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

After thanking Lyle and company, the actors left, with Joseph and Elaine following twenty minutes later, after they’d taken the costumes upstairs to hang on the racks in the sewing room.


“Ready to get something to eat,” Damien asked Lyle.


“I saw a restaurant about a block from here, if you like Italian.”


“I do, and it’s not bad, so let’s go.”


“We seem to spend a lot of our time together eating,” Damien commented as they waited for the waitress to come over to their table. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. It’s a necessary evil and it’s nice to have company. Your company,” he quickly added when Lyle barely reacted to what he’d said.


Lyle shrugged, obviously relieved when the waitress appeared at his side, asking if they were ready to order. Damien scanned the menu, told her what he wanted, and after Lyle did the same, she left.


Chapter 29