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

When they arrived at the hotel, Rick stopped the car, and they both sat there gazing at the elegant building for a minute.


“I’ve always wanted to see the inside of this place in person,” Rick said. He turned the car’s engine off, jogged around to the trunk, and extracted the garment bag and Hayden’s overnight bag. “Thank you for the generous tip you included with payment, sir.” He turned so only Hayden could see him, grinned and winked, then whispered, “In case anyone is paying attention.”


“You’re getting into this a bit much.” Hayden slung the garment bag over his shoulder and gripped the overnight case in one hand. “Thank you.”


Rick nodded politely, got back into his car, and drove off, leaving Hayden to stare at the facade of the hotel.


Chapter 33