PRAISE FOR REMEMBER ME
“A romance for our times. Relevant and real with all the feels.”—Meredith Wild, #1 New York Times Bestseller
“The perfect blend of romance, suspense, beautiful love, and steamy sex. Nelle broke me into pieces but put me back together again.”—A.M. Hargrove, USA Today Bestselling Author
“Sensual and emotional with edge of your seat mystery and intrigue. You won’t be able to put it down.”—Aleatha Romig, New York Times Bestselling Author.
“So relevant with characters that could step out right from the headlines. 5 Gripping Stars.”—Raine Miller, New York Times Bestselling Author
“A beautiful, emotional, heart-wrenching tale of love lost and rediscovered identities. An incredible book from an amazing author!”—Angel Payne, USA Today Bestseller
“A sharp and suspenseful plot drenched in Hollywood glamour and sex.”—Alessandra Torre, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Nelle L’Amour effortlessly weaves a web of intrigue that left me breathless and flipping pages late into the night.”—Adriane Leigh, USA Today Bestselling Author
“Six thrilling stars! Clever, sexy, and romantic. Romantic suspense at its best!”—Auden Dar, Amazon Bestselling Author
“The best book Nelle has ever written. Gripping and emotional and ran out of tissues.”—Gloria Herrera, As You Like It Reviews
“An amazing second chance romance that touched on a sensitive subject with insightful zeal. Such a touching and bold story.”—Book Lovin’ Mama
“Powerful, inspiring, dark, raw, surreal, suspenseful, provocative, and filled with feels, steam, and romance. Another hit by Ms. L’Amour!!”—Goodreads
“Wow! I can’t honestly remember the last time I read a book that had me gripped from the first page right through the entire book as this one did!”—Goodreads
“A fast-paced, thought-provoking storyline with realistic characters and very sexy romance.”—Book Bellas
“Be prepared for titillating twists and turns and a slow burn suspense with a shocking, breathtaking life or death ending.”—Amazon Reader
“Remember Me is best love story I have ever read.”—Goodreads
Copyright © 2019 by Nelle L’Amour
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved
Ebook Edition: August 2019
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events, locales, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is purely coincidental.
No part of this ebook may be reproduced, uploaded to the Internet, or copied without permission from the author. The author respectfully asks that you please support artistic expression and help promote anti-piracy efforts by purchasing a copy of this ebook at the authorized online outlets.
Nelle L’Amour thanks you for your understanding and support.
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NICHOLS CANYON PRESS
Cover by Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs
Proofreading by Mary Jo Toth and Virginia Tesi
Formatting by BB ebooks
BOOKS BY NELLE L’AMOUR
Secrets and Lies
Sex, Lies & Lingerie
Sex, Lust & Lingerie
Sex, Love & Lingerie
Unforgettable
Unforgettable Book 1
Unforgettable Book 2
Unforgettable Book 3
THAT MAN Series
THAT MAN 1
THAT MAN 2
THAT MAN 3
THAT MAN 4
THAT MAN 5
THAT MAN 6
Alpha Billionaire Duet
TRAINWRECK 1
TRAINWRECK 2
Love Duet
Undying Love
Endless Love
A Standalone Romantic Comedy
Baby Daddy
An OTT Insta-love Standalone
The Big O
A Romance Compilation
Naughty Nelle
ABOUT THIS BOOK
From USA Today bestseller Nelle L’Amour, a sizzling and suspenseful second chance romance.
Skye:
It was love at first sight with Finn. The downtown bad boy with the piercing blue eyes, tattooed biceps, and museum-worthy chiseled body. But while he struggled, I was driven. An investigative reporter determined to pursue the truth to get my story. My credo: Dig deep, then dig deeper. Then one time, I dug too deep and literally dug my own grave, losing everything and everyone dear to me.
Until life gave me a second chance.
Finn:
Being a renowned artist and single dad isn’t easy. My demanding fiancée doesn’t help. No matter how much I try, she wants nothing to do with my precious five-year-old daughter.
Then she came along. The hot as sin teacher. Scarlet Callahan. She’s everything my fiancée isn’t. Warm, funny, and down-to-earth, she adores my daughter as much as my daughter adores her. I’m inexplicably attracted to her, but she keeps her distance. Like she’s hiding something. Except I’m going to uncover her secret even if it means risking everything I’ve ever wanted.
And everyone I’ve ever loved.
FROM THE AUTHOR
Remember Me is the most important book I’ve ever written and, in my humble opinion, maybe the best.
