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

“Oh yeah, I was, that same day. I made him do it, and I insisted on condoms after that. Not that we… much. After.”


“Jesus, Padraig.” Francis had somehow managed to put together the peppers and placed them in the oven, then came to sit opposite of Padraig and Hestia. “Your freak-out about finding Kaos attractive makes so much sense now.”


“He could be thought of as a twink, couldn’t he?”


Padraig shrugged. He wasn’t sure if he’d thought of Kaos on those terms. Maybe he had on some level? They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in their heads a little.


“Hey, how’s the meal prep going? Need help?” Kaos asked from the edge of what consisted of the kitchen side of the wide-open space.


Chapter 43