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“Tony, when you’re done, can you get started on that inventory in the clinic with Jenn, please?

I’m sure we lost some supplies during the quake, and we’ll need to replace them ASAP.

Lindsey can give you a hand.” The doctor could rival most of the military officers Doug had known during his career, as she quickly assigned tasks to the group.

“I need Margie to help Roland and me check the medical equipment. Hopefully, nothing’s damaged.

And Doug, I’d appreciate it if you and Romeo would join the other men, making sure there’s no structural damage to any of the buildings, including the roofs, and doing the heavy lifting.

A few of them are also trying to round up some livestock that got loose when a section of the corral fencing fell. ”

“No problem,” Doug said. Romeo echoed the response a second later after finishing his call, which had been to Clinton.

As Jenn joined the doctor and another woman as they walked toward one of the buildings, the man she and Ramona had called Tony stepped forward, smiled, and extended his hand to Romeo. “Tony Barone.”

“Val Mancini or Romeo.”

“Is there a story behind that nickname?”

“Ha! Yeah, I got it in the Army. I’ll take it over some of the other nicknames from my old unit, though.”

He shook hands with Lindsey next. “Tony Barone. Nice to meet you. Lindsey, was it?”

“Yes, Lindsey Abbott. You may hear one of these two call me Costello, though.”

The man’s grin grew wider. “‘Who’s on First?’” When she smiled and nodded, he added, “Nice. Is that also a military nickname?”

“Yup. Marine Corps.”

“Really? Awesome. My cousin, Dara, is currently in boot camp at Parris Island. She’s halfway through and loving it, according to my aunt.”

“Oorah! Good for her. That’s where I got my training too.”

Tony turned to Doug, but despite holding out his hand, the man’s smile disappeared while his eyes narrowed. And there was a little more pressure than necessary in his handshake. “Tony Barone. I’m a friend of Jenn’s.”

Doug studied the man who appeared to be only a few years younger than himself.

Tony was a couple of inches shorter, physically fit, with dark hair, hazel eyes, and a firm jaw.

If Doug were gay or bi, he might even think the guy was handsome.

But what the fuck? A friend of Jenn’s ? Tony hadn’t stressed that to Lindsey or Romeo, but it seemed he wanted to make a point with Doug.

Had Jenn mentioned him to this twit? Or fuck!

Was Jenn romantically involved with him?

Squeezing the other man’s hand harder, Doug waited until he saw him wince slightly before easing up. “Doug Henderson. Pleasure to meet you.” It wasn’t in the least.

He let Tony’s hand go, and satisfaction rolled through him when the guy stepped back, flexing and closing his fingers several times, as if trying to assure himself that no metacarpals or phalanges were broken.

From his left, he heard Romeo let out a snort, and Doug glared at him.

With a smirk, his teammate held up his hands in surrender and then hit a button on the satellite phone before putting it to his ear.

While Romeo called Nathan and Colleen, Doug retrieved their go-bags from the truck and Jeep, then followed Tony to the bunkhouse they’d been assigned. Lindsey took her bag and headed toward the building next to theirs.

The bunkhouse was as basic as Doug suspected.

It reminded him of his old boot camp barracks.

There were twelve cots, each with a brown one-drawer nightstand, a footlocker, and a small wardrobe cabinet, which all looked like they came from IKEA—probably acquired through donations.

Portable camping lamps were on the nightstands along with the occasional book or two and a few personal items. Near the door stood a rustic table and four chairs, accompanied by another lamp, a well-used deck of cards, a large plastic container filled with sourdough pretzels, and another one containing individual packages of peanut M&Ms. Doug did a double take on those, as they seemed out of place in the rudimentary commune.

Tony pointed to four cots on the far end of the room. “Those are all available. Toilets and urinals are in there. Showers are in the next building over. Keep them short.”

The man’s terse tone grated on Doug, and after tossing his and Romeo’s go-bags onto two empty cots, he said, “Hey, man. What’s your problem with me? With my teammates, you were smiling and joking. With me, it’s like you got a stick up your ass.”

Crossing his arms, Tony took a step forward. “Jenn and I have become friends. I’ve heard all about you, and let’s just say I’m not a fan. You hurt her, and you’ll have to deal with me.”

Friends? Jenn made friends easily, so that wasn’t surprising, but Doug still wondered if more was going on between the two.

The thought of Jenn romantically involved with anyone made him sick.

Damn it. He was stuck in a mindset that, even though he shouldn’t be attracted to her, no one else should either—a walking contradiction.

He couldn’t have his cake and eat it too—and he didn’t want to share said cake.

Jenn was a beautiful, vibrant woman. Of course, she would garner interest from any guy who met her or even saw her from across the room.

But this fucking twit certainly didn’t deserve her.

Growling, Doug closed the distance between them and glared down at the man, who surprisingly stood his ground.

“I don’t give a shit who you are. I’m here for two reasons—to help out and to make sure Jenn stays safe and returns to her family unharmed.

So stay out of my way, and we’ll get along just fine. ”

With anger flaring in his eyes, Tony opened his mouth to say something else, but he was interrupted when the door swung wide and Romeo stepped inside.

His gaze shifted between the two men, and then he shook his head and snorted.

“Wonderful. A gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Or is it a dick measuring contest?”

“Shut it, Mancini,” Doug warned as he moved around Tony, intentionally bumping the guy’s shoulder hard as he passed and strode toward the door. “Let’s get to work.”