Sergeant Silver

  Katharine O'Neill

  Sergeant Silver

  Copyright © 2020 by Katharine O'Neill

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Katharine O'Neill asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  Katharine O'Neill has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  First edition

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  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

  Also in This Series

  Also By the Author

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Emily had planned to make the most of a free morning. That wasn’t something she got to do every day. After having breakfast and taking a leisurely shower, she had settled down to read. Another one of her favorite things Emily had been unable to enjoy recently. Things were just far too busy right now.

  Like surviving.

  But the headache that had been building since the day before was too much. It pressed down hard over her temples and over her eyes. Her stomach was churning as well, stress tying her up in knots.

  Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a moment, see if some brief meditation helped…

  Next thing she knew, Emily was jerking herself awake as a loud shrill alarm threatened to burst her eardrums, filling the entire apartment with shrieks that any toddler would be proud of. It took her a moment to realize that it was her cell phone’s alarm. Telling her to leave the house.

  Telling her that she was going to be late for work.

  Shit. Not what I need right now.

  Getting ready wasn’t a problem. That could be dealt with easily. But getting to work was going to be a nightmare. Her apartment was on the outskirts of Union, and the traffic just before the lunch hour was always bad. But nothing would compare to this.

  It was the Super Bowl, and the Carolina Panthers were taking part in it for the first time in a long time. So those who were going to watch on big screens in the city or heading over to watch with friends and families would turn the place into gridlock.

  Who knew that South Carolina would be proud of a North Carolina team?”

  Emily could feel the panic growing as she tried to negotiate shortcuts to work, only to find that everyone else was going the same way. Mike was going to be furious when she finally turned out. He hated tardiness. And Emily was only a week out of her probationary period.

  Emily understood why he hated lateness. But she didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it.

  It was forty-five minutes after the start of her shift that Emily managed to pull into a space of the employees around the back of Mike’s Barbecue and Grill. With any luck, he wouldn’t be in. On a Sunday, he was watching his daughter play softball in her Sunday league, leaving new supervisor Callie in charge until mid-afternoon. She could let Emily get away with being late, especially on Super Bowl Sunday.

  Hopefully.

  Emily scurried through the back door and into the locker room. Opening up her locker, wincing as she scraped her arm along the metal, Emily put her bag inside and tugged off her t-shirt. It was early February, but it was warm enough inside that working in a t-shirt wouldn’t be too much of a problem.

  Picking out her work t-shirt, a dark blue polo top with a collar, Emily turned as she began to put it on. And then she froze.

  Mike Wilson was in the doorway, staring at her with his arms folded.

  Emily’s mouth went dry as she stared at the six-one lean body of her boss. Wearing jeans and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the man emanated an intensity that had Emily’s legs going weak. A persistent throbbing would start between her legs whenever Mike was nearby. It was distracting.

  Ever since she had been introduced to Mike three months ago, Emily couldn’t stop herself from giving him the onceover. And another. And another.

  Damn. Who knew fifty could look so good?

  “You’re late.”

  Emily could not get enough of that voice. Even after living in South Carolina for the last fifteen years, Mike’s accent was still firmly in the middle of England. It was beautiful to listen to. Better than the usual southern drawl that was common in the state.

  Then Emily remembered where she was. She was at her place of work, showing her bra to Mike. Feeling her face getting warm, Emily quickly turned her back on him and pulled on her t-shirt.

  “Sorry, Mike.” She mumbled. “The traffic was crap.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Emily turned back, adjusting the collar on her shirt, only to catch Mike looking at her backside. Was he checking me out? Emily had been aware of Mike watching her, but he was her boss. And a soldier. They were naturally suspicious.

  But not like this. Like she was a woman and not an employee.

  Mike’s eyes flicked back up and they locked gazes. Had his eyes changed color or were they always that shade? Emily bit her lip and put her hands behind her back. Her fingers were itching, yet again, to reach out and touch him. To see if that chest of his looked as solid as she imagined.

  Stop it. This is dangerous. You need to get your mind focused.

  For a moment, Mike looked like he was about to say something. Then his expression hardened and he straightened up.

  “I’ll let this go for now, Molly.” He said gruffly. “Two more strikes, though, and I’ll have to let you go. I can’t have anyone slacking here.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Emily bit back a grimace. Molly. God, she hated that name. Why couldn’t she have been allowed to pick it out? But everything had been selected for her. Her name, her location, even her job. It was like she wasn’t trusted to do it herself.

