Lyle Atwood's company is hired to costume a party given by multi-millionaire Warner Radclyffe. As he and his employees begin preparations for the job, Lyle begins to feel as if someone is watching him. Then he meets Damien Sauvage, the newest tenant in the apartment building where he lives. Damien tells Lyle that he's a waiter, and when Lyle confides in him that he thinks he's being stalked, Damien offers to help find out who it is. What he neglects to tell Lyle is he actually works for Radclyffe, who wants him to protect Lyle from a very powerful enemy. As Damien gains Lyle's confidence, he becomes attracted to the younger man -- an attraction that Lyle reciprocates. He fights his feelings, knowing Lyle will hate him when he finds out his secret -- and even more so when he learns what Damien really is. Radclyffe orders Damien to continue the job, as he has a secret of his own involving Lyle. A secret that cannot be revealed until the night of the party. Can Lyle survive what is to come, or will the lies of omission be the death of him -- or worse?

Lies of Omission

Lyle sipped his coffee. From his expression he wanted to say something but wasn’t certain he should. Then he blurted out, “Are you really a waiter? You seem to know an awful lot of things a detective would.”


“Trust me, I spend half my time waiting,” Damien replied. The truth, although not the way he knew Lyle would take it. “You can call my boss if you want.”


“No.” Lyle shook his head sharply. “If you say you are I believe you, although…Maybe sometime in the past you worked for a detective agency?”


“Nope. I had an uncle who did. I probably picked up some ideas on what to do from listening to him tell stories about it.”


Before Lyle could probe anymore, or get back to who was interested in him, Damien said, “I hate to spoil the party but unlike you, I have to work tomorrow. The boss wouldn’t be too happy if I fell asleep on the job.”


Laughing, Lyle agreed he probably wouldn’t. He put their cups in the sink and then walked with Damien to the door.


Chapter 18