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

Makai talked some more, but soon Kaos let out another long sigh. “Okay. I’ll be back later. Yeah. Bye.”


“Yeah, he had a flashback, but he’s fine now. Resting with the cats. Not blaming me. All that….” Kaos grimaced. It was obvious he blamed himself, even if Makai and Emil didn’t.


“Good. You shouldn’t be blaming yourself either. Accidents happen when people have trauma in their pasts. Triggers can be anything—you know that, right?” Padraig speared some chicken and half of an heirloom tomato with his fork.


“Yeah, I have mine… as you’ve noticed.” Kaos smiled wryly.


“This is why people need to communicate.”


Kaos continued to eat, too, and toward the end of the meal, he seemed to get tense again.


“What are you thinking?” Padraig asked when they got up to take their dishes to the sink.


Chapter 23