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

“Would you care for a bottle of wine, Mr. Kirchner?” the waiter asked. It struck Hayden as odd for a few seconds, until he realized Neal probably ate here often enough the staff had come to know him. He remembered Neal’s comment about how he got tired of always eating out.


Neal glanced at Hayden. “I think I’ll stick with sweet tea this evening. I have to get up far too early tomorrow,” Hayden explained. No fib at all. What Hayden didn’t add was that he’d driven Rick’s car, and the last thing he was going to do was drink and drive.


“Sweet tea it is,” Neal agreed. “Thank you, Peter.”


Hayden couldn’t help arching an eyebrow at Neal addressing the waiter by name. Envy surged through him again.


Neal apparently read Hayden’s expression because he added, “I meet clients here often, and it’s one of Mirabel’s favorite restaurants. Mine too. Though I have to admit I think I like that you might be a tad envious of another man.”


Chapter 26