SAFEHOUSE

Ever since I had confirmation my baby was a boy I had been dying to go shopping for him. I didn't really like spending Julien's money, even though he always called it our money now, but this was for our child. So that made it a little bit easier.

And with all the money that we had to work with… I was like a kid in a candy store. There were so many online websites dedicated solely to children's clothing alone, I had a neck cramp from huddling over Julien's tablet.

He asked me to please formally hand in my resignation from my duties around the estate, and I had to laugh at him. Was all that really necessary? I hadn't technically worked in weeks, and as lazy as that may sound, it was the truth. Whatever the case, I wrote up the shortest letter in history, and handed it to him over dinner.

When he read it out loud couldn’t help laughing. "Dear Monsieur Malveaux- I'm having your baby. You don’t have to pay me to clean your house anymore, I’ll do it for free... Love, Amira.”

Out of the maid uniform, into the Mercedes Benz… It wouldn’t have been so bad if we didn’t have so damn much company. One was driving, one was sitting in the passenger seat, and one was sitting next to the window. I ended up in the middle squeezed next to Julien.

I wasn’t going to let it get me down. I had too much to look forward to today to let anything else get in my way.

When we got out at our destination, I realized I had fallen asleep for most of the ride, my head lolling against Julien’s broad shoulder. He had pulled me against him, wrapping his arm around mine to let me snuggle against him. If it weren’t for the drool that was escaping the corner of my mouth, it probably would’ve been cute.

“Sweetheart? Ma chérie? We’ve arrived,” he whispered in my ear softly.

It was only late in the morning and I was already waking up from my first nap of the day. This baby was kicking my butt!

When I caught sight of my surroundings, my breath stuttered along in my chest. Julien hadn’t told me where exactly he planned on taking us—‘just somewhere in town,’ was all he’d said. I thought it had been taking a little longer than normal… But this?

This I had not been expecting.

I stood right outside of the car door, pulling my purse over my shoulder and looking up at the not too far off distance. There stood the incredible Eiffel Tower. Which only meant one thing.

PARIS!

I spun around on my heel, looking Julien in the eye and wondering how he could’ve gotten this past me. He gave me that sexy grin of his and I felt myself melting.

I walked up to the sidewalk we were currently parked next to, taking a look at the sto

res on either side of the road. Closest to us was a small boutique that looked longer than it was wider, called 'Jacadi.'

"Are we shopping for the baby here?" I asked him as he laced our fingers together.

"I thought we could start here, yes. What do you think? Will this be okay?"

“God yes!”

Of course the main bodyguard Christian went first. He walked through the doors confidently in front of us, and we were followed by the others.

Even as we made our way into the clothing store I could still smell to most delicious baked goods coming from somewhere down the row of businesses. Wherever it was I was definitely gonna make a pit-stop after this.

The store we were going to itself was small yet cheerful. There were bright splashes of color here and there, although most of the baby clothes were more neutral in color than anything else.

Usually you think of pink and blue but there were many different colors that stood out in different styles that I hadn't really seen in America. I pulled one tiny jacket closer to me, examining the fur-lined hood that came with it.

"There are so many little things in here," I exclaimed. "I don't even know to where to begin!"

Julien laughed, as an attendant came to greet us from the back of the store.

"Bonjour!” The young woman greeted us, gesturing to me in particular. “Je peux vous aider?”

I felt myself blush, not completely understanding her casual accent. The French could speak so fast.

But of course Julien stepped in, always my hero. "Bonjour! Nous cherchons simplement.”

I shuddered against him, secretly loving to hear when he spoke in French. When he whispered sweet nothings to me I could barely contain myself. His words always seemed to do something to me, and for a moment I wish I could push him to the back room. Getting control of myself, I tried to concentrate on the cutest little baby shoes that I had ever seen.

Julien and the salesperson continued their conversation à la French, leaving me to it. I walked up the aisle further, checking out the beautiful little clothing as I went.