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

Mary and Francis had never been friendly. It was like Mary brought the campiest queen version of Francis out of him, and it was never pretty. Usually that level of camp was reserved for homophobes and bigots.


Francis, like Padraig and Marcus, could pass for a straight guy. The difference was, Francis never acted straight on purpose. Not that Padraig or Marcus had lied if asked, but sometimes it was easier to just… hide.


The thought made something inside Padraig clench uncomfortably. He was ashamed of doing that now. The only thing that had really changed was Kaos stepping into his life. If he wanted to be with Kaos one day, there would be no room for shame in that equation.


“What are you thinking about?” Francis asked.


This time the emergency phone saved him instead of stopping something good. He held up a finger and went to answer. “Dr. Donovan speaking.”


Chapter 45