Hayden Owens is just a typical graduate student working his way through school as a barista for the Owens Coffee Company -- no relation. But he keeps the "no relation" part to himself when he meets dashing, older Neal Kirchner, a successful architect from an old-money family. Hayden doesn't exactly lie, but he figures it can't hurt for Neal to believe he's a rich kid. After all, Hayden doesn't want Neal thinking he's a gold digger.<br><br>Neal Kirchner is Asian Indian and British decent. His parents became Christians, shoving their heritage to the side. Neal has returned to the customs and religion his grandmother cherished. On top of being a very successful architect he's heir to the Indian Rose Tea Company, a business that's been in his family for generations.<br><br>Neal's passion is high performance cars and he meets Hayden at a fundraiser for the automotive engineering department of Clemson University. They are immediately smitten with each other. The closer they become, the harder it gets for Hayden to come clean. Something always seems to get in the way. When a company bankruptcy and a jilted, vindictive woman threaten to expose his charade, Hayden thinks it's all gone down the drain. Luckily Neal is ready with some innocent trickery of his own, but will their relationship survive?

High Test

Hayden had a moment of sheer panic. No way was Neal ever getting near the crappy hovel of an apartment Hayden lived in. “I don’t have…I don’t want to put you out. Tomorrow is fine. I need to go to the coffee shop anyway.”


“Good. Don’t feel we have to share a bed, but I was hoping you’d take up my offer of my spare bedroom and we could still spend more time today together. I’ve enjoyed your company more than I have anyone’s in quite a while,” Neal confessed. “You can laugh at me and call me old-fashioned, but I think it’s a little too early for us to share a bed.”


Relief washed over Hayden. “I don’t think that’s old-fashioned at all, and I believe two people need to get to know each other first.”


Neal pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Whew. Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”


Neal gave the dishwasher dial a turn, starting the machine. “I’m afraid I don’t have much in the way of dessert.”


Chapter 23