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 didn’t press him, just held him close until he felt ready to talk.


“I fucked up, Makai,” Kaos said finally.


“You need to explain that to me, baby brother.” Makai’s tone was even, his voice deep and calming somehow, like it had always been for Kaos.


He explained about how close they’d gotten now, about the call and the horrors Padraig had been faced with.


“Yeah, we know some of it. Emil’s dad called us, asking to borrow our cat carriers.”


“He was there for twelve hours straight, Makai. He was dead on his feet when he came home.” The sight of Padraig sobbing on the floor with Hestia on his lap made Kaos’s heart hurt like hell. He’d never seen grief like that before, not for animals at least.


Chapter 59