Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

I’m already wearing the glittering midnight blue dress Calvin bought me for this evening, but
instead of putting on the heels and going out to wait with the staff, I decide to lie down for just a quick
minute. I’m finding it hard to stay awake, but if I just rest my eyes for a few minutes, I’ll be good to
go.
That could be true. Should be true.
It is not true.
When Calvin comes in, I’m fast asleep in my party dress. The lovely hairstyle Monique gave me
is smashed against my pillow, and all I want to do is sleep.
“There’s my lovely hostess.”
I know if Calvin is here, that means I slept for more than 10 minutes. I try to muster the energy to
care, but I don’t have it.
“Your hostess is sleepy,” I murmur into the pillow.
The bed sinks as Calvin climbs onto it. He crawls across the bed so he’s near the middle and
closer to me, then I finally open my eyes.
“I take it little girl Cutler is making you tired today.”
“Exceedingly tired. And how do you know I’m giving her your last name?”
Calvin chuckles, which I suppose is all the acknowledgment that cranky remark deserves.
Imagine going to war with Calvin over a name.
With one hand, he gently pushes me so I’m lying on my back. I close my eyes again, but start
when I feel his hand come to rest on my stomach. “How are you doing in there? Making Mommy tired
is naughty. You can do that later, after the party.”
I smile, a swell of tenderness surging up inside me to see him talking to our unborn baby. “Just
wait until she’s born and she never listens to you. It’ll drive you mad.”
Calvin is utterly dismissive of this possibility. “Of course she’ll listen to me.” Smiling faintly as
if he’s not about to bait me, he says, “She is her mother’s daughter, after all.”
I groan and grab his pillow to hit him with. “I’m too tired for you. Go away.”
He laughs and takes the pillow, replacing it on his side of the bed. “It’s time to wake up. I let you
sleep as long as I reasonably could, but Charity is here and she’s not happy. Remember that talk we
had about sticky first impressions and the importance of nailing it before I met your mom? This
probably wasn’t the best way for us to be introduced.”
I dart up in bed, wide-eyed. “Charity’s here early?”
Calvin shakes his head. “I’m afraid you’re late. Everyone is already here, I just couldn’t bring
myself to wake you up so I decided to let you sleep for a bit.”