I promise you it’s a story like none other. A story for our times that touches on sensitive subject matter. There is an early scene that may be a trigger for some, but it is rooted in headline-making reality and is the catalyst for my heroine’s painstaking and emotional journey of self-discovery and recovery. And empowerment.
At its heart, Remember Me is a unique second chance romance that attests to the power of true love and proves that the family you love more than life itself is worth fighting for. And sacrificing for.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking a chance on Remember Me. I hope that you will love reading it as much as I loved writing it and that Skye and Finn’s epic love story will stay in your heart forever.
For every woman who has been sexually harassed or assaulted and above all, for every brave woman who has dared to speak up.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Praise for Remember Me
Title Page
Copyright Page
Books by Nelle L’Amour
About This Book
From the Author
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
C
hapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Follow Nelle
Excerpt from Sex, Lies & Lingerie
Acknowledgments
Other Books by Nelle L’Amour
About the Author
Playlist
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
—Nora Ephron
CHAPTER 1
“Thanks for meeting me here.”
“No problem,” I say, adjusting my seat at a table for two at a small coffee shop in Silverlake. It’s off the beaten path. Not crowded, it seems to be frequented by artsy young locals. Hipsters. The vibe is funky, filled with flea-market finds and local artwork, including, to my surprise, one of my husband’s abstract paintings. It’s definitely not the kind of place you’d expect to find one of Hollywood’s A-List actresses, Nicole Farrell.
Sitting across from me, she’s barely recognizable. Devoid of makeup, she’s wearing an oversized gray hoodie and a Dodgers baseball cap, which holds back her flaming red hair and partially obscures her face. Even without makeup, she’s stunning with her porcelain complexion, high cheekbones, full lips, and almond-shaped green eyes. In fact, she’s more exquisite in person than she is on the big screen.
Last month she won an Emmy for her portrayal of Gloria Steinem, the outspoken and daring twentieth century crusader for women’s rights and equality. The critically acclaimed movie was a Netflix original. Nicole’s acceptance speech was exceptional. Moving. Heartfelt. Teary-eyed, she thanked the Television Academy and accepted the award on behalf of women everywhere, urging them to speak up and to fight for the respect they deserve.
She takes a sip of her piping hot coffee, then sets the cup down. I have no idea why she wanted to meet with me nor am I prepared for what she has to tell me.
“Skye, I’m a big fan of yours,” she says, her voice sincere. “Your piece last month on human trafficking was amazing.”
“Thanks,” I say humbly. “The feeling is mutual.”
She quirks a small, fleeting smile. “I need to get something off my chest . . . something I’ve been hiding.” Her voice is unsteady, nothing like the confident actress who delivered her bold acceptance speech.
She takes a deep breath and then slowly spills out the words: “I was sexually assaulted by . . . ”
Silence. A long tense pause.
“Tell me, Nicole, by whom?” I anxiously wait for her to answer and finally she does.
“Sheldon Greenberg.”
At his name, I visibly jolt and feel my vocal chords shake. “That’s a serious accusation.”
She looks at me imploringly. “Please. You must believe me.”
“I do.” How could I not? Sheldon Greenberg, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, lives in a dark, distant place of my mind. A suppressed memory I’ve tried to forget.
My companion lets out another breath, this time of relief. “Thank you. I came to you because I thought you would. And because I felt I could trust you.”
“When did it happen?”
“Seven years ago. When I was twenty-three . . . ”
Inwardly, I shudder. About the same time as me.
“I was auditioning for a recurring role on one of his Criminal Justice shows. He told me I got the part. Meghan Jones . . . the no-nonsense DA from The Bronx.”
I remember her on that series . . . from when I used to watch it. A standout character and performance. A woman after my own heart—fearless, ballsy, and self-confident in a tough male-dominated world. A perfect blend of grit and grace. Anxious to hear more, I take a sip of my hot beverage as she continues.
“I was ecstatic as it was my first big television break. Then afterward, he told me he wanted to meet with me to talk about my career.”
All ears, I set my coffee cup down and reach into my backpack for the pocketsize recorder I always carry with me. “Nicole, do you mind if I record this?”
“Please, I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Can I take notes?”
She nods. “Yes.”
My hand still in my bag, I fish for my small spiral notebook and a felt-tip pen. Slipping them out, I place them on the table, opening the notebook to a clean page. I remove the cap of the pen and put it to the lined paper.
“So what happened?” I ask.
Her eyes darken as she recalls the incident. “He asked me to meet him at the Chateau Marmont where he was staying. When I got there, I assumed he’d be at the restaurant, but he wasn’t. So, I went to the front desk and inquired about his whereabouts. The clerk called up to his room and told me he was ordering room service and expecting me. So I took the elevator up. It was the penthouse suite.”
