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

“Rarely. Usually it’s when one of their own bodyguards is ill and the situation is such that the man, or woman, could be in danger without their full complement of protection.”


“I didn’t realize what you did was that dangerous.”


“When big money is concerned, it can be.” His father patted his shoulder. “In my case, it’s mostly for show, obviously, but people would question it if I didn’t seem to be well protected the way the other men I deal with are.”


Damien had been filling his boss in on the previous evening and Lyle’s run-in with Orsino when Lyle had called to say he wanted to stop by to talk with Radclyffe.


As soon as the call had ended, Radclyffe had tapped his chin thoughtfully while looking at Damien.


“I’m not going to like this, am I?”


Chapter 76