Some Like It Scot (Sex and the Highlands, #1)

By Eliza Phillips

Rachael's birthday trip was supposed to last the weekend. Waking up drunk, drenched, and stranded in 1754 was not part of her plan.

The night comes back in a blur- cocktails, gossip, a chance encounter with a fortune teller, and a tumble head-first off a cliff. Stuck in the past, Rachael realizes her thirtieth year could be her last. 

At least she has Liam, a handsome landlord who offers shelter from the cold reality of her situation. 

Feelings complicate things, can Rachael truly give her heart over to a man stuck in the past? 

Rachael and her three best friends must learn to leave their sex and the city lifestyle behind and navigate the uncertain waters of 18th century Scotland. Add some handsome men and things are going to get messy. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eliza Phillips
• Release date: Dec 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519959423

Eliza Phillips

Eliza Phillips is a Midwestern gal who's heart belongs abroad. She writes romances that will curl your hair or make your heart sigh with whimsy. She enjoys all things historical, particularly if it wears a kilt. Her heroines are independent thinkers that don't need no man...but wouldn't mind if a man came and swept them off their feet. When she's not writing Eliza spends her time lusting after travel destinations, recipes for bruschetta, and red heads. She keeps her sanity with a cocktail of 80's rock, Caribou Coffee, and...cocktails. Preferably with friends.

Book preview

Chapter One

It's just another birthday, Rachael told herself. You're only turning 30, you aren't dying.

But it wasn't just another birthday, it was the birthday. It was the deadline that she had given herself back when she had graduated college. This birthday was supposed to be the birthday she suggested to her husband they start trying for children. But the only problem was...

There wasn't a husband.

She had long since broken up with the man she had thought, after college, would be her husband. They hadn't lasted more than six months after graduation. It had been more than a blow to Rachael, a chronic planner, to have to scrap the dream wedding she had been imagining for just after her 25th birthday. But she had assured herself that the next man would stick, and she could get back on track.

But the stream of men that had followed had hardly been marriage potential. Some of them had hardly even been dating potential. But she had a timetable to stick to, so she had put in her time with all of them. Bad boys she had hoped had hearts of gold, posh gentlemen with family names that went back generations, men that would rather spend their time at the office than with her, and everything in between. None of them had stuck around for more than a year. And most hadn't made it that far.

Rachael pulled down the visor to check her appearance in the vanity mirror of her new BMW. She smudged away imaginary dirt under her dark brown eyes. A spattering of freckles she had grown to love dusted the tops of her cheeks. She blinked her large doe eyes at herself a few times in the mirror, then let out an exasperated sigh as she looked heavenward.

Why wasn't a girl like her married? What could possibly be wrong with her?

She forced herself to cut that train of thought off before it could gain traction in her head. This was supposed to be a girl weekend, and her birthday to boot. She didn't want to spend it moping about why she was still single. That was a rabbit hole of potentially depressing conversations that she didn't want unearth without the tender hand of her therapist.

She snapped the visor closed and forced herself to step out into the fresh air. The wind pulled at her fresh blowout, twisting her auburn hair around her face. She smiled in spite of herself, breathing in the crisp air. This trip would definitely be good for her. Just a weekend with her best girlfriends, celebrating her turning the big 3-0 and her latest promotion to Lead Marketing Executive on the big account.

Rachael retrieved her bag from the boot of the car and shouldered the small weekend bag. The wind picked up as she walked towards the door labeled check-in on the large estate. Maybe she was imagining things, but it seemed like the wind was almost pushing her faster toward the large stone building. She was nearly trotting by the time she stumbled through the door.

I don't understand why you can't install a cell tower closer to the resort, a familiar female voice demanded as Rachael closed the door behind her. It was Rachael's friend, Jane.

I'm sorry ma'am, the concierge replied to her. Even if that was possible, it wouldn't be installed by the end of your stay.

How am I supposed to call my office if I can't get a signal? Jane moaned to the calm concierge. Do you at least have wifi?

Ever the professional, the concierge slid Jane the informational brochure on the property and said, If you need to make any calls, we have a landline here in the check-in office with the rates listed in this brochure. We have a dial-up connection in our business center, but we generally advise that patrons use their stay with us to disconnect from their—

Yeah yeah yeah, Jane cut the concierge off with a wave of her hand. I don't need you lecturing me on the benefits of disconnecting. But I have an important presentation coming up and I—

Rachael cleared her throat as she stepped up to her friend. Jane whipped around, nostrils flaring until she recognized Rachael. Her face melted into a mask of delight as she threw her arms around Rachael.

Rachael! she exclaimed, Happy Birthday!

Rachael squeezed her friend into a tight hug, It's technically not my birthday yet...

Oh I see, still pretending you're twenty-nine are you? Jane pulled back with a laugh. Once you're on the other side of thirty, the number starts feeling a lot less important.