She takes another sip of her caffeinated beverage and I do the same. “I rang the bell and he came to the door. To my shock, he was wearing only a bathrobe. Despite my reservations, I accepted his invitation to share some champagne with him. Letting him lead me inside the suite, I was taken aback by its size and grandeur. I was just an ingénue from Indiana and had no experience with Hollywood glitz and glamour.” She pauses. “Or Hollywood power.”
After one more sip of her coffee, she perseveres. “He poured us each a glass of champagne and we toasted to my career.” Her face tenses. “Then, he told me I owed him.”
“Owed him?” I repeat back her words, my brows lifting.
“Let me see if I can repeat his exact words.” She makes air quotes. “‘Sweetheart, I’m giving you the opportunity of a lifetime. Do you realize how many girls like you would kill to get a starring role on Criminal Justice?’” My companion pauses, setting her hands down on the distressed wood table and giving me time to jot down her words.
“What did you say?” I ask, looking up at her.
“I merely shook my head and then he threatened me. “‘Girls like you are a dime a dozen. If you’re not nice to me, I’ll recast the part.’”
Nice to him? The word nice doesn’t belong in the same sentence as the pig.
“Then, he untied his bathrobe.” She pauses again, her lips quivering. “He was wearing nothing beneath it and had an erection.”
I remain speechless as tears fill the actress’s eyes. Genuine ones, not the kind you put on for show. “Then he shoved me down on the couch and forced himself on me.”
“Jesus. Did you try to fight him off?”
“I tried to free myself, but he was too big and powerful for me. And he was hurting me . . . groping my breasts . . . squeezing my nipples.”
The fucking sleazebag.
“The creep hiked up my skirt and ripped off my panties.” She blinks back tears. “And then he . . . r-raped me.”
She breaks down and begins to sob. Feeling her pain, I reach across the table and rest my hands on top of hers. They’re cold as ice and shaking.
“It’s okay,” I say softly. “Thank you for sharing your story.”
To myself, I say, “The sick bastard.”
Sniffling, she blots the tears spooling down her cheeks with a paper napkin. “I wish I’d come forward sooner, but I was afraid.”
“Better late than never. What made you reach out to me now?”
“The Emmy. When I accepted it, I felt like such a hypocrite. Here I was playing the part of a brave woman who stood up for herself and I was a silent victim. Sheldon was in the audience . . . the front row. I swear he was leering at me, taking credit for my success. And mentally undressing me. All I wanted to do was throw my Emmy at him and shout out what he did to me. I’m such a coward.” She bows her head in shame.
“No, Nicole, look at me.” Her head lifts slowly and she meets my gaze. “You’re very brave.” I squeeze her hands. “I mean that.”
“Skye, I’m not the only one he abused.”
A cold shiver zigzags down my spine. With all the will power I can muster, I refrain from sharing my past. “There are others?”
“Yes. We have a kind of secret club. Not everyone was raped like me. But he forced himself on them, touching them in places he had no right to be and coercing them to perform other sexual acts against their will.”
She goes on to give me a list of names. A dozen in all. My initial shock gives way to abomination. Holy shit! Greenberg’s a monster!
Her sobs subside. “Skye, I’ve come to you because I want to expose what he did to me and so many others.”
“You’ve come to the right person.” I shoot her a reassuring smile. Inside, I’m burning up with rage. “When I’m done with him, he’ll never work in this town again.”
“Thank you.” A grateful smile and then it fades. “He took a part of my soul that I can never get back. I don’t want more women to lose theirs.”
The check comes. I insist on picking up the bill, scribble down a few things, and then slam my notebook shut. My eyes flit to my husband’s painting, a mash-up of oils and garbage he aptly titled Hollywood Trash. Sheldon would have worked too.
After all these years, I’m going to take the monster down.
Time’s up.
CHAPTER 2
“Relax, baby,” purrs Finn, my husband of seven years as he massages my breasts, cupping them with his deft hands.
“I’m trying.” Trying is the operative word. I have a shitload on my mind. An investigative reporter for Conquest Broadcasting News, I’m about to break a story that’s going to blow the entertainment industry apart. If all goes to plan, I will have all the evidence I need to bring down one of Hollywood’s biggest players. The repercussions are formidable. Like bowling pins, one by one, every womanizing asshole in this town will go down. And each time one does, I’m going to do a happy dance. This is the story that’s going to put me on the map. Maybe win some kind of Pulitzer. Get me my own news show. And best of all, let me at last have my revenge.
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