Page 14 of One Wild Omega

“I’m good. Thanks, Ben,” he said before handing the beta the present in his hand. He shrugged out of his long overcoat and handed that to the man, as well, while reclaiming the brightly wrapped gift. “Has the food been set out?”

“It’s all prepared and added to the buffet table—just as you requested, Mr. McCreary.”

Tanner turned to his brother’s handsome manservant. “I’ve told you that you can just call me Tanner.”

A flutter of a smile crossed the servant’s lips. “I’m sorry, sir. That wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Trust me. I don’t have the same stick up my ass that Quinn does.”

Ben did a bad job of fully hiding his bemused smile. “Still… it would be best if I didn’t.”

“Your choice,” Tanner said and gave the man a wink. “By the way, have you had any recent updates about the happy couple’s current location?”

Tanner and Quinn’s staff had spent the day before decorating for a baby shower. The only thing that had been left for the late morning was putting out the finger food the cook had prepared and ensuring there were plenty of libations, both hard and soft.

“I got a text about an hour ago, stating they were about two and a half hours away.”

“Same here. That gives me enough time to check that everything’s in place. Our guests should start arriving within the half hour. Please make sure they’re parking down the street. I don’t want Bellamy getting any hints as they drive up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Quinn had taken Bellamy away for a short vacation before the baby arrived, giving Tanner the perfect opportunity to set up the surprise party for one of his best friends. He stalked down the hallway leading from the foyer toward the large family room near the back of the house where he’d had everything placed.

And saw Fitz Walker already digging into the buffet.

Tanner dropped his package off on the empty gift table and headed over to the food table. Fitz turned to eye him seconds before Tanner smacked the food from his fingers.

“Ow!” Fitz’s food ended up on the floor between them. “Seriously, McCreary?”

“The food is for theguests. Since I don’t recall inviting you, you’renota guest.”

“Quinn did.”

Tanner stood up a little straighter. Of course Quinn did… and neglected to tell him. “Whywould he do that?”

“I have no idea,” Fitz said. “But Iama friend of Bellamy’s, so… maybe that’s why?”

“You were Bellamy’s fuck-buddy. Do you really think you belong here?”

Fitz hissed in anger. “I wasn’t his fuck-buddy, and you know it.”

“So the two of youweren’tbanging every heat before Quinn came into the picture?”

Color rose in Fitz’s face. “You and I both know what happened was an accident.”

Bellamy hadn’t been able to cycle off of hisHeatexwhen he was supposed to and went into a mild heat. Fitz just happened to be around and things had simply happened.

“At first. But then you two just continued canoodling.” Once hadn’t been bad enough. They’d continued on for a few more months—until Tanner had figured out a way to help Bellamy cycle off.

How was he supposed to know Quinn would go to their little-used lake house on the same long weekend? Of course, when he’d heard Quinn was there, he hadn’t been anywhere near asupset as he’d pretended to be. If a Quinn-Bellamy pairing pushed Fitz out of the picture, all the better.

He had no idea it would’ve led to Quinn and Bellamy mating, but he was happy for it. They were well-matched and now starting a family. Tanner was thrilled for them both. Babies were fun, and he couldn’t wait to be an uncle.

It was likely the closest he’d have to children of his own.

Fitz frowned, looking too damned good doing it. “Youalmostsound jealous.”

“You wish.”

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