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Sacha’s bedroom door was still closed when Bandit left to take his parents to the airport.

He had stopped and had breakfast with his parents before they left.

On the way back to the house, he ran through a drive-thru and grabbed Sacha coffee and a breakfast sandwich.

He didn’t know if Sacha slept late or avoided him.

Either way, Bandit didn’t like it. He knew he had taken a risk, but he had to know.

Now Bandit had no doubts. Sacha wanted him too.

Bandit just had to find a way to completely win him.

At Chipper’s, he found Sacha heading for the kitchen. He froze when he spotted Bandit. “Oh. Hey. I thought you’d left.”

“I’d never leave without saying goodbye. My parents had an early flight. I drove them to the airport.”

“You didn’t fly home with them?”

Obviously, he hadn’t, but he got what Sacha meant. “My next game is in Arizona. I didn’t see the point of flying across the country just to fly back with the team. I’ll meet them there. Oh.” He held up his haul. “I got you breakfast.”

A sweet smile touched Sacha’s lips. “You’re amazing.”

Those words hit him so much harder than he’d expected.

Sacha was just the epitome of beauty. Bandit had never had anyone who looked like Sacha choose him, much less pick him for anything other than his career.

Bandit understood his weaknesses. Being conventionally handsome was definitely not a strength he possessed.

He had all the hallmarks of being teased.

Red hair. Tons of freckles. Too skinny for his height.

“I hope you got something too and don’t intend to watch me eat. There’s only one cup.”

Damn. He should have at least gotten a coffee so he didn’t make Sacha uncomfortable. “I ate with my parents before I dropped them off. Sorry about that. I can leave you alone to eat.”

They headed to the kitchen together.

Sacha shook his head. “You overthink things. I can see it. It’s fine to sit with me.”

He set the meal on the table as Sacha sat. Bandit chose a chair across from him. “I hope you like bacon, egg, and cheese. Breakfast choices are always limited.”

“I’m not a picky eater. That comes from growing up poor. We ate what we were given or starved. You can learn to like anything.”

Bandit nodded. “Same.”

Sacha paused with the sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Really? I never realized.”

Bandit shrugged. “Yeah. My mom was a teacher, and my dad worked at a factory. They barely got by. That’s why they never fought to get custody of Baylor. They couldn’t afford a lawyer or a court battle.”

Sacha nodded along as he chewed.

Bandit forced a smile to his lips. He hated thinking about the helpless rage of not being able to save Baylor from an abusive foster family. “Thankfully, I got picked up by New England.”

“I imagine that was quite a change in circumstances.”

Sacha had no idea, and Bandit didn’t really like talking about it. He changed the subject. “Have you created any amazing cakes lately?”

Baylor had discovered Sacha through his cake designs and subsequently hired him to help with his wedding planning business.

Sacha made works of art. Bandit had only seen one design, and it had floored him.

He wished Sacha could live that dream. As much as he was grateful for Sacha keeping Baylor from working himself to death, he wanted Sacha to have his biggest dream too.

Sacha set his sandwich aside and picked up his phone. He clicked around. “Here.” He passed the device Bandit’s way.

Bandit stared at the image Sacha had pulled up. It was a pumpkin. The carving was immaculate—like a creepy face etched into the skin. He was a bit confused. “You carve pumpkins too?”

A sexy grin spread across Sacha’s face. “That’s a cake.”

Bandit looked at the photo again. “Shut up. It is not.”

Sacha chuckled. “Keep scrolling.”

He swiped to the next picture. A slice of cake had been carved from the pumpkin. “Holy shit. It really is cake. Are there more?”

“You can keep looking.” Sacha went back to eating while Bandit scrolled through the images on his phone.

He was blown away. Picture after picture of cakes that looked as if there was no chance they were anything but the object they appeared to be turned out to be cake.

Bandit couldn’t stop swiping. Then he hit an image of Sacha.

He was shirtless. Lipstick coated his lips and eyeliner highlighted his eyes.

He was posed artfully. Lace covered parts of his face, but it looked painted on rather than actual material.

Bandit’s gaze refused to budge. He took in every line and detail.

Sacha’s hair was slicked back, and his lips were parted, as if on a pant. He intrigued the hell out of Bandit.

Bandit turned the phone Sacha’s way. “If I scroll and this is cake, I’m going to fucking die.”

Sacha’s eyes swam with laughter. “No. That one is actually me. My little brother is an art major. He needed a model for a portfolio he had to put together for an assignment.”

“How did I not know you have a little brother?” Bandit felt guilty. He thought he always made a conscious effort to talk to Sacha when they saw each other.

Sacha shrugged. “I don’t imagine we know much about each other at all. For example, I have no idea if you’re an only child.”

