Claiming His Unexpected Baby (Assassins Guild #2) - Michelle Howard Page 0,9

work on controlling her desire to be overprotective. The traumatic birth experience had left Amelie with a feeling of constant fear that something would happen to her baby girl.

It didn’t help that Fleur was far different from how she’d been as a child. Fleur was full of adventure, mischief and had such joy in every action that Amelie hated telling her no.

Roan was nothing like that either from what she recalled. She hadn’t known him as a child but he’d shared stories of how he’d hovered on the outskirts of activities, never joining in unless forcibly cajoled or pressured. Maybe her daughter was pioneering her own version of self.

“Okay, Mommy.” Fleur twirled in place before jumping to the ground and throwing her arms in the air like a seasoned performer seeking applause. “Was I good?”

Amelie blinked back tears of pride. How had she managed to create this wonderful ball of energy? “The very best.”

Fleur giggled and bounced over because, why walk? She hit Amelie’s legs with all the force in her little toddler’s body and hugged Amelie’s leg while grinning up at her.

Dark hair hung in her eyes and down her back. Amelie swept the black strands back from her brow and returned the vibrant grin. Her heart shifted in her chest with the love she felt for this little person. Fleur’s zest for life spurred her on and Amelie thrived at her job at the garden center.

It was funny that she didn’t want to stay on her home world and farm yet ended up having a knack for greenery. Maybe it wasn’t the farm life at all she was escaping but her parents’ overbearing nature.

The owners had decided they were too old to keep the business running and offered it to Amelie. They claimed she possessed the same joy and passion for plant life that they did. It wasn’t fully hers. Yet. Amelie didn’t have the money outright to buy it but they were allowing her to pay in installments each month. The arrangement worked out and allowed her to run things as if the business belonged to her already.

The deal was more than she’d ever expected and she was good at the job. As Scarlett liked to joke Amelie had experience growing things. The thought made her laugh as she said to Fleur, “What do you say we take a break and eat? I have to go to work soon and you need to go to the learning academy.”

Fleur released Amelie and added a bounce and hop to her steps. “My friends are there.”

“Yes, they are.” In addition to being adventurous, her daughter had a social personality and made friends wherever she went. The staff and other kids at the learning academy loved her.

Mealtime was a hurried affair, then Amelie got dressed while Fleur decided to pick her own clothes out. It wasn’t worth the argument though Amelie knew Fleur could come out in a hodgepodge mix of clothing.

Her guess was proven correct as they headed to the door and Fleur danced along in synthetic knee-high boots in pale blue, black leggings and a netted pink skirt about her waist. At least her shirt was plain white with super nova scrawled in pink across the chest.

The outfit could have and had been worse. Amelie gathered a go bag and their things then locked the door behind her. She had enough time to wave to Fleur at the doors of the learning academy before racing to work.

The afternoon at the garden center went by fast. Because of Amelie’s added touches and knack for greenery, there was a steady stream of customers, new and old, through the automated doors.

When the traffic finally slowed, she considered taking a quick break. It would have been a perfect day if not for the call from Fleur’s school. The main comm at the front desk buzzed twice before Amelie managed to answer.

“A man came to the academy and talked to Fleur through the gate.” The headmistress’ frantic voice struck Amelie hard in the chest. “When we rushed all the children inside, Fleur said he asked who her mother was and if she wanted to go with him.”

Blinding fear threatened to send her spiraling. Fleur was smart but she was only a little girl. Amelie pressed her hand to her throat and swallowed past the thickness. “W-who was it? Did she say?”

“She didn’t know him and she alerted the nearest teacher right away that a stranger was asking her questions.” A note of pride settled