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

“Did you draw the Valentine’s cards for the Millers’?” Padraig asked as he wiped his fingers on some napkins and drank the rest of his mocha frappe.


Kaos shivered delicately. “I still can’t understand how you can drink that stuff in the winter. And yeah, I did fifteen cards like they asked. I dropped them off yesterday. He ordered some birthday ones as well—says he’ll pay me well.”


“He’s not joking, Kaos. He will pay you fairly for your time. Nothing like what your tattooing costs, of course, but….”


“For a little shop, for things I can doodle on my breaks or in the evenings when I’d doodle anyway, yeah. It’s no extra work, so getting paid at all is nice. Besides, they’re good people. Not everyone would be so open-minded.”


“Not everyone is.” Padraig grunted. They’d come across some sneering at the Walmart, just because Kaos had some eyeliner and lip gloss on to go with his “girly” coat.


Chapter 65