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

They rode the elevator down to the lobby, then Neal nudged Hayden to one side. A sign above an entryway listed the facilities: Laundry, Fitness Center, Wine Cellar, and Pet Care and Grooming. Hayden stuck his hands in his pockets as he wandered along beside Neal, peeking through the glass doors at the various amenities and wondering what it would be like to have an extended stay in this hotel. Eventually they came to a glass door with the words Pet Care and Grooming painted across the front.


Neal used his keycard to open the door, explaining, “The only guests who can gain access are those with pets registered here. They tie your keycard in when you register at the reception desk.”


There was a short hall lined with doors indicating rooms for cats, grooming, small dogs, larger dogs, and so on. Hayden laughed when he read some of the nameplates over the doors. Each kennel was given a cute name, such as King of the Jungle and Wolf Den.


Chapter 39