After the Sea Sprite Ball

By Rayne Forrest

Eve Archer checks in for her dream vacation at the new undersea resort, The City of Amphitrite. Unfortunately, her luggage went to the Catskills. To make amends, the concierge upgrades her package to a suite in the Tower of Triton, the poshest accommodations at the resort. As a Triton guest, Eve receives an invitation to attend the nightly costume ball in the Palace of Poseidon. And since the resort transportation lost her luggage, she is offered her choice of gowns, free of charge. It will make her job a lot easier.

 

Actor and supermodel Alex Gerard needs a break, and the Triton package offered by the City of Amphitrite resort is just the thing for him to get a little privacy and rest. He's been working solidly for three years, and while he doesn't mind suffering for his craft, enough is enough. For the next two weeks, his meals, massages, and the company of other celebrity guests can all be brought to his suite.

 

Alex can't believe the woman who literally ran into him in the hall has no idea who he is – and he doesn't enlighten her. It's refreshing to have a woman not care about the opportunities being on his arm will provide. Intrigued, he follows her and discovers she's been sent to spy on the resort, an activity that could get them both detained. It's obvious, at least to him, that the best way to keep her out of mischief is to get her into his room – and his bed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Deer Enterprises/White Deer Books
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215423622

Book preview

After the Sea Sprite Ball

by

Rayne Forrest

This book is a work of fiction. While references to actual places or events may occur,

the names, characters, incidents, and locations are from the author’s imagination

and any resemblance to anyone, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2022  Rayne Forrest, KC Kendricks

Cover art © 2022 Rayne Forrest, KC Kendricks

Thank you for purchasing a legal copy of this work.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction of this digital e-book for file sharing or selling, regardless of whether any type of currency is exchanged, other than what the author grants in writing, other than brief excerpts for professional review, is strictly prohibited by law. Piracy is a crime.

Thank you for purchasing a legal copy of this work.

Published in the United States of America.

About After the Sea Sprite Ball

Eve Archer checks in for her dream vacation at the new undersea resort, The City of Amphitrite. Unfortunately, her luggage went to the Catskills. To make amends, the concierge upgrades her package to a suite in the Tower of Triton, the poshest accommodations at the resort. As a Triton guest, Eve receives an invitation to attend the nightly costume ball in the Palace of Poseidon. And since the resort transportation lost her luggage, she is offered her choice of gowns, free of charge. It will make her job a lot easier.

Actor and supermodel Alex Gerard needs a break, and the Triton package offered by the City of Amphitrite resort is just the thing for him to get a little privacy and rest. He’s been working non-stop for three years, and while he doesn’t mind suffering for his craft, enough is enough. For the next two weeks, his meals, massages, and the company of other celebrity guests can all be brought to his suite.

Alex can’t believe the woman who literally ran into him in the hall has no idea who he is – and he doesn’t enlighten her. It’s refreshing to have a woman not care about the opportunities being on his arm will provide. Intrigued, he follows her and discovers she’s been sent to spy on the resort, an activity that could get them both detained. It’s obvious, at least to him, that the best way to keep her out of mischief is to get her into his room – and his bed.

Table of Contents

After the Sea Sprite Ball

About After the Sea Sprite Ball

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Books by Rayne Forrest and KC Kendricks

About the Author

Dear Readers,

A bonus read from Mischief at Midnight

Chapter 1

Eve Archer stared at the blue mermaid behind the counter. What did they pay people to dress like that? She needed to find out, but that discovery needed to wait.

What do you mean my luggage is on the way to the Catskills? Are you joking?

The mermaid looked apologetic for someone wearing a tail, but that was beside the fact.  I’m so sorry, ma’am. I do have confirmation that your luggage pod is undamaged and secure. Unfortunately, to re-route it here will take almost a week.

A week! Eve stared at the mermaid, distracted by the sparkling navy dolphin on her pale blue cheek. I’ll only be in the City of Amphitrite for a week. By the time the pod gets here, if it gets here, I’ll be gone! And what am I supposed to wear to the Sea Sprite Ball tonight?

Eve sucked in a deep breath. It was time to count to ten...maybe twenty... before her head exploded, and she made a total ass of herself.

One...

Two...

We’re very sorry this happened, Ms. Archer. My manager is on the way over to speak with you about options.

Four...

Five... Oh my god, is that the manager?

Eve gawked as a middle-aged pirate approached, smiling. Captain Kidd held out his hand to her. At least it wasn’t a hook, so Eve accepted his handshake.

"Ms. Archer. I’m Milano Beltran, the accommodations manager for the City of Amphitrite. I understand we’ve committed a bit of a faux pas with your luggage pod. I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience...."

Eve straightened to her full five-foot-seven-inch height. It’s a bit more than a slight nuisance, Mr. Beltran. I can’t run around the resort naked!

He bowed from the waist. It is, Ms. Archer, and we’d like to make it up to you. Would you accept an upgraded vacation package that includes a three-thousand credit clothing allowance? And you may, of course, keep your purchases.

What? Are you serious? Eve narrowed her eyes and gave him a closer look.

Yes, indeed, I’m serious. We only need one thing in return.

I knew there’d be a catch. There always was when someone offered you what amounted to something for nothing.

The pirate smiled. It’s a small indulgence, Ms. Archer.

Oh?

We only ask that you not post this little glitch on the Net, your personal webpage, your blog, or any other personal social media outlet, should you subscribe to them.

That sounds easy enough.

Splendid! Beltran turned to the mermaid. Please upgrade Ms. Archer to the Poseidon package and give her a suite in the Tower of Triton.

The Tower of Triton? Was he serious? That was the poshest of the posh. Movie stars and music demi-gods booked into the Tower. On the long, slow descent to the resort, Eve read an article in an entertainment e-zine where no less than twenty big-name actors were already there.

Ms. Archer? Are you all right?

She blinked at the pirate. Yes. Yes, of course.

He smiled broadly, revealing a gold tooth. Eve almost laughed but managed to rein it in before she embarrassed herself. Beltran snapped his fingers in front of the mermaid, who placed two crystal credit discs in his hand. He handed the white one to Eve.

This has a three thousand credit limit on it and is good in any of our many boutiques.

Thank you. It’s very generous of you.

Not at all. He held up the blue one. "This is good only at Seductive Sirens, which specializes in evening wear. You may present this disc every evening during your stay for the loan of the gown of your choice for the evening’s ball."

Captain Kidd....er...Mr. Beltran, that is beyond generous. You’ll have people lined up asking for their luggage to go missing if you do this very often.

Jeez, she called him Captain Kidd, but he really did look the part. Fortunately, he smiled yet again.

Truthfully, Ms. Archer, we’ve already hosted over four thousand guests and you’re only the seventeenth case of errant luggage. We’d like to be at zero, but these things happen when a resort is new, and systems are being finalized. Our goal is to minimize the effect it has on your stay with us.

You’ve certainly done that, Mr. Beltran. Now, I think I’d like to go to my room and take the virtual tour before I replace my essential items.

Of course. Let’s key the room please, Mimi.

The blue mermaid laid a tablet on the counter, punched in some information, and asked Eve to place her hand on the pad. It recorded her palm print, and now all she had to do was lay her hand on the panel beside any door with open access, and she could gain admittance. The pirate snagged a deckhand and ordered the young man to escort Eve to her room. She thanked the pirate again and followed the swabbie to the lifts. Eve