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

“Kaos? Honey? I…. Can you look at me?” His heart was going too fast now, the realization of what he’d just done rushing through him like a tidal wave.


Kaos made another pathetic little noise, but the pleas stopped. The trembling didn’t.


“Can you look at me, please? I’m not going to hurt you.”


Tentatively, Hestia rounded the island on the other side and went to Kaos, pushing her nose into his lap, past the arms, until she reached his face. She seemed to be trying to wiggle her way into his arms, and after couple of very long minutes, she managed.


Padraig’s body decided to give up on staying in a crouch, and he had to lower himself into a sitting position before he crashed.


“W-what…?” Kaos couldn’t get the question out.


Chapter 58