Simply Austin
A Jet City Novel
Gina Robinson
Copyright © 2017 by Gina Robinson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Gina Robinson
http://www.ginarobinson.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover Design: Jeff Robinson
Cover Photography: Jeff Robinson 2017
Simply Austin/Gina Robinson. — 1st ed.
To Win a Highlander’s Heart
A kilt meets dress modern love story. Simply smart, funny romance!
If you like men who look hot in kilts, the allure of the Scottish Highlands, and funny, poignant romance, then you’ll love Simply Austin, the romantic conclusion of Gina Robinson’s light, fun contemporary romance Jet City Kilt Series.
Seattle physician Blair Edwards and cosplaying entrepreneur Austin MacDougall are finally in Scotland to film their promo teasers for the upcoming season of Jamie, the wildly popular TV series about Highland laird Jamie Sinclair. Austin and Blair once again meet up with the charming, charismatic actors from the show and face some of their biggest challenges yet as they confront two of their fiercest enemies. Will they finally get their happily-ever-after in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands?
Contents
GinaRobinson.com
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
Epilogue
Also by Gina Robinson
About the Author
GinaRobinson.com
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The Jet City Kilt Series
Almost Jamie
Almost Elinor
Simply Blair
Simply Austin
The Billionaire Matchmaker Series
Lazer Focused
Harte Strings
Pair Us
Dating Lazer
Match Point
The Billionaire Duke Series
The Billionaire Duke
The Duchess Contest
The Temporary Duchess
The American Heir
The Switched at Marriage Series
Part 1—A Wedding to Remember
Part 2—The Virgin Billionaire
Part 3—To Have and To Hold
Part 4—From This Day Forward
Part 5—For Richer, For Richest
Part 6—In Sickness and In Wealth
Part 7—To Love and To Cherish
The Billionaire’s Christmas Vows
Gina Robinson’s Contemporary New Adult Romance Series
The Rushed Series
These standalone romances can be read in any order. But it’s more fun to read them all!
Book 1—Rushed, Zach and Alexis’ story
Book 2—Crushed, Dakota and Morgan’s story
Book 3—Hushed, Seth and Maddie’s story
The Reckless Series
Ellie and Logan’s love story begins one hot August night. This series should be read in order.
Book 1—Reckless Longing
Book 2—Reckless Secrets
Book 3—Reckless Together
Chapter 1
Blair Edwards
August
Camelot
Hello, memories, my old friend.
Funny how much you can miss something as intangible as the memories of your life. Now, as our rigid inflatable boat raced almost soundlessly across the Cornish cove to the English Channel and the yacht waiting for us there, the wind whipped my hair. The fraction of the moon shone silver on the water. Venus was rising high into the sky. The world was shades of black, white, and silver. But my memories, as they continued to rush back, were unexpectedly vivid and colorful. Wonderful and exciting in ways that I'd forgotten, paradoxically enough.
My life, the one rushing back, was so charmed and fantastic that to my eyes it seemed almost like a dream. Reliving it was intoxicating and like falling in love for the first time.
Austin, Austin, Austin.
He was everywhere in them, wrapped intrinsically in them, almost a part of myself. Yes, that was crazily romantic. And, given how so many relationships ended up, like mine with my certainly now ex, Nigel Helyer, possibly dangerous to my heart and maybe even my sanity. If Austin and I broke up, I'd end up irrevocably broken and cynical. A misanthrope who believed nothing good about people.
Even given all that, sitting next to Austin, my love, my true love, with his arms wrapped around me against the chill coming off the water, I didn't see how life could get any better. I was willing to take any chance to be with him and love him.
His friend, and mine, I realized with a wry smile, Cam, piloted the boat. Very expertly, in my amateur opinion. Another of his friends, Jeremy, sat silently across from us, deep in concentration after playing a part in my thrilling rescue from Beech House's keeper's cottage near Fowey and the evil clutches of the scheming, cheating, fame-seeking Nigel.
I kept glancing at Austin, amazed this man was mine. At the strong set of his jaw in silhouette, at his broad shoulders, the tempting curl of his hair. Almost wanting to pinch him, or myself, to make sure he was real and wouldn't disappear. Again.
I'd just learned a very valuable lesson in disappearing—all it took for an entire world to vanish was a bump on the head. A fraction of a second. Simply looking the wrong way. Letting emotions cloud the moment. Drop your guard for even a second, make the tiniest misstep, and everything can be taken from you.
Austin pulled me close. "I'm not going anywhere, Southron. If that's what you're worried about, put it out of your mind."
"Aren't you? How do you know? Memory is a fickle thing. And easily lost." I nuzzled into him, fingers lightly tracing the hard lines of his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Not so easily as you're thinking, Blair," he said, gently but seriously. "You remembered me, deep down."
