Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

Chapter Eleven
Hallie
When I was a girl, my mom warned me that the devil would be beautiful.
She was a religious woman—especially after my father left—and all the Bible stuff freaked me
out and made me afraid. I thought the devil would be scary and ugly, a frightening sight to behold. She
told me it would be just the opposite. I would feel warm and vibrant in his presence, tempted beyond
measure. The devil has to be beautiful and compelling in order to tempt you to stray from the path you
know is right.
I think Calvin Cutler might be the devil.
It’s such an absurd thought to have that a faint smile tugs at my lips as I drain my second glass of
wine. I shouldn’t have had a second glass, my head is starting to feel fuzzy and I know I can’t afford
not to have my wits about me, but with the alcohol coursing through my veins, I feel strangely good.
All my troubles feel so far away. Absurd, since one of them is sitting across from me, polishing
off the last of his swordfish.
Swordfish. What a silly word.
My body feels heavier and lighter at the same time. I’m languid, slouching and rudely planting an
elbow on the table so I can lean my head on it to hold me up. Why is my head so heavy?
Calvin’s steady voice pierces the wine fog. “Are you feeling all right?”
God, he has a nice voice.
Wait, no.
I hate him. He’s the devil.
Handsome, very handsome, but the devil.
“You’re a bad man,” I tell him, so he can remind me in case I forget again.
“All right,” he says, not even seeming offended.
“I have to remember that.”
“You don’t have to,” he says.
I don’t?
No, wait. I can’t trust what he tells me. He tells me crazy things, like let me take care of you, and
I stay up at night thinking about you…