stopped by the table.


“Hi, guys. This your friend?” She beamed at them all and extended a hand to Kaos. “Hi, I’m Leah. I own this place with my husband, Stuart. Welcome to town.”


Chapter 3