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

“Hey, now, I didn’t say fancy. I just said it was something I haven’t made before which,” he grinned, “covers a lot of territory.”


“Right now, I’d eat an over-cooked burger and consider it manna from heaven.”


“How did you guess what I was making?” Lyle burst into laughter, put his jacket on, and after locking up watched Damien drive away before going to get his car.


“That was damned good for a first time.” Damien leaned back, licking his lips, when he’d finished every bite of his supper.


“It didn’t turn out too bad,” Lyle agreed. “It could have used a touch more garlic, I think, but otherwise…yeah, the recipe’s definitely a keeper.”


“So’s the…” Damien didn’t get to finish because Lyle’s cell chimed.


“What? When? Yes, I’ll be there as soon as possible. It’s…” He rattled off a series of numbers as he walked quickly to the closet to get his jacket—with Damien right behind him, asking, “What’s going on?”


Chapter 44