Treasured Tails of the Heart

By Kali Willows

Welcome to the Island of Atlaria, where the mermaids are plenty & the hospitality is to die for.Betrayal and heartbreak flood every waking moment of Nerissa Hermes' existence these days. Born and raised on the island of Atlaria, a unique aquatic themed resort, work is the only solace she can find as she entertains their guests. What little she knows about her origins swim dangerously close to the surface as enemies quietly invade the resort. Her shattered heart isn't the only treasure on this beautiful island being coveted. Arriving as a guest on the island, Wyatt Larsen doesn't bank on the heart-stopping distraction of an exotic woman. When broken hearts collide, loyalties are tested and danger soon follows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kinderd Productions
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393029342

Kali Willows

Born and raised in Toronto, Kali now resides in the exquisite eastern Ontario countryside where she enjoys the serenity of nature. When she isn't busy being the married mother of two, certified trainer or counselor extraordinaire, she shadows worlds of paranormal passion & intrigue.Kali strives to create emotional, compelling stories and characters you can't help but love, hate and cheer for. Captivated by her love of dragons, gargoyles and everything paranormal, she pens these delightful creatures into epic tales of romance and adventure and often infuses her passions of martial arts, music and ironic twists even she didn’t foresee.

Book preview

Chapter One

Alittle girl with curly blonde locks approached the tank with cautious fascination. Reaching out, she placed her tiny palms against the glass and stared inside, her brown eyes glistened with elation.

Momma, look! she squealed. Look at her shiny tail. She’s so beautiful!

Hearing voices through the glass while she was under water was as easy as breathing for Nerissa.

Oh my, she really is! the tall woman with strawberry hair slicked back into a tight ponytail remarked. She joined the little girl and rested her free hand on the child’s shoulder, the other hand gripped a half-masticated cotton candy cone. Both stared intently.

Her top is made of seashells, Momma. Can I have a bathing suit made with sea shells?

The mother chuckled. We’ll see, Sally.

Nerissa swam around in the deep tank, the full length of her aureate hair danced around her face and torso. It was show time. She swirled the length of the aquatic enclosure and back again. When she returned to the glass, she faced the small child who she estimated couldn’t be more than five years old. A glamorous plastic princess crown rested on her golden hair, tilted to the side, and pink cotton candy juice dripped down her chin. A charming little creature she was, her eyes wild with wonder, and then her expression shifted. The joy in her eyes melted away. She raised her brows and pouted, seeming deeply concerned.

Why does she look so sad, Momma? Is it because she can’t swim in the ocean like the other mermaids?

Sad? It hadn’t occurred to her she would seem sad to an excited child. The tiny voice warmed her heart. The compassion in such a small sprite was endearing. Nerissa placed her palms against the glass, mirroring the child’s, and smiled wide for her.

Momma, she’s happy! she squealed again.

Nerissa nodded and gazed into the eyes filled with innocence a few more moments and then framed her fingers to form a heart to express her gratitude.

Momma, she’s giving me love. She likes me, Momma! the little one shrieked with glee.

Satisfied she made the tiny girl’s day. She waved goodbye and swam up hard and dove back down into the water and flapped her tail. A wave splashed over the side of the giant tank.

More elated squeals of surprise erupted as Nerissa swam to the back of the enclosed tank. She made her way through the plastic tunnel and up to the trainer’s platform. She surfaced and glanced around for the aquatic attendant. No one waited on standby to help her climb out. Nerissa hoisted herself up to the platform and twisted her torso to sit on the ledge.

Sorry about that, a husky voice called out.

Glancing over the ledge, she caught Trevor climbing the ladder with a towel draped over his arm. Quickly, he wrapped it around her shoulders.

It’s all good, she sighed.

You okay? he queried with furrowed brows.

Yeah, help me up, please.

The tall, brawny attendant lifted her under the arms and held her to standing length as she fidgeted with the fasteners on the back of her costume.

Nerissa slid the mermaid tail down her hips and stepped out of the confining garment as Trevor lowered her to her feet. The cool air from the vent of the water pump brushed against her flesh. Nerissa’s skin pimpled with goosebumps as she shivered in her bikini.

I thought Luna was taking the next shift? I’ve been waiting for her to get into the tank. She looked around, seeing no one else in sight.

She’s just getting changed. He collected the tail and hung it up on the rack at the side. I guess she was running late.

It’s not too busy right now. She toweled herself off and headed for the stairs.

It looks like you’re on double duty. I’m afraid, Trevor offered with a cautious tone.

Exhaling a heavy sigh, she let down her shoulders and looked back at him. Again?

Sorry, boss. She’s not answering the radio, and the boat arrives in fifteen minutes. I’ve been trying to reach her for an hour. I have no idea where Harmony is.

I have a pretty good idea, she scoffed. I’m going to get changed quickly. Please have a hand held radio and a buggy ready for me in five minutes. I’ll be cutting it close this time.

You got it. He pressed his lips and nodded. Oh, and Ava wants to speak with you, she said she’ll meet you at the dock.

Nerissa let out an aggravated breath. I wonder what else is going wrong today. Thanks, Trevor.

She climbed down and raced to the change rooms to get dressed.

Trevor was one of the few staff who actually did his job and didn’t give her a hard time in recent months. Harmony, on the other hand, was an entirely different matter. Her retaliation had morphed from snide comments and practical jokes in the locker room to chronic lateness and absenteeism. Not ideal traits when you’re supposed to be the head hostess for a theme park resort. It frustrated her beyond belief that Harmony had argued with the senior management team to get the gig in the first place. Her dispute hinged on her point of the decision being nepotism, if the role had gone to the daughter of the owner. It didn’t matter to her either way, except for the fact that since Harmony got the job, Nerissa was still the one doing all the extra work.

When she reached the change room, she burst through the door and slammed it shut behind her. In the locker room, a collection of Harmony’s lackeys stood around chatting as if they had nothing better to do.

Oh, it’s you, one of the snide blondes scoffed.

The heat of anger simmered in her blood. She propped her hands on her hips and arched her brows as she spoke. Yeah, Luna it’s me, doing my job. Have you forgotten yours? she growled.

The shapely blonde looked at her with wide eyes and blinked as the room went deathly silent.

No? she grumbled.

The tank is empty, I’ve been in there for over an hour. You can officially take my next shift to make up the difference. Nerissa raised a single brow and stared her down. Do you have a problem with that?

Luna furrowed her brows and stepped back with her mouth dropped open.

Well? she propped her hands on her hips, impatience amplifying.

No, I was just getting changed, she remarked.

Nerissa eyed her up and down. Any idea where Harmony would happen to be? Because I know for a fact, she’s not waiting on the dock to greet the boat with our guests.

Luna swung open her locker and began changing into her bikini.

Each of the girls glanced down at their cell phones and began typing frantically, no doubt to warn their fearless leader she was ousted.

Frustration swirled in her gut. Don’t you ladies all have somewhere to be? She glared at all five of them. Unless of course you’d prefer to be put on garbage, recycling and bathroom duties?

We’re just getting dressed, Cora spoke up. She nodded to the girls, and they dispersed. Sorry, Nerissa, it won’t happen again.

Cora, the raven-haired beauty with sea-green eyes was the more civil one of the group. At times, when no one was paying attention, she was actually sweet to Nerissa. The moment Harmony arrived or Luna, Cora became quiet and passively defiant, as though she played follow the leader.

Thank you, Cora. I would appreciate that.

Regardless of how sweet she could be, Nerissa knew better than to trust her. She was polite to her face, but usually spurred on the