Let Me Know

by Stina Lindenblatt

  Let Me Know

  By Stina Lindenblatt

  This shouldn’t be happening again…

  Amber Scott thought her screaming nightmares would end now that her stalker is locked up and awaiting trial. But they return when her slam-dunk case starts to fall apart. Explicit letters she allegedly wrote surface, suggesting she was the mastermind behind her assault, a willing victim.

  Amber only feels safe in the arms of her boyfriend Marcus, the one person she can lean on. Until damning evidence from Marcus’s past collides with the case and the media circus drags them both down. To protect Amber’s reputation, Marcus has only one option: end their relationship. He won’t risk further damage to her case, even if it means breaking her heart.

  Amber has to find the strength to step into the spotlight and bring awareness to victims’ rights before she’s convicted in the court of public opinion. And she’s really not sure what’s worse—that her kidnapper could walk free, or that the seemingly endless attention and speculation will drive Marcus away permanently…

  See how it all began for Amber and Marcus in Tell Me When.

  84,000 words

  Dear Reader,

  September might herald the end of summer fun and the vacation season, but the one thing you and I both know, as avid readers, is that we can always escape the daily grind thanks to books! This month, Carina Press is placing extra emphasis on the mystery genre, with the last week of September dedicated to not only our entire backlist of mysteries, but also four brand-new frontlist releases in four different subgenres of mystery.

  Within the mystery program, we welcome debut author Ricardo Sanchez with his novel Elvis Sightings. In this unique mystery that absolutely delighted our team from the first moment we read it, Floyd is a private detective who lives his life the way he thinks Elvis would have wanted him to—fast and hard in a sequined jumpsuit—and if he can avoid the billy clubs of government agents, a Viking reenactment and the amorous attention of the bearded lady sheriff, he just might prove, once and for all, that Elvis is still alive.

  Rosie Claverton brings us the second book in The Amy Lane Mysteries (a series that has some of my favorite Carina Press covers!). Welsh amateur sleuths Amy and Jason return in Code Runner, with Jason framed for the murder of a gang runner. When his prison transport is broken open, Jason is caught between the police, the gangs and the mastermind behind Jason’s downfall, while Amy races to prove his innocence.

  In Mistress of Lies, a historical mystery by Holly West, a young beggar girl claiming to be Isabel Wilde’s niece—previously unknown to her—shows up unexpectedly and reveals that Isabel’s brother Adam was murdered, compelling Isabel to take up an impossible task: discover the truth about her brother’s death, twelve years later.

  And joining these three in the mystery category, with a new release in her Patience Price Mystery series, Julie Anne Lindsey brings us Murder in Real Time. When a popular reality show host is murdered at the local bed-and-breakfast, Patience’s small town is overrun with grieving fans, paparazzi and a gunman who puts Patience in the crosshairs.

  If mystery isn’t your favorite genre, we have nine new releases in September in romance subgenres. Starting with contemporary romances, first up is Breaking His Rules by Alison Packard. If you love the friends to lovers trope as much as I do, you’ll love this story of two good friends pretending to be a couple at a coastal wedding, who find things get passionate when their true feelings rise to the surface.

  Rebound flings are supposed to have soft landings, but one sexy cop is about to fall hard in Christi Barth’s fun romantic caper Love on the Boardwalk. And in Emma Barry’s Private Politics, when a glamorous non-profit fundraiser becomes entangled in a political scandal, she turns to a savvy DC blogger for help clearing her name. As their hearts and ambitions collide, they find that everything in Washington comes with a price.

  If you like contemporary romance with an edge, reach for new adult romance Losing Streak by Kristine Wyllys. Rosemary Young was just another bartender until her boyfriend, Brandon Williams, lost a bet, leaving them with no choice but to sell their souls to the Lane’s crooked king.

  Author Stina Lindenblatt returns with Let Me Know, a contemporary romance with a new adult flavor. College freshman Amber Scott is propelled into the media spotlight when love letters she supposedly sent to her stalker surface prior to his upcoming trial.

  Switching gears to three books outside the contemporary romance genre, I’d like to turn your attention to Tyler Flynn’s newest male/male historical romance, Hunting the Spy. Nathan Kennett is hunting down a traitor who is selling the secrets of England’s defenses to the French rebels—could it be Sir Peter Ross, the man he loves?

  Don’t miss the final book in Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy romance Covenant of Thorns trilogy. In Rogue’s Paradise, our scientist heroine discovers the origin of the fae and of her own nature, and whether she can make true love actually work. And it’s not too late to catch up with the first two books in this fantastic trilogy, Rogue’s Pawn and Rogue’s Possession.

