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

“I love you,” Kaos whispered against Padraig’s mouth, then pecked him on the lips and stepped back.


“Love you too, sweetheart.” A knock sounded from the door between the clinic and the shop, and Athena, who was in for an extra shift to help at the shop in the afternoon, called to him. “I got to go. Have fun!”


Padraig turned to go, and Kaos sneakily squeezed his ass and winked at him when he looked over his shoulder. Athena smirked wickedly at his blush, then assisted him in giving a very large Maine Coon an ultrasound.


In the afternoon, sisters Erin and Evy Peters—one of the deputies and a local therapist respectively—came to take over some of the work. They brought goodies, because while Leah and Stuart couldn’t leave the diner, they’d sent some food for those who stayed behind, finishing up the shop. They had all worked through lunchtime, so Padraig and Athena joined Kaos, Makai, Emil, Francis, and the sisters in the front for snacks.


Chapter 75