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

Even though he had no pressing need for it, he got to work half an hour before the clinic officially opened. Fifteen minutes later, his current assistant, Athena, walked in through the back door.


“Hey, Doc,” she greeted him, looking a bit worse for wear, but it was pretty much her normal appearance before ten in the morning anyway.


“Hi. I put the coffee maker on for you,” he replied, and watched as she perked up visibly. “Can you go through the clinic emails and see if there’s anything important, and call the Norths to check up on the puppies and the momma for me? I have the first client coming in at nine sharp, so let’s hustle once you’ve got some caffeine in you.”


She marched to the coffee maker and filled a large mug, then went through to the front to open and get ready. She’d get verbal after the first mug was empty.


Chapter 7