  Eleri Stone’s Gun Shy has a wonderful Firefly-esque Western feel in a paranormal romance world. When criminal boss Gideon Moore sends men to steal the fort’s dwindling supply of Reaper cure for sale on the black market, Jane Fisher offers to guide Lieutenant Lyle Dalton through the shady side of Storm King Territory in an attempt to recover the serum.

  And last this month, we’re thrilled to present Shattered Bonds, the final book in Lynda Aicher’s Wicked Play erotic romance series. At the same time, we’re sad to see these characters go, as Lynda has captivated us with the emotional ups and downs of the relationships between this compelling cast of characters. Don’t miss this book, in which everything could change when the past comes back to destroy the members of The Den. Look for Game Play, the first book in Lynda’s new erotic romance trilogy, in spring 2015.

  Coming in October 2014, Dana Marie Bell returns us to the world of Maggie’s Grove, we welcome co-authors Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels and their incredible male/male romance duology, and R.L. Naquin is back with her urban fantasy Monster Haven series.

  Here’s wishing you a wonderful month of books you love, remember and recommend.

  Happy reading!

  ~Angela James

  Editorial Director, Carina Press

  Dedication

  To Ralph. My husband, best friend, lover, and greatest supporter. None of this would have been possible without you.

  Acknowledgments

  First, I want to thank all the bloggers and readers who gave Tell Me When a chance and fell in love with it. Your enthusiasm toward Amber and Marcus’s journey has made everything worth it. You asked for more of their story, and here it is. And thanks go out to InkSlinger, and especially Nazarea Andrews, for organizing the blog tours and release day blitzes for me. And to both Carina Press and Harlequin for all your promotional support.

  Thank you to my editor, Alissa Davis, for helping me make Let Me Know stronger and for challenging me. Your comments always make me smile. And to Brooke Smith. Thank you for helping me make my writing sparkle with your copy edits, suggestions and advice. This story also wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of my agent, Marisa Corvisiero. Not only is she my agent extraordinaire, she’s a lawyer, and answered my multitude of legal questions pertaining to the story. I would also like to thank Natalie Aguirre for answering my other legal questions and ensuring I had the terminology cor
rect, and Scott Duncan (former cop and currently an instructor in the department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania) for answering all my police procedural questions. Any errors that might exist with both the police and legal side of the story are mine alone.

  There are so many individuals who have helped me through the craziness of writing and publishing. A special shout-out goes to Christina Lee, Rachel Harris, and Megan Erickson. Thank you for believing in Marcus and Amber…and for believing in me. In addition to these three wonderful ladies, thanks goes to the ‘14 NA Debut Authors (Megan Erickson, AJ Pine, Kristine Wyllys, Chanel Cleeton, Rhonda Helms, Brenda St. John Brown, Lia Riley, Amy Jo Cousins, Melissa West, and Angie Sandro) and the Mafia girls (Rachel Harris, Cindi Madsen, Melissa West, Tara Fuller, Lisa Burstein, Megan Erickson, Christina Lee, Rhonda Helms, Wendy Higgins and Cole Gibsen). Both groups have become like family to me. A very supportive family whom I love to pieces.

  To my early readers, Christina Lee, Kate Ashton and Tracy Buscemi. Thank you for helping me make the story stronger. And thank you for being there when I need a shoulder to cry on.

  And finally, thank you to my family. You have put up with so much craziness due to my deadlines and my love for creating stories. Ralph, Anton, Stefan and Anja, you have been the greatest cheerleaders of all. Special hugs to you!

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Tell Me When and Let Me Know. When I first decided to write a New Adult contemporary romance, I thought back to when I was in university and became the target of a stalker. I met the guy at a nightclub and told him too much about myself. I’m not sure why I did that. I wasn’t interested in him. He ended up stalking me. It was a terrifying ordeal, especially since I had to deal with it on my own. I thought no one would take me seriously because he hadn’t tried to physically harm me. His persistence resulted in my quitting my part-time job so I could escape him. My personal story is, unfortunately, all too common in college-aged students.

  Prior to the release of Tell Me When, I organized a blog hop focused on stalking. The release date coincided with National Stalking Awareness Month, and I wanted to increase awareness of the problem in this age group. Numerous participants involved in the blog hop shared their personal experiences, as did those who commented on the posts. The majority, both males and females, had been victims of stalking while in high school or college, or had known someone who was a victim during this time period. Those who wrote about their personal stories survived. Not all the victims were that lucky.

