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

“It’s outside!” Hayden attempted an annoyed voice, but it really came out more like a whine, which made Neal bite his lip and shake his head.


Nathan was waiting near the intersecting hall with a big smile on his face. “Congratulations, Mr. Hayden. An exciting day.” He pressed the call button for the elevator.


“Thank you. Honestly I thought it’d never happen,” Hayden said. The bell dinged and the elevator doors opened. As they stepped into the car, Hayden caught how Nathan nodded in the slightest way to Neal as the door slid shut. “What was all that about?”


“What was what about?” Neal folded his hands in front of him and gave Hayden such an innocent look Hayden almost believed nothing had transpired between the two men.


“You know what looking at me with those big dark eyes does.”


“Yes,” Neal admitted. “I do. It’s something I count on.”


Chapter 60