Page 5 of Twins for the Secret Prince
Back outside, she resumed her post and watched the recruits as they completed their last lap of the morning’s run. Although she’d planned to give them a break and take them inside, out of the rain, for some training, Eva decided to start proving her mettle immediately.
“I know that some of you will be hoping for a rest, but that’s not going to happen. You’remysquad, and my squad is always the best at drills. You’re not going to be the exception. And the only way to be the best is to do drill training at every opportunity. This is your chance to show me how far you can push yourselves.”
It wasn’t lost on Eva that she was more or less echoing the words of the lieutenant, and she knew, in some ways, she was taking out her frustration on the squad. But she didn’t accept anything less than perfection, and that meant pushing them. She glared at the recruit who’d slipped in the mud, whose face showed just how unhappy he was with her plan.
“Anyone who doesn’t want to do drills is welcome to go back to the barracks, where you can pack your bag and leave the base immediately,” she said. “Is that understood?”
Eva watched as the young man’s sullen look turned to one of fear, and she decided at that moment to keep the pressure amped up on this particular recruit. She had to whip him into shape by the afternoon, when she knew some of the senior officers would make an appearance to check up on the recruits.If she had any weak links in her squad, it would make Eva look like a weak link, and she wasn’t about to let that happen.
For the next hour, she shouted herself nearly hoarse as she put the recruits through their paces. To their credit, they rose to the challenge, not once grimacing or muttering under their breaths as she demanded more and more of them. Even Private Sully took it on the chin, showing that he was as determined as the others.
When drill training was over, Eva called her squad together and said, “I don’t hand out praise easily, but I have to say that what I saw here this morning is impressive. I have no doubt that this squad can be the best we have here on the base. I want you to report back here at thirteen-hundred hours today, where you will doeven betterthan you did this morning. And that’s an order. Dismissed.”
She watched as they walked away, their bodies showing signs of fatigue but also pride. That was Eva’s way — apply pressure and expect nothing less than the best, but let them know when they had done well. And her squad of new recruits had done very well indeed. Now they just needed to keep up the high standards to help Eva demonstrate that she was worthy of the promotion.
On her way back into the base, she heard someone call her name and turned to see First Lieutenant Derek Armstrong walking towards her. With him was a very tall, perfectly fit and perfect-looking man in uniform with piercing gray-blue eyes, striding towards her with assured confidence.
“Sergeant Bailey, I would like to introduce you to Sergeant Pete Billings, who has just joined us from an overseas posting.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Sergeant Billings said, holding out his hand. Eva took it and felt a tiny jolt course through her body.
“Likewise,” she said, holding his look.
“Sergeant Billings will be in command of the other squad of new recruits.” Turning to Billings, Armstrong added, “No one gets our recruits ready for action as quickly or as thoroughly as Sergeant Bailey.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” Sergeant Billings said. Eva saw the competitive spark in his eye.
“Drill’s at thirteen-hundred hours,” Armstrong said, in a tone that suggested he was enjoying this rivalry already. “I guess we’ll see which squad is best out there.”
Even as Eva told herself there was no contest because her squad was always the best, she said magnanimously, “It’s not a fair contest when this is your first day with your squad.”
Sergeant Billings made a show of looking at his watch. “That gives me less than two hours to get them into shape. Challenge accepted.”
Armstrong shook his head, smiling. “I should warn you, Sergeant Bailey. Sergeant Billings has steel running through his veins.”
“Good to know,” she said, not breaking eye contact with the new arrival.
“And there’s something else you should both know,” the first lieutenant said. “It’s not just your squads that are in competition with each other. You two will be going head-to-head for the promotion to sergeant major. I think it’s fair to say that thesenior officers will be keeping tabs on both of you over the next few weeks.”
“Good to know,” Eva said again through gritted teeth.
“Yes, very good,” Sergeant Billings said. Although the corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile, there was no mistaking the icy determination in his voice. If there was any doubt before, Eva knew he was declaring himself her direct rival.
“See you at drill,” Eva said, continuing to give him her best stare-down look.
“It will be interesting,” he replied as he and the first lieutenant walked away.
Eva strode to her office and had to stop herself from slamming the door behind her. Instead, she punched the air several times to release some of the tension she’d been holding onto.Typical,she thought. One minute she was told she was being considered for promotion, and the next, she was introduced to a newcomer who was up for it too.
Not just any newcomer — aman. A man whose very bearing suggested that he was used to getting his own way. A man whose amused expression told Eva he thought he had nothing to worry about, because the promotion was as good as his.
How many times had she seen the same thing happen? She’d lost count of the number of men who had waltzed into the job she had her eye on and had been working diligently and tirelessly towards. Although she had accepted that it was the way of life around here, it didn’t mean she had to like it. And she most certainly did not like the way Pete Billings had looked at her like he was a superior being who was completely unfazed or threatened by her.
She’d show him. Shehadto show him. Her squad would be the best; there was no question in her mind about that. Not just at drills but at every aspect of their training. That would makeherthe best. Although it was generally accepted on the base that no one trained new recruits as well as she did, she wouldn’t allow Sergeant Billings to steal any of her thunder. No way.
For an instant she saw his piercing eyes and felt the current of electricity run through her body as she remembered the touch of his hand.No, no, no, no, she told herself sternly.You are not attracted to this man. He is your competition. Do not let any other feelings enter into it. That’s an order.
She closed her eyes and let the memory of the very first time she’d been passed over for a promotion hit her with its full force. Not one but two of her male peers had been promoted to the rank of private second class while she remained a lowly private. Never mind that she had coached and mentored both of the men, who’d joined the squad after she did. Although they were not lazy, they didn’t have her exceptional work ethic, and to say that she carried them was not an exaggeration. If they recognized it, they didn’t outwardly acknowledge it. And anyway, Eva wasn’t looking for praise. She did it because they were her fellow squad members and it was the right thing to do.