  Everyone is at risk of becoming a target of stalking, regardless of your age or gender, but there are things you can do to decrease the chance of it happening to you. I invite you to visit http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org to learn more.

  Stay safe,

  Stina Lindenblatt

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Amber

  I used to think there was no better place than home. I was wrong. There’s no better place than lying next to Marcus, naked, with nowhere to go for the next…

  I roll over and check his alarm clock on the pile of textbooks by his bed, then groan. The midmorning sunlight pours through the slits in the blinds and nudges me further awake.

  “Mornin’, Kitten,” a husky voice says behind me. Marcus plants a soft kiss on my right shoulder, the location of my lotus flower tattoo.

  I shift around and burrow my face against his neck. My lips touch the soft skin and I breathe in his faint spicy scent. The smell I associate with feeling safe.

  His injured arm rests against my waist. My version of heaven.

  “Emma’s gonna be here in twenty minutes,” I murmur, my lips still against his neck.

  He strokes my back, brushing against the hideous scars as if they don’t exist. “You don’t have to go. Stay. We can drive down together.” His voice drops to a sexy rumble, which is exactly why I can’t stay.

  “Maybe if you weren’t taking your finals over the next few days.” I give him a quick kiss. “But you have to study and you can’t do that if you keep trying to—” another kiss “—convince me you study better in bed.” I look pointedly at his engineering textbook lying haphazardly on the floor, before looking back at him. “I’m not sure how having sex with me will help you do well on your exams.”

  I’m still surprised we’re even able to have sex since he’s recovering from the gunshot wound. And even though he’s tried to convince me otherwise, I’m pretty sure “regular sex with your girlfriend” was not on his discharge orders.

  Marcus flops back on the pillows. His eyes sparkle with life as his lips curve into a half smile. “Hey, if you can get an A on your math final…”

  I punch him lightly on his good arm. “I didn’t get that ’cause I was having sex with you. I got it because Brittany helped me study and my math teacher’s a saint.”

  After studying with Marcus for most of the semester so that I’d pass math, I’d walked out of the final in order to be with him in the hospital after his stepfather shot him. My professor contacted me the next day and after confirming my story, he offered to let me make up the exam the following afternoon.

  “Anyway,” I continue, “as much as I’m gonna miss you and your math jokes, Emma and I need to spend time together before you join me.” I drape my arm over his hips and snuggle close, while pretending I don’t have to drag myself away from him anytime soon. While pretending the next few days won’t be tough for Emma and her family, and for me and mine.

  It will be our first Christmas without Trent and Michael.

  Marcus rolls on to his side again, and his injured arm, currently free of its sling, squeezes my waist. I’m so attuned to everything about him, I can’t help but notice his jaw muscle twitch. The movement is small, easy to miss by most. I trace my finger along the healing flesh, wishing my touch could whisk away his pain.

  “Are you sure about me joining you?”

  I lean over and kiss his jaw. “You’re not backing out of this.” I need you with me. My lips trail along his unshaven jaw, his one-day growth teasing me as much as I’m teasing him. My mouth finds his and I tenderly kiss him, letting him know without words how much I need him. He’s not just my boyfriend—he’s one of my best friends. And one of the few people who understands what I’ve been through.
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br />   His lips part and I deepen the kiss, consuming him, tasting his very soul. My mind goes blank as to what I’m supposed to do this morning. As far as I’m concerned, the only place I need to be is here, kissing Marcus.

  A muffled bang outside his room intrudes on our moment. With a level of willpower I didn’t realize I possessed, I reluctantly pull away. This time Marcus doesn’t protest.

  I scoot off the bed and slip on my panties and his red T-shirt from the floor. The T-shirt I claimed for my own once I started staying here on a regular basis. The last thing I want is for Chase to accidentally see me naked while I walk to the bathroom.

  Marcus pulls on his boxers and jeans. I help him secure his sling, fussing over him like he’s a child. He doesn’t seem to care. If anything, he enjoys it. From what I’ve learned about his childhood, he didn’t get much of that from his own mother. Until recently, he thought he was unworthy of someone’s love.

  With a quick kiss on his cheek, I prove to him once again that he is worthy—something he still struggles to believe

  Chase is in the living room setting up an…oversized carpeted tree? Everything about it is carpeted, including the green branches.

  “You bought a scratching post?” I ask, taking in the array of cat toys scattered on the floor.