  Emily had wanted to have something that wouldn’t have her forgetting who she was. Her middle name of Jessica would have sufficed. But now she was stuck with Molly.

  Everything about her had to be simple, mundane. Nothing to draw attention to herself, and that included being tardy with a job Emily hated.

  Mike left the room, and it was only then that Emily felt like she
could breathe again. God, the man was a presence that she was more than aware of. And she wasn’t the only one. Mike could walk through the restaurant and every woman from the customers to the waitresses would watch him go. It was like people queued up to get his attention.

  Emily had never been one of those people who fell over herself to get anyone’s approval - that sort of thing was frowned upon where she had come from - but she found herself wanting to do something so her boss would notice her, just for a moment.

  Preferably when they weren’t the only ones in the locker room and Emily was half-dressed.

  But you certainly won’t say no if it happens again, will you?

  Damn right I won’t.

  God, she needed to get a job elsewhere. She was meant to be in hiding, not fantasizing about the ex-army restaurateur. It didn’t matter how handsome he was, she shouldn’t be doing it.

  Emily locked her things away and hurried through the kitchen, entering the restaurant behind the bar. The lunch crowd wasn’t as high as it normally was - a surprise, considering the Super Bowl was on - but it was beginning to pick up.

  Callie was behind the bar, collecting an order from one of the waitresses. She gave Emily a grin, her tight black curls bouncing about her face.

  “Hey, you. I was beginning to wonder where you were. Mike was beginning to doubt my excuses about you.”

  “Considering how inventive your excuses are, I’m not surprised.” Emily retrieved an apron from under the bar and tied it around her waist. “I got caught in the Super Bowl traffic. Mike wasn’t happy, but he let me off, thank God.”

  “Wait, what?” Callie stared at her. “Mike actually took a reason for being late and didn’t give you a warning?”

  “No, there was no warning.” Emily felt like she was being stared at as if she was an exotic fish in a tank. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I’ll tell you in a minute.” Callie gestured at a couple who had just entered the bar. “Let me deal with them first.”

  “As she headed off to greet the newcomers, Emily made her way to the restaurant side of the building, reaching the waiter’s station. The smell of the grill and the thick barbecue sauce that the chefs prepared on the day could be smelled from across the building. Emily took a moment to take a deep breath and inhale this through her nostrils.

  This was the only part of the job she did like. Other than a handsome boss. Emily loved steak - she loved meat in general - and she adored barbecue. It did mean working for hours with her stomach growling, but the staff got free meals on their break. Emily was happy with free food, and she couldn’t get enough of the barbecue wings.

  Even with that plus, Emily’s old job was far easier than dealing with the general public.

  “Mike let you come in and work without a warning?”

  Emily turned. Callie was walking towards her, looking at Emily with barely contained confusion. Emily frowned.

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “What’s wrong is that he doesn’t give anyone a second chance on anything, and that includes tardiness. You make one mistake here and you’re on a warning. Second mistake, and you’re out.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. Isn’t that usual in businesses?”

  “Not on small things. Mike expects people to work and obey like he’s still in the army.” Callie folded her arms. “He has fired people on the spot when they come in five minutes late. You’re the first person, from my knowledge, that he’s ever been lenient towards about timekeeping.”

  Emily rolled her eyes.

  “Come off it, Callie. It’s Super Bowl weekend. He knows that the traffic is going to be shit. Any other decent boss would understand and let it slide.”

  “Well, all I can say is I’ve never seen him do that before. Not even when his ex’s little sister worked here back when you joined.” Callie whistled. “And boy, did she push it.”

  Emily could still remember that. Dawn was a spoiled little brat who thought she was entitled to anything because her sister was dating the owner. She had been fired before the end of her third shift after coming to work half an hour late, saying that she had been washing her hair and making it look nice. After her first warning about getting the orders wrong and putting the blame onto Emily, that was her out the door.

  Emily had never seen such gall from anyone. If Dawn had been in the army, she would have been drop-kicked out of there so fast she wouldn’t have the chance to bounce. And Emily would love to do the kicking.

  “What do you think it means for me?” She asked. “That Mike’s finally going soft?”

  Callie smirked.

  “I think he’s got a thing for you.”

  Emily blinked. Mike had a thing for her? Surely, that wasn’t possible.

  “What makes you say he has a thing for me?”

  “You’re not stupid, Molly. You have eyes. He has to fancy you for him to let you off with a warning when he would have done worse. And from the way he’s been looking at you since you came here…” Callie pressed a hand to her chest with a wistful sigh. “Well, let’s just say if I had a man looking at me like that, I would be on him like white on rice.”

