Chapter 51

CHAPTER51

“What are you doing?” Bryce somehow managed to get out as he lay there, struggling to find the energy to open his eyes.

“Nothing,” came the answer that had him frowning as he opened his eyes and-

“What the hell are you doing?” Bryce asked as he watched the woman that he loved glared down at the Christmas lights in her hands as he ran his eyes over her, taking in everything from the Rerum Highland Construction sweatshirt that she’d helped herself to from his closet to her jeans and-

Felt his lips twitch when he spotted the Frosty the Snowman slippers on her feet.

“Kidnapping you,” Cayley murmured absently as that glare shifted to his legs, where she’d apparently already started wrapping Christmas lights around his ankles.

“And you’re doing a really good job,” Bryce said around a yawn as he reached up and rubbed his hands down his face before dropping them away and glanced at the alarm clock by the bed, only to frown when he saw what time it was.

“I know,” Cayley mumbled as she went back to doing…whatever it was that she was doing.

“Umm, is there a reason why we’re doing this at two in the morning?” Bryce asked as he moved to sit up only to drop back on the bed with a sigh when she turned a murderous glare on him.

“Yes,” Cayley said with a firm nod, making his lips twitch as he watched her struggle to wrap the rest of the Christmas lights around his ankles, only to give up with a sigh and pull them off with a muttered, “I’m going to need you to walk out to the car.”

“And why’s that?” Bryce asked, reaching back to shove another pillow behind his head.

“Because you’re really freaking heavy,” she said, making him chuckle.

“And…”

“Because I’m kidnapping you,” Cayley said with a firm nod.

“And you’re doing a great job,” Bryce said dryly, wondering if Sean put her up to this.

“You’re a lot heavier than I thought,” Cayley said accusingly, looking fucking adorable.

“Mind telling me why you’re kidnapping me?” Bryce asked, reaching over and took the Christmas lights from her and tossed them aside before taking her hand in his and gently pulling her closer until she took the hint and climbed onto his lap.

“To make sure that you never doubt how much I love you and want you,” Cayley said with a firm nod as his hands found her thighs.

“And kidnapping’s the way to do this?” Bryce asked, admittedly debating a few things as he waited for an answer.

“According to your family, it is,” Cayley said, sighing heavily as she gestured for him to get moving.

“I’m only wearing boxers,” he pointed out.

“Because that’s all I could manage to get on you. I did mention that you were heavy, right?” she said, glaring accusingly down at him.

“I believe that you mentioned that,” Bryce said, beyond fucking amused by the turn of events.

“And the Christmas lights?” Bryce asked with a pointed look at the tangled mess on the bed.

“I wanted to make this festive,” Cayley said with a firm nod as she crossed her arms over her chest while she continued to glare at him, most likely hoping that the move would get him to move his ass.

“And it is,” Bryce murmured in agreement before adding, “Do you mind if I make a suggestion?”

“What’s that?” Cayley absently asked with a determined look on her face as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth, no doubt trying to come up with another way to pull this off.

“Run,” Bryce said, making her frown in confusion as he sat up and picked her up, placing her on the bed next to him. When she continued sitting there, frowning adorably, he explained, “I already found your birth certificate and packed a bag for you while you were sleeping.”

“But…this is my kidnapping,” Cayley mumbled sadly.

“It really would be better if you ran,” Bryce said with a pitying look as he climbed off the bed.

“Why?” Cayley asked, still sitting there for some reason.

“Tradition,” Bryce said, only to glance at the Christmas lights as he added, “And I’m afraid that I’m going to have to tie you up.”

“But…” Cayley mumbled sadly, only to curse, climb off the bed, and stumble before self-preservation finally kicked in and she did what generations of Bradford wives had done before her.

She ran.

With a satisfied sigh, Bryce grabbed the Christmas lights off the bed as he went after her, deciding that this was the best Christmas ever.