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

At least the skittishness seemed like an old hurt, somehow, a reflex. Whatever was going on today, it wasn’t about what had happened to him in the past, but rather something current.


Kaos nodded. “It’s… it is what it is,” he said, choosing his words carefully. No platitudes of “it’s not you, it’s me” or “it’s okay,” because those weren’t true, it seemed. Padraig respected the hell out of Kaos’s honesty in that moment.


He drove into his usual spot and got out of the car, knowing Kaos would follow. Except he didn’t. When Padraig turned back to look at him, Kaos was staring at the house, his eyes as wide as saucers, frozen on the spot.


Padraig moved slowly in his field of vision and opened the passenger’s side door. “Come on. You should see the inside,” he deadpanned.


Kaos snorted in surprise. “It’s… awesome,” he finally managed to say as he slid out of the car and closed the door after Padraig moved away.


Chapter 22