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

Francis nodded as he drove. They’d taken his car instead of Kaos’s Toyota, and Kaos felt grateful. At least this one would make it to Woodruff and back and had proper snow chains on just in case it started to snow again.


“I don’t have much to keep me in there, though…. I’ve been considering options, and I don’t know. Maybe I’ll move somewhere.”


“Well, it seems like Acker isn’t half bad for a pit stop or more,” Kaos said, grinning.


“But job prospects aren’t very promising there.”


“Have you ever thought about a new profession? Or private nursing or something?”


“I have been thinking about a more LGBTQ-friendly nursing service. I could travel some, stay with patients if needed. For example, there are bunch of transgender people who are having kids now, and it’s not easy for them to go to just any place for checkups and such.”


Chapter 52