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

“Uh, yeah, sorry. There was stuff in the way,” Padraig lied quickly, then handed over one of the folding chairs. “Here, does Kaos want one too?”


The so-called window seat was really a radiator cover that ran along the width of the large window. Kaos had opened the vertical blinds and sat in a sunny spot, looking like some sort of ethereal, genderless being.


Padraig swallowed hard. His stomach clenched, and he could feel signs of arousal creeping into his body like a thief in the night. He was so, so confused.


“So, what do you have in mind?” Makai sat down on his chair, near Kaos.


Padraig steeled himself and placed his chair so he could see the others well. Do not stare. It’s not the first time you’ve seen an androgynous person, for fuck’s sake! “Well, you know I asked if you needed a business space for your carpentry.”


“I get that it’s pretty big expense, having a space for what you do, but what if we expand that idea?”


Chapter 14