Claiming His Unexpected Baby (Assassins Guild #2) - Michelle Howard

Chapter 1

“You have to get rid of it. I don’t want it.”

Amelie flinched from the harshly spoken demand. Roan, her boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend now, was usually full of honeyed whispers for her. Today, his face was a mask of fury and his body vibrated with tension.

This wasn’t the reaction she’d expected when she invited him over to her place for dinner to talk.

Amelie tried to match this angry persona with the man who’d smiled in her face a month ago when he’d announced his upcoming interview for a position on the ambassador’s team. A position she’d found and encouraged him to apply for. They’d lain in bed together as he’d stroked her hair and spoke of his grand plans. Plans along with avowals to be together forever.

Now he was in line for a new promotion which should be exciting for both of them but...he didn’t want her any more? She dropped her hand to her flat stomach. “I don’t understand, Roan.”

Blowing out a breath, he threw his hands in the air then paced from her. Roan paced when he was agitated and needed to think. She dug her nails into the material of her shirt and waited. He paused a few feet away, gripping the back of his neck with one hand and dropped the other. When he raised his head and turned to look at her, his mouth curved in a semi-sweet grin that was all too familiar. “Look. I’m just not in a position to deal with a baby right now. Neither of us is.”

Amelie relaxed. Now she understood. The news had caught her off-guard as well. She smiled back. “It’s okay, Roan. I wasn’t expecting this news either. This just fast forwards our timetable a little.”

They’d met at a festival. Music and food everywhere, couples and families enjoying the rare occasion to be away from their farming tracks. Roan had approached her toward the end of the event in front of a fruit stand and asked her out. Blown away by his smooth talking and sheer good looks, she’d agreed.

After several weeks of dinners and dating, he’d professed his love and wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Excited at the proof he had similar feelings for her, Amelie had fallen into bed with him. Repeatedly.

Discovering she was pregnant was a shock, of course. Roan had assured her he had the birth control aspect handled with his monthly shots. Maybe he’d missed one. At any rate, she was pleased at being one step closer to the family they’d both agreed they wanted.

Roan groaned. “You don’t get it, Amie. I don’t have time for a baby.”

Her smile fell.

“Or a girlfriend like you.”

Like her? Amelie’s brows furrowed and while she heard what he said, Amelie refused to believe it. “What exactly are you telling me, Roan?”

He exhaled sharply. “For stars’ sake, Amelie! You can’t be this naïve. I’m ending things. This job is already taking me places. A promotion! I’ll get to travel to far off places, see more than life on a farm planet. I’ll have the chance to interact with all sorts of government officials. Me, Amelie!”

She didn’t know the details for his upcoming role with the Ambassador of Trigodor but it sounded like a wonderful opportunity. “I can wait.”

Roan clenched his fists at his side and leaned forward. The tendons in his neck and jaw strained beneath his skin. “Amelie, I don’t know how else to say it—the ambassador’s daughter and I are dating. She doesn’t know about my farming background or you.”

“W-what?”

His gaze dropped to her stomach and he sneered. “Do yourself a favor and get that taken care of. Neither of us are ready for a kid anyway.”

Protests died on her lips at the dismissive way he spoke of the child they’d made together. Her back straightened and she met his stare evenly. This was her home. She paid the bills and he spent the night. More than he should since he didn’t contribute to any of the finances. “Leave.”

He reached for her but she darted back, putting the living room chair between them. Roan rolled his eyes. “You’re being dramatic about this. It was fun and now its over. Don’t make it ugly.”

Everything about him was ugly right now. The blond hair she’d adored for the wicked way it fell over his arched brows to the green eyes that no longer sparkled with good natured charm.

At the door, he paused to say, “Goodbye, Amelie.”

When he left, Amelie didn’t cry. Desperate for kindness,