Page 3 of Cinderella's Secret Baby

“You!”

The gravelly bellow cut through the sublime moment, creating a stillness that silenced the angelic notes and the rustling leaves on the nearby rows of vines. Even the lap of water on the shore seemed to hold its breath.

Then a higher, feminine, anguished voice broke in.

“Daddy, no.Please.”

CHAPTER TWO

ITWASTHEsort of wedding Amelia’s blue-collar roots could only dream of.

As she glanced from the walkway, she saw pots of gardenias and begonias stationed at the ends of rows of white chairs. The posts and slatted roof of a pergola were draped in wisteria. The backdrop was a stunning view of the lake and a hazy glimpse of Toronto’s skyline, like a tiny floating island, sat on the horizon.

To the right of the pergola, there was an arched walking bridge over a trickling creek, perfect for photos of the bride and groom before they made their way to the pavilion filled with rustic tables set with linen and china and sparkling crystal.

It was fairy-tale-perfect, and her father wasruiningit.

Amelia swerved off the walkway to intercept Tobias as he came out of the guesthouse and charged toward the pergola. Everyone swiveled their attention to her, making her feel extra clumsy as she kept a firm hold on Peyton while trying not to trip on the grass.

Oh, God, look at him. Hunter Waverly was so blindingly handsome in his morning suit, clean-shaven and tall with his wide shoulders and his stern, narrow face, he made her eyes sting. From the concrete pad of the pergola, he was even taller and looked down his bladelike nose at Tobias before shifting his gaze to Amelia as she rushed up behind her father.

Hunter stood in dappled shade, but she thought he jolted as he recognized her.

She felt naked then. And small. Smaller even than when she’d left his guest room last year. Her face was blistered by that old humiliation and this new one. Her heart was cracking down the center, falling open to pulse unprotected because herbabywas exposed. Here. In front of hundreds of eyes where their very different positions in life were even more pronounced than they had been then.

Hunter had bought out a vineyard for his bride. He had only offeredherwhat was in his wallet.

“You,” her father said again, voice dripping with contempt. He avoided Amelia’s attempt to catch his arm. “You ignore your own flesh and blood, leave the mother of your child to fend for herself while you...” His impatient hand waved with disdain at the guests, the tranquil setting and the loving union that was about to be blessed.

“Daddy,please. I ambeggingyou.” Amelia managed to catch a fistful of his sleeve and tugged. “Come on. We’re leaving. I am so sorry.”

The kindly grandmother was staring at Amelia as though she was a skunk that had waddled into the kitchen. Amelia couldn’t make herself look at anyone else, especially Hunter. Her stomach had risen to churn in the back of her throat.

“She’s better off without you.” Her father shook off her grip. “But your friends and family ought to know what sort of man you are. Yourwifeshould know what she’s marrying. And I’ll be damned if you won’t even feed and clothe the child you made.” Her father shook his finger at Hunter. “Judging by this, you can afford to, so quit being a bum.”

“Dad!” she cried. “He didn’t know. Okay? I never told him.” And if she didn’t have the helpless bundle of Peyton snuggled in her arm, she would wish herself dead right now. She really would.

Someone in the crowd guffawed a curse of enjoyment.

Her father snapped a look at her. “A man has a right to know, Amelia.”

“Ihave a right to decide what happens tomybaby.” She was furious with him.

“I care what happens tomybaby,” he barked straight back.

He did. She knew that. He was a dear, loving father, butsucha dinosaur sometimes. Old-school and old-fashioned and so protective after losing Jasper, but how did he even know Hunter’s name? How had he known Hunter would be here?

“Is it true?” Hunter’s voice was deep and tight and sounded like it came out through clenched teeth even as it boomed from a speaker off to her left.

OhGod.

With an appalled snarl, he ripped the wire from his lapel and pulled something from his pocket, handing it to the man beside him.

“Is it?” he demanded of her without the bullhorn effect.

“Of course not,” she lied blatantly. “This is all a horrible misunderstanding. I’m very sorry for the interruption,” she added to the crowd. Her face was about to combust, it was boiling so ferociously in embarrassment. Her head was dizzy. She could hardly see straight.

“You just said you didn’t tell me. That I didn’t know,” Hunter pointed out with subdued outrage.

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