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

“You don’t have to sit in the back of the hall and hide simply because you’re having trouble arranging for next semester.”


The professor smiled. He was an older man, soft spoken and kind. “Catching up will be difficult if you have to skip a semester, but you’re an incredibly bright and talented student.” He held out a thumb drive. “Here is a copy of my lectures and the work to complete. I realize you may have a new employment schedule that may make it difficult to come to class. You can work on this outside of class if you need to.”


Hayden took the drive with a shaking hand. “Th-thank you.”


“I was a student working my way through college once too. Your degree may be postponed a year, but if you keep at it, you’ll make it.” He held out his hand and Hayden shook it before leaving the office.


Chapter 44