Rachael laughed like she agreed with Jane, or at least soon would. But even Rachael recognized the slight trace of bitterness in Jane's laughter.

Jane was a lot of things that Rachael was not. Jane was tall, thin, and as straight as a ruler. She had cut her chestnut brown hair into a no-nonsense chin length bob with side swept fringe that played up the dynamic strength of her features. Standing next to each other Rachael and Jane looked like opposites in every way. Rachael all smooth curves to Jane's sharp angles.

Have you checked in yet? Rachael asked as she eyed the bored concierge.

Jane pulled an ancient key out of her trench coat. We're all checked in, she said with a smile. Now, if you don't mind I think I'm going to make a couple last emails before the other girls arrive. There's a big presentation at my office in three months and I don't want anything to slide.

Oh, um go right ahead, Rachael said gesturing vaguely towards the business center. Just so long as you're free for the rest of the weekend.

Jane gave an affectionate tug on the end of Rachael's long hair.

I promise, she said, Just a couple of emails and then I'm yours for the weekend.

Rachael smiled as Jane spun on her heel and ducked into the business center. She wanted to believe her friend, but experience told her differently. There was more than one way that she and Jane differed.

And the biggest of them all: Jane was divorced.

Jane had always been a bit of a workaholic before her divorce, as had her ex-husband. Jane had credited their divorce to the fact that they had hardly seen one another outside of required work functions. Rachael suspected it had more to do with certain leggy partner at Jane's husband's office.

Now thirty-three, Jane had sworn off men in the name of her career. Rachael didn't know what was sadder, that Jane had given up on love, or that she hadn't gotten laid since her divorce.

Probably the latter.

Rachael was yanked out of her depressing thoughts by the sound of the door bursting open behind her. She recognized the voices behind the cheers calling from the outside before she even turned around. Angie and Sophia.

Angie caught Rachael up into a bear hug, her wild red curls tickling Rachael's nose. Angie was the smallest of the group, but you would never know that based on the size of her personality alone.

Angie pulled back from their hug and cupped Rachael's cheeks in her small hands. Lo the fair maiden on the eve of her thirtieth year of birth, Angie pulled an exaggerated theatrical accent. She hath the most beautiful face I have ever rested my eyes upon.

Alright Hamlet, Sophia said, laughing. Let the rest of us hug the birthday girl.

Sophia pulled on Angie's shoulder and she melted away, clearing the way for Sophia. Sophia was about Rachael's height, athletically built with slim hips and legs, she cut her white blonde hair into a stylish asymmetrical bob that Rachael envied.

Rachael pulled Sophia into an affectionate hug. For all her polish, Sophia returned the hug just as affectionately.

How was your drive? Rachael asked as she broke their hug.

Oh you know, full of drama. Sophia rolled her eyes heavenward as if looking for strength.

Drama? Rachael asked. Did something happen?

Sophia shook her head. No, but this one, she gestured with her thumb to Angie, broke up with Jack last weekend.

Oh no! Rachael turned towards Angie, ready to embrace her friend again if need be. What happened?

Angie shrugged dismissively, tossing her curls off her shoulder with her hand. Creative differences, she explained. He didn't really understand my craft.

Rachael's eyebrows furrowed as she looked to Sophia for explanation. Her craft? She asked. Don't you write for a travel magazine?

Sophia rolled her eyes heavenward again, her eyelids blinking independently of one another as she breathed a heavy sigh. Tell her what you told me, Sophia massaged the spot between her eyebrows with her index finger.

Angie sighed dramatically, The travel magazine might sign my checks, but I write about untethering your soul from the permanency of residence. That's something deeper than mere words on a page.

Sophia gave Rachael a look that conveyed just how long of a car ride it had been for her. Didn't you get this reservation through the magazine? Rachael asked.

Of course, Angie's face morphed from dramatic back to delighted in a blink. They want me to do a write-up on the experience, and I know how much you like this cheesy sort of stuff.

Sometimes even I am amazed that we still love her, Sophia said more to Rachael. Maybe we shouldn't have gifted her all those yoga classes. They've turned her into a real hippie.

I have not! Angie scoffed. I'm just very dedicated to living my truest life.

Sophia sighed, See what I mean?

See what? Jane had chosen that moment to emerge from the business center.

Oh nothing, our dear Angie is just living her truest life, Sophia sighed as she pulled Jane into a hug. It's so good to see you outside the office.

She hasn't entirely left, Rachael pointed out. She's been making business calls the whole time she's been here.

Jane! Sophia teased. We promised that we would disconnect for Rachael's birthday.

And I will! Jane explained, I just wanted to make a couple adjustments to the presentation for next month...

I never would have connected you with Brian if I knew you were going to step all over Rachael's birthday with work. Sophia pulled the cellphone out of Jane's hand. Your office is practically a shoe-in for the contract anyway.

'Practically' is not a guarantee, Jane said reaching for the cellphone. "I just want to make sure my