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

“Sounds good to me.” Lyle leaned into the loose embrace.


Damien tightened it, liking their closeness more than he knew he should have, and they kept up a steady pace as they returned home. “Got you here without you turning into an icicle,” he said as he dropped his arm and opened the entryway door.


Lyle took care of unlocking the door to the lobby. The elevator arrived right as they got to it, disgorging Karen and a small dog on a leash. “Be careful or he’ll blow away,” he said.


“Trust me, it’s up to the corner and back,” she retorted as she hurried past them, following the anxious dog.


When they arrived at their floor, Damien walked Lyle to his apartment. “Door to door service.”


“Thanks. You’re welcome to come in for coffee if you want.”


“I would, but you have to work tomorrow and it’s going to be a long day, so I’ll take a rain check.”


Chapter 25