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

“Welcome to Acker. I’m Doc, the local veterinarian,” Doc said, smiling at him politely. “Nobody wants to learn how my first name is actually pronounced, so they call me Doc.”


“I’m not Kaos either, although my real name would be easier and require less spelling it out, I think. K-A-O-S. Nice to meet you.”


“P-A-D-R-A-I-G. Padraig. Likewise.” It sounded more like paw-drig, so Kaos understood.


Kaos caught an odd look from Makai but decided to leave it for now.


Doc turned his attention to the others again. “How are Mouse and Spike doing?”


“They’re pretty great. We need to set up the appointment to snip Spike, though,” Emil said. “Poor boy.”


“Yes, we wouldn’t want him to repeat his father’s mistakes,” Doc agreed empathically. “Although it all turned out really well, it could have been much worse for everyone, including Mouse.”


“Tell me about it,” Makai said, and shivered delicately for such a big man.


Chapter 4