  For a moment, Emily’s mind went blank. She was used to men flirting with her. That she could handle. But this? It wasn’t possible, was it? Wasn’t she too young for Mike? Surely, he would look for someone nearer his own age.

  That didn’t make Emily feel any better.

  “He doesn’t look at me in the way that you’re suggesting.”

  “Why not? You’re hot, he’s hot, and you’re both single.”

  “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you call me hot.”

  Callie laughed.

  “I don’t mince my words. And you are.”

  “Hmm.” Emily shook her head. “As you said, we’re both single. Mike only very recently. Why would he be thinking about someone else when he’s just come out of a relationship where he was put through the wringer?”

  Callie rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t be naive, Molly. Take a look next time you see him. I’m not wrong about what I’ve seen.”

  “I think you are.”

  “Bet you twenty dollars that he does fancy you.”

  Emily burst out laughing.

  “You’re betting on that?”

  Callie shrugged.

  “What can I say? It keeps things interesting around here.”

  She had a point. Waitressing kept them busy, but Emily was bored up to the eyeballs with it. She could walk away from it, but then her superiors would be furious. Emily had been given an option, and if she didn’t take it, there was going to be a big fallout. She didn’t want to go through that.

  And also she wasn’t one to pass on a bet.

  “Done. Besides,” she picked up a spare notepad and pen from the waiter’s station, “I can’t afford a relationship right now. Too much baggage makes things messy.”

  Callie giggled.

  “Who said it had to be a committed relationship? You could have a one-night fling?”

  “Callie, that’s not what I do. And certainly not with my boss.”

  Certainly not with Mike Wilson. That would be particularly messy. Emily didn’t think she could keep sex and her emotions separate. Mike elicited something really strong inside her, and that scared her. It was far too intense.

  “That’s a pity.” Callie was still giggling as she walked away. “Because I think Mike would be up for it if you asked.”

  Emily didn’t think so, even if the thought of approaching Mike for it made her feel hot under the collar. She was an employee, Mike was her boss. Both of them were from the same lifestyle that made crossing that line out of bounds.

  Besides, having Mike calling her Molly while he was fucking her was going to be more than a mood killer.

  #

  Mike couldn’t stop himself from staring at Molly as she went about the tables. She was like a beacon to him. Not very tall but her vibrant red hair, long and thick, tied
back in a simple plait made her stand out. Up close, he could see her cornflower-blue eyes, and they always seemed to be sparkling with something. They drew him in. And that body of hers…Mike had only ever seen body frames that compact and muscular in the army. Lithe and firm in all the right places.

  Especially that ass, hugged nicely in her jeans. Every time she leaned over, Mike’s eyes were drawn to Molly’s backside. He itched to go up to her and just touch her. See if that ass was as firm as it looked.

  But he shouldn’t. He shouldn’t even be looking at her like that. Mike had a very firm rule about dating employees. Sleeping with one of his waitresses was not a good idea.

  Especially with a waitress young enough to be his daughter.

  Mike hadn’t intended to walk into the locker room, planning to wait until Molly was coming out. He had been about to reprimand her for being late, that she was to finish off her shift and not come back; he couldn’t break his own rules for her.

  Then he had seen Molly taking off her shirt, revealing an underwired bra that hugged her pert, firm breasts. It left little to the imagination. It had taken Mike a lot of self-control not to press her against the locker and have a taste.

  He needed to get his mind out of the gutter.

  “Evening, Mike.”

  Mike jumped. A gruff, big man in his late thirties sporting a thick black beard had slid onto a stool in front of him. Mike reached for a pint glass.

  “Same as usual, Will?”

  “Please.” Will Carruthers tapped the counter with his hands. “I’m thirsty.”

  Will was only a recent regular, but he had been coming into the bar every day since moving to Union a month ago. He always stuck to the bar, though, spending hours talking to whoever was working. The ladies seemed quite charmed with him.

  “You’re always thirsty, bud.” Mike pushed a full glass across the counter and took Will’s money. “I’m surprised you don’t have beer in your veins with the amount you drink.”

  Will laughed.

  “I probably do.” He raised his glass in a toast. “But I’m not going to slit my wrists to find out.”

  He took a large gulp with a satisfied sigh. Mike watched him as he started cleaning glasses. Will was a big man, hefty but it was a weight he carried well. He was light on his feet. Mike could spot another squaddie a mile off, but Will was always silent on it.