Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Nathaniel’s POV

The soft glow of the candles Annie had scattered around the living room wrapped the whole space in this warm, cozy atmosphere that felt like the perfect counterpoint to the icy December chill outside. We were sunk into her couch, each holding a mug of hot chocolate, watching one of those completely predictable Christmas movies that play nonstop this time of year.

On-screen, the hero was sprinting through an airport to catch the woman he’d fallen madly in love with after what… two weeks? A dramatic soundtrack swelled behind him. Annie laughed, almost choking on her drink.

“Have you noticed how all these couples fall in love at record speed in these movies?” I asked, sliding my arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. “Two weeks in and they’re ready to change countries for each other.

Annie settled against my chest, still smiling.

“Maybe it’s because they know time is short,” she said, absentmindedly tracing little circles on my shirt. “When something feels special, it doesn’t make sense to pretend it isn’t-or drag things out.”

Her words hit me harder than she could’ve known. There was a truth in them that echoed a little too loudly inside me the fear that I was wasting precious time by postponing a conversation I knew was unavoidable.

–

“So what were Christmases like in your family?” I asked, steering away from my thoughts before they gave me away. “You’ve never told me much about your traditions.”

Annie pulled back just enough to look up at me, a nostalgic smile softening her face.

“It was actually really simple,” she said, messing with the handle of her mug. “My mom insisted on getting everyone together on Christmas Eve, and my dad dressed up as Santa with this ridiculous fake belly he bought from a cheap costume shop.”

She laughed a little, though I caught the faint melancholy under it.

“Zoey was always in charge of dessert and made rainbow gelatin because it was the only thing she could cook without burning the house down. Matthew put together a playlist with the cheesiest Christmas songs he could find. And I… I was always the one wrapping the gifts, because I had the patience for it.”

“And after you all grew up?”

“We kept the tradition going until I moved here,” she said, snuggling back against me. “It was our moment. No matter what was happening in anyone’s life, that night it was just the five of us—talking, laughing, remembering old stories.”

The way she spoke about those memories, tender and unguarded, made me understand her even better. Annie treasured genuine connection-the real kind, the intimate kind born from people who truly care about each other.

“And what about your family?” she asked, tilting her head slightly to look at me. “What’s Christmas like with the Carters?”

“My parents insist on getting everyone together in Bath,” I said, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “My mom starts preparing in November, planning every detail like it’s the very first Christmas she’s ever hosted. My dad plays piano after dinner, always the same classic holiday pieces he learned when he was young.”

I paused, remembering the last few years.

“Oliver always shows up with some wild story about the animals he treated that month. And Tori… well, Tori usually arrives with a new work drama or a lecture about how our family should be attending more sophisticated events during the holidays.”

Annie laughed, and I could feel the vibration of it against my chest.

“She sounds… interesting.”

“She’s a good person,” I said quickly, realizing I might’ve sounded too critical. “She just has very strