Page 35 of Buying Angel

Chapter Twenty

GABRIELLA-ROSE

I STIRRED FROM MY sleep to find myself alone again and the bedroom bathed in sunlight. I couldn’t believe that I had slept for so long. I looked over at my phone to see it was nearly eleven-thirty in the morning. I got up, grabbed a robe from the hanger, and made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and realized that I had no idea where the kitchen was, until I heard voices coming from down the hall. I made my way toward the voices and found myself walking into the kitchen where Hudson and Nico were both sitting talking.

Hudson instantly got up from his chair, walked over to me, and pressed a kiss to my cheek before he spoke.

“Morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep okay?”

I instinctively leaned into his hand as he placed it on my cheek and smiled back at him.

“I did, thank you. Why didn’t one of you get me up, though? It’s already nearly lunchtime. Half the day is gone.”

I looked over as Nico chuckled somewhat under his breath, but still loud enough to hear.

“I’m sorry, Rosa. I shouldn’t laugh. However, I’m sure you will agree the weekend has been quite an eventful one for you, especially with relocating to another state in a few hours. We just thought you might appreciate the sleep-in. Now sit yourself down. I’ll get you a coffee and make us all brunch.”

I felt Hudson’s hand on my back as he guided me over to the table to sit down. A cup of coffee was placed in front of me as soon as I sat, along with a wink from Nico. I felt the butterflies go around in my stomach at his gesture. It was so confusing why I was getting these feelings over a man I shouldn’t even be contemplating having a relationship with. Nevertheless, the feelings were there and only growing stronger the more time I spent with him.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I felt a hand placed over mine. I looked over to find Hudson smiling at me. If he realized I had feelings for Nico, he didn’t seem to mind. Either that or he was completely oblivious.

“Nico, now that I am staying here, hopefully for good, you really should allow me to cook for you both. I have so much to thank you both for, and it doesn’t seem right allowing you to cook all the time.”

Nico waved me away with his hand as he continued to get everything together for our meal. Hudson replied to my comment.

“When you are settled, I’m sure Nico will be happy to share meal preparations with you. However, today is about you relaxing. As Nico said, you’ve had quite a hectic few days. We just want you to spend the day having fun.”

“Hudson’s right. After brunch, we can do some of the tourist things in town, and tonight we can just sit down and enjoy a movie. That is, if you want me to gatecrash your party.”

I watched as he wiggled his eyebrows at both of us, causing Hudson to laugh.

“Nico, you know this is your house as well. You don’t need to ask. I’m sure Gaby will get bored of my company after a while and will enjoy someone else to talk to.”

I couldn’t get bored of either of them, and wanted nothing more than to spend every night with them both. Inside and outside of the bedroom. How I would approach that subject, though, was an entirely different matter, and one not so soon into my relationship with Hudson. But something told me he might be more accommodating to that idea than I had first thought. I smiled at them both.

“I would love to spend the day and evening with both of you. After all, I’m the lucky one to have such gorgeous men taking care and looking out for me.”

I wasn’t sure who coughed first, Hudson or Nico, but I turned to look at each of them in turn. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a slight blush on Nico’s face as he quickly turned away from me. I looked back at Hudson to see him just smile and shrug his shoulders.

“I guess we are spending the day with Gaby, then, Nico?”

AFTER SPENDING A relaxing brunch together, grabbing a quick shower and getting changed, I now found myself between two gorgeous men standing quietly at the south pool of the 9/11 memorial. I had wanted to come to pay my respects here for years. Unfortunately, until now, I had never left Detroit, thanks to Vincent. Well, now that had all changed. I was amazed at how peaceful and quiet it was there, even with the hundreds of people that were around the area. We stood there a while, just paying our respects in silence to the thousands of people that died on that fateful day. It was probably the most humbling day of my life to date.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Hudson still standing there, but no sign of Nico. Hudson gestured for me to walk away and I followed him. After a while, I spoke.

“Where’s Nico?”

“He doesn’t like staying for too long. It brings back too many memories for him. He lost a school friend, and their parents in Tower One that day.”

I suddenly felt terrible for putting him through that. If I’d known, I would never have asked them both to bring me here. Hudson realized from the look on my face what I was thinking.

“Don’t think like that, Gaby. He wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t want to. He wanted to bring you here. He can just never stay too long.”

He pulled me into his arms and held me for a moment as a tear fell down my face. I hadn’t wanted to bring up those memories that must have still been so raw to Nico, even all these years later. However, as Hudson had said, Nico wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t want to.

Hudson let me go and took my hand in his. “Come on. I know exactly where he will be.”

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