NYLON ~ 84 ~ I NEED MY THINGS

Hanna zipped up a large leopard print suitcase and then collapsed next to it on the bed. Caleb appeared in the doorway looking down at her disapprovingly.

"What?" she shrugged.

"I said pack light," he replied.

"Caleb," she groaned. "I need my things."

"Trust me," he said. "You don't. We can buy everything we need once we get there."

"You know I don't like secrets," she told him.

"Not a secret," he helped her up, "a surprise. Now can you try and fit everything you need into one bag?"

"Okay," she sighed grabbing a leather overnight bag from her closet. She threw in a few outfits and a handful of the necessities before zipping it up.

"Ready?" Caleb asked picking up the bag.

"Yeah," she smiled kissing his cheek. "This surprise better be worth it."

Caleb smirked and led her downstairs where a car was waiting for them. He loaded their bags in the trunk and they drove straight to the airport. Once there Caleb handed her a plane ticket.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Our vacation," Caleb replied. "Open it."

"Okay..." she opened the envelope and read LOS ANGELES listed as their destination. "Caleb?"

"Are you happy?" he asked. "Because we can always exchange them."

"No," she smiled. "I love it!"

"Good," he replied giving her a kiss, "because we need to check in now to make our flight."

Hanna laughed and followed him to the airline counter where they checked in before going through security. Once they were inside, the plane started boarding and Caleb picked up their bags to help Hanna onto the plane. They took their seats in first class and Hanna leaned her head against Caleb's shoulder.


When she woke up again, the plane was gently landing on the tarmac. She stirred and looked up to see Caleb smiling at her.

"Good morning," he kissed her forehead.

"We're here?" she asked looking around.

"Yupp," Caleb replied.

"Fuck," Hanna unbuckled her seatbelt. "I've got to pee."

"They won't let you," Caleb said pointing at the seatbelt sign.

"Dammit," she groaned watching the sign intently until it finally flashed once and disappeared. Then she rushed up and headed for the toilets. Once she was done, she returned to see Caleb holding her bags as others filed out of the plane.

"Ready?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah," Hanna smiled sliding her fingers through his.

Once off the place, Caleb picked up their rental car and took them on the highway for what seemed like forever. After nearly an hour of driving, Hanna glanced at her watch.

"When will we be there?" she groaned.

"Soon," he glanced at the GPS. "Probably twenty minutes."

"I'm starving," she sighed.

"I promise you'll eat soon," Caleb replied as he took the next exit. After a few more turns they arrived at a gorgeous Tuscan villa with a winding driveway. Caleb pulled in and got out of the car to open Hanna's door.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Palm Springs," Caleb replied.

"I like it," Hanna smiled appreciating the warm winter.

"I thought so," he laughed as he got their bags out of the trunk.

Caleb led them into the sprawling estate where the smell of a home cooked meal filled the air. He put their bags down in the guest room and showed Hanna the kitchen where a caterer had prepared all of her favorite foods.

"What is this?" Hanna asked lifting the foil on the containers.

"The house is part of a hotel," Caleb explained. "This is kind of their version of room service."

"You went all out, Rivers," she laughed.

"Did you notice the private pool outside?" he asked. "I mean, I really did pull out all the stops."

"I wouldn't have expected anything less," she teased.

Caleb grabbed two plates from the cupboard while Hanna searched all the drawers for silverware. She finally located them and grabbed two waters from the fridge before following Caleb out to the patio. Hanna sat down in a padded chair careful to protect the huge bump she was now carrying.

"Oh," she breathed as she pressed a hand to her side.

"Are you okay?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah," Hanna smiled poking her stomach a tiny bit. "I think I felt them moving."

"Can I-" he asked tentatively pressing his hand to her expanded waist.

"I don't think you'll feel anything," Hanna said guiding his hand. "It's too early."

"You're right," he laughed weakly. "I don't feel anything."

"You will," she said noticing his disappointment. "Give it some time."

They returned to their meal and Hanna tried her best to steer the conversation away from Caleb's disappointment. When they were done, he cleaned up and Hanna suggested a swim. She changed into a string bikini and grabbed a couple towels from the linen closet.

"Wow," Caleb's mouth dropped open at the sight of her, or maybe just at the sight of her boobs which had nearly tripled in size since she found out she was pregnant.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked coyly.

"It means," he said placing two hands on her shoulders, "I'm gonna have a tough time keeping my hands off of you."

"Come on," she grabbed his hand and led him outside where the pool was lit up brightly by the desert sunset.

Hanna tossed the towels on a lounge chair and sat on the side of the pool with her legs dangling in the water. Caleb sat down next to her and she took the opportunity to rest her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Hanna whispered. "This is exactly what I needed."

"Well you're mom helped out a little," he told her. "She insisted on taking JT."

"Remind me to bring her back a bottle of wine," Hanna told him. "She deserves that and more if she puts up with JT's 'no' phase."

They both laughed and then sat in silence as they watched the fiery sun disappear behind the mountains. Hanna pulled her hair up into a ponytail and secured it with an elastic.

"So," she turned to Caleb, "are we going in?"

She didn't wait for him to answer before she pushed herself off the ledge and sunk into the cool clear water. After taking in the stillness under water she rose again to the surface and splashed Caleb.

"Get in you pansy!" she yelled.

"Hey," he laughed. "I'm wearing my nice clothes. Just let me get changed."

"You said it was a private pool?" she asked.

"Yeah," Caleb nodded.

"You don't have to wear anything," she raised an eyebrow mischievously.

"You're feisty," he laughed as he shed his clothes scattering them across the patio.

Once he was appropriately dressed, or better yet undressed, he nosedived into the pool emerging right next to Hanna.

"That's better," she said resting her hand on his cheek and pulling him in for a kiss.

"I don't know," Caleb tugged at the knot on her bikini top, "I think you're wearing too many clothes. I mean, compared to me."

"Caleb," she squealed as he ripped her top off.

"It's a private pool," he reminded her.

"I guess maybe..." she held onto his neck as she wrapped her legs around his waist, "we could..."

"Here?" he asked trying not to get too excited.

"We haven't had a chance to be alone since," she pointed to her stomach, "we made this happen. Come on, live a little."

"You don't have to ask me twice," he said before placing his lips on hers.

Caleb grabbed Hanna's waist tightly and pressed her against the wall of the pool. She giggled as he tickled her neck with his soft kisses causing the water to ripple against her exposed skin. Moments like these made her remember exactly why she fell in love with this man and reminded her of how blessed her life was.


UP NEXT ~ OPEN IT

Hanna shares some good news with Caleb when he comes home from a business trip.


Okay, based on your votes on the last chapter, I've decided to narrow it down from 5 choices to 3:

1. Hanna moves to a new city and ends up being roommates with a sketchy guy named Caleb

2. Set in the 18th century, Hanna and Caleb are in an arranged marriage but they hate each other

3. Ten years after Caleb moves to Ravenswood, he and Hanna run into each other again

Please submit your votes to me via PM that way the winning story is a surprise. It's no fun if you can just tally them up by searching the reviews!