I didn't have the energy to argue with him, nor did I want to. Yes, deep down I hadn't forgotten. But if my head injury had been just a little severer…
The boat hit a rough patch of water, sending the three of us in the back bouncing. I squealed and grabbed the side of the boat, laughing with the excitement of it, at the same time Austin did. We were all high on adventure.
Across from us, Jeremy laughed too. "Not going anywhere? If you don't hang on, you'll go right over the side into the brink, matey." He yelled to Cam in the driver's seat, "Hey, watch the rough water."
Cam shook his head. "Rough water isn't like a pothole in the road. You don't just swerve and avoid it."
"You're upsetting Blair," Jeremy said.
My phone had been buzzing and buzzing. Since the guys had snatched me away and loaded me into this silent boat, Nigel had been texting me, fast and furiously, and quite simply furious. I frowned. "My ex's texts are what's upsetting me."
"Damn him." Austin's expression was hard. "Give me the phon
e. I'll take care of him."
I smiled at him and shook my head. "If we ignore him, his fury will eventually burn out and he'll start spinning things. He'll convince himself I'm not worth the powder. Nor was I ever."
"Don't poke the bear. Is that what you're saying?" Austin hugged me tighter.
"Exactly." I kissed him lightly. "The longer we poke, the longer we prolong his fury."
Jeremy was focused on his own wants. "Let me drive—" He made a move to the front of the boat.
Cam blocked him with his arm. "Get back in your seat, sailor."
Austin sighed and shook his head. "Bet you're not so happy to remember them?" He nodded toward his friends with a wry smile.
"On the contrary." I sighed happily. "I'm only too happy. And relieved. Their banter and bickering is surprisingly reassuring. I wouldn't trade them for the world. Not again. Not ever again."
There was plenty of cell coverage in the cove. Too much in the respect that I got every nasty text from Nigel. At least, I assumed I was getting them all. There was an overwhelming quantity of ever-escalating pleas and threats.
Ignoring them, I called Aunt Beth and told her that I had remembered everything. Told her I was safe with Austin and that she'd been right—Nigel wasn't for me. She and the tealeaf reader had both been right. Nigel had been trying to brainwash me and convince me that we were still in love. I didn't tell her his vicious texts were bombarding me, hideously punctuating our call, and washing her words out as we spoke. She'd worry. And get angry. And neither were my intent.
Beth was so relieved and happy. She had to talk to Austin, too, for a few minutes. And Jeremy, who regaled her with details like a true storyteller. She would have spoken with Cam, but he was busy navigating in the dark.
Lovely Beth, my devoted, caring mom, would have stayed on the phone for hours listening to every minute detail of my rescue. She loved a good adventure as much as anyone. And this one gave her endless delight. I finally begged off, citing the late hour. It was much earlier in Seattle. Eight hours this time of year, to be exact.
But the truth was, it wasn't fatigue urging me off the phone. Not overtly, anyway. All I wanted was to rest quietly in Austin's embrace and enjoy it. To get away from those disturbing texts. Nigel was trying to drive me crazy. After saying goodbye to Beth, I shut my phone off. I was tempted to toss it into the channel. But for now, I needed a way for all the important people to reach me—Beth, the hospital, and the Jamie show.
Shortly after I got off my call, the shape of a large, sleek yacht appeared, lit and welcoming. And it was some yacht—six decks. More like a small ship than any boat I was used to.
"Thar she blows!" Jeremy stood and pointed out the obvious.
Within minutes, we docked in the loading area on the lower deck at the back of the yacht in a spot designed for a small boat to park. It was very much like pulling a car behind an RV for us common people, only grander. Much grander.
I had to keep reminding myself that being around this kind of wealth wasn't new to me. That my memories weren't dreams or scenes from movies I'd watched. The memories, as they returned, were still having a bit of a problem latching and becoming reality to me. Well, some of them. The ones of Austin and the guys were so deeply ingrained that they were part of my emotional makeup. Being with them felt completely comfortable and natural. So much so that, in retrospect, it seemed totally silly to have worried about any potential awkwardness between us now that we were reunited.
A huge hulk of a man waited for us at the dock. Dylan. My mind automatically made the association. So refreshing and reassuring.
Jeremy tossed Dylan the towrope. The big man caught it and pulled us into the bay of the yacht as both Austin and Cam put the boat bumpers out.
A handsome, elegant, casually dressed, yet very chic, man appeared on the stairs from the main deck. "About time you got here. I see you got the cargo safely enough." Lazer.
As the guys tied up the boat, Dylan offered me a hand out and ended up hauling me up and pulling me into a scrumptious bear hug.
I was nearly in tears again as I hugged him. "It's so good to see you, Dylan."
"You remember me." He looked happily surprised.
"Well, I would say how could I forget," I said, wiping a happy tear away. "But we both know the answer to that. All it takes is a blow by a car."
He hugged me tighter as Lazer walked up to us. "Glad you haven't lost your sense of humor."
