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 finished eating, Damien waved the waiter down to get two more beers, paying him for them and their food, over Lyle’s protest that they should split the bill. “Now, we dance.”


They took their beers with them into the next room. There was nowhere to sit, and barely anywhere to stand against the wall. They squeezed in between two other couples, to watch the dance floor while finishing their drinks, setting the empties on the ledge behind them. Then, Damien took Lyle’s hands, leading him into the frenzy of dancers.


With Lyle’s arms around his neck, and his hands on his lover’s hips, they did their best to move with the upbeat music without running into anyone. When the music slowed, Damien slid his arms around Lyle’s waist, pulling him tightly against his body.


“I could get used to this,” Lyle whispered, his breath tickling Damien’s ear.


Chapter 80