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

Easing apart, they both drew a deep breath. Then while Neal ran his tongue over Hayden’s neck, Hayden nipped at Neal’s ear and was rewarded with a deep moan.


Breathing hard, Neal moved back a step and held Hayden by the shoulders, rubbing his thumbs over them. “I think if we don’t eat our lunch, we’ll miss out.”


Neal put his arm around Hayden’s shoulders and walked him to the table. “Dinner isn’t until nine, and we don’t have to be in the ballroom until seven thirty to greet the guests.” He dropped his voice and blew hot breath in Hayden’s ear while saying, “We’ve plenty of time and all night later.”


“I am sort of hungry,” Hayden said and sank into one of the chairs. “This smells amazing.”


“It’s one of the hotel’s signature dishes, and I make it a point to order it every time I’m here.”


Chapter 35