Lazer tapped him on the shoulder. "Let the woman go before you break her." He said in an aside to me, "Dylan doesn't know his own strength sometimes." Lazer opened his arms to me.
As I stepped in for a hug, I caught a whiff of his cologne. Lazer smelled delicious. As he always did. Smell, being the powerful reminder that it is, brought everything about him rushing back to me. "Thank you for mounting this rescue. And so quickly. Travel much? You must have your very own travel agent on twenty-four-hour call."
He grinned, looking absolutely charming and roguish. Though dedicated to his girlfriend Ashley now, Lazer was still a ladies' man at heart. His grin could still send the most jaded heart fluttering. "It was nothing."
"No." I shook my head. "No need to be modest. I hate to argue. But it was very definitely something to me."
His grin broadened into a full smile, as if I'd given him a gift instead of the other way around. He extended his arm toward the stairs. "Welcome aboard. I want to hear all about the rescue." His gaze bounced between the guys and me. He raised an eyebrow. "Perfectly executed? Very few hitches?"
"There was Nigel's unexpected arrival," I said. "But the guys took it in stride."
"That's my boys!" Lazer laughed. He clearly enjoyed playing benefactor and leader.
As I moved to walk up the stairs on Lazer's arm, Austin appeared beside me. He swept me into his arms and carried me up as I looped my arms around his neck. Up one set of stairs to the main deck. Across the deck to a spiral staircase and up and up to the very top deck—the sundeck. I couldn't remember how I knew even this much about yachts. But I did. There was something exciting and wildly romantic about being carried up a spiral staircase by a man in a kilt.
Dawn was threatening by the time we reached the sundeck. The very edges of the sky were beginning to lighten. I should have been exhausted, but I felt exhilarated. And, despite the unfamiliar luxury of the yacht, like I'd come home.
The sundeck was laid out much like one would expect—lounges for sunning placed near the deck rails, each with their own dedicated serving table. A large half-circle of a well-cushioned, amply pillowed sofa wrapped around a small table. Expensive champagne was chilling in a bucket on one of the small tables. Steam rose from a large hot tub behind the sofa. Austin set me down on the sofa. Four outdoor dining chairs sat around the table—one for each of the remaining men.
Lazer popped the champagne cork and poured glasses for each of us. "The celebration drink I promised when Austin got out of 'prison.' And we rescued Blair."
"I was hoping for something stronger." Austin winked.
"In due time." Lazer lifted his glass. "To a great team, an awesome group of guys, and a woman we'll never forget."
"Aye!" Jeremy said. "And a fruitful, adventurous trip to Scotland."
"To safe seas!" Cam said.
"Red sky at night!" Lazer said.
Jeremy looked puzzled. "What?"
Lazer rolled his eyes and said to the rest of us, "Clearly not a sailor." He turned to Jeremy. "Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Calm sailing in store."
"Oh, yeah. I know that." Jeremy nodded. "I hope you're right. I hope it was a red sky. We got here after sunset." He raised his glass to his lips and looked at Austin. "For your sake especially, buddy. And the fishes'. Too much chumming."
They'd already informed me Austin didn't have the steadiest of sea legs.
"I was here," I said. "And from my angle, at least, it was a red sky."
The champagne went down surprisingly smoothly. I hadn't eaten well all day. In fact, I coul
dn't remember eating since lunch with Alistair in Fowey. As a consequence, I felt the first effects of the alcohol almost immediately.
As if Lazer had read my thoughts, a steward arrived with trays of appetizers, sandwiches, fruit, and sweets. While I delicately filled a plate and tried not to look as ravenous as I was, the guys had no such reservations. They dove in enthusiastically.
"Mounting a rescue really works up an appetite." Dylan's plate was piled higher than anyone else's. A real balancing act.
"Mounting a rescue?" Cam shook his head. "You were safely back here on the boat."
"Yacht," Lazer corrected him.
"Who hauled all that damn heavy gear everywhere?" Dylan mumbled something about being a packhorse.
What gear? I wondered. The suitcases? How much did these guys pack? It isn't like them to travel heavy. They were typical nerd guys. A toothbrush, a pair of shorts, and a T-shirt, and they were set.
Cam held a hand up, cutting off Dylan's mutterings. "All right. I surrender. Point taken." He grinned at me and rolled his eyes.
Lazer was smiling. "Are you guys going to keep us dying of suspense? Details."
The guys talked over each other, so eager to tell him about my rescue and take credit for our safe escape. I curled my legs beneath me and settled into Austin's arms, eating and drinking quietly, listening to the thrilling details of how they'd navigated the edge of the channel and the cove to reach me. Laughing with them over our escapades and Nigel's unexpected, angry arrival.
"Good thing he wasn't Cam." Jeremy pointed to his friend. "Cam would have pulled out his pistol, shot us dead, and been done with it."
"You think I'm a cold-blooded killer?" Cam sounded amused.
"I think you're a crack shot with a temper. If someone was stealing your woman from beneath your nose—"
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