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

When they were seated at either end of the sofa, Lyle returned to what he’d said a few minutes earlier. “There’s no reason to be afraid of your feelings, if they’re honest ones.”


“There are dishonest ones?” Damien asked in an attempt to put off the inevitable.


“Well, maybe not dishonest ones, but trying to hide what you do feel by not being open about it, like…like not admitting you’re angry, or jealous, or whatever you think the other person doesn’t want to hear.” As he talked, Lyle pulled his legs up, wrapping his arms around them, studying Damien.


“I’m not too good at showing my feelings,” Damien admitted.


“Why not? Have you been hurt when you did?”


Damien shook his head. “You can’t be hurt if you don’t let someone know how you feel about them.”


“You did tonight,” Lyle pointed out.


“But I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t kissed me. Yeah, sure, we’ve hugged but friends do that to show they care about what the other person’s going through or…or…”


Chapter 35