“I am. Do you only have the one sibling?”

“Yes.”

“What’s his name? How old is he? Share your life with me.”

Sacha laughed at Bandit getting more over the top with each demand. “Artem is twenty. I don’t mind telling you whatever you want, but you must share too.”

“That’s fair. Spend the day with me.”

“Don’t you have a game to get to?”

Bandit shrugged. “Not today. I can leave in the morning. What do you say? Want to explore the town with me?”

Sacha looked torn. “I’ve been here many times.”

“But have you done anything other than work weddings?”

“No.”

“Then let’s see what this place has to offer.”

Sacha’s expression screamed he wanted to say yes, but still he hesitated. His chest expanded on a deep breath. He held Bandit’s stare. “I like you a lot.”

Hope surged inside Bandit. “I like you a lot too.”

“You’re my boss’s best friend.”

Damn. “I’m aware.”

“I really need my job.”

Without thinking, Bandit rolled his eyes.

He stood and pulled Sacha to his feet. “I know you don’t think I’d ever do anything to make you lose your job.

Plus, we’re just being tourists.” Sacha still didn’t look reassured.

Bandit huffed. “If you want, we can stay in and have sex instead. If I’m threatening your job, let’s do it right.

” It was a joke. One Bandit had thrown out, hoping Sacha realized how ridiculous he was being over a simple day on the town.

Except Sacha didn’t immediately say no, and the way he chewed his bottom lip said he gave it a moment’s consideration. Bandit had never wanted anything more.

Sacha was temptation’s bitch. He couldn’t say yes. He wouldn’t say no. How many chances would he get? Bandit was a professional athlete who could have anyone, and probably did. Sacha doubted Bandit would ever offer again. He opened his mouth to say yes. His phone rang, saving him.

Sacha turned and snatched up the device where Bandit had abandoned it on the kitchen table. Artem’s name was on the screen.

Sacha quickly answered. “Hello?”

“Hey. Do you know when you’re coming home? I have to work tonight, and Dana called out sick.”

Sacha pinched the spot between his eyes.

He couldn’t ask Artem to miss work. Sacha already put too much on his shoulders.

“Let me check what flights are available and see if I can move mine up. Just hold on a second.” He moved the phone from his ear and opened the airline’s app.

With a few clicks, he found another flight.

He pressed the phone to his ear again. “Okay. There’s an earlier flight.

Thankfully, I have TSA pre check. It’s in two hours. I’ll have to rush to make it.”

Artem blew out a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I know I’m asking a lot, but I need a break. Forget I said that.”

Sacha’s chest hurt. No one understood how badly Sacha wanted Artem to be a normal twenty-year-old, having fun and enjoying his life. There were no jobs out there that paid as much as Baylor, and they couldn’t afford for him to make less. Unfortunately, just existing took both of them.

“Oh, sweetheart. It’s okay. I know you deserve better.”

“Yeah, but now I feel bad.”

“Don’t.” Sacha made sure Artem heard the truth in his voice. “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

“Okay. Be careful. I love you.”

“Love you too, angel. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Sacha ended the call and focused on Bandit. The disappointment was real. He wanted this, but like Artem, he had to make sacrifices. “I have to go.”

Bandit looked worried. “Is everything okay?”

Sacha nodded and headed for the hall. “My brother has to work tonight, and he’s not in a position to call out.”

“You have to go home for him to go to work?”

Sacha didn’t look his way. “It’s a long story.”

Bandit followed him to the bedroom. “Do you want a lift to the airport?”

Pride made Sacha want to say no. His desire to spend every second with Bandit was stronger, and he had arranged for the rental company to pick up his SUV already, hoping to save money. “Are you sure? You’ve already driven there once today.”

Bandit shrugged. He sat on the bed and watched Sacha gather his things. “I don’t mind. If you wait on a ride, you’ll never be on a plane in two hours.”

That was likely true. Sacha zipped closed his suitcase.

“Plus, I’m not ready to let you go.”

Sacha’s gaze snapped to Bandit at the confession. He didn’t know how to handle this. Unfortunately, his heart took control of his tongue. “Same.”

They held each other’s stare. Bandit came to his feet.

Sacha’s feet wouldn’t budge. He watched as the space between them disappeared.

Sacha swore he didn’t blink as Bandit moved in and touched his lips against his.

Then Sacha’s eyes fell closed and the deepest longing consumed him.

This was the life he craved. A life that would never be his.

He had to put his family first. Artem made sacrifices.

Sacha had to do the same. He could not lose his job.

His family needed him. Still, Sacha didn’t turn away.

He was still a man in the arms of his biggest desire.

Sacha would take this moment and store it away to keep like his own private treasure.

Then he would steer clear of Bandit. This was the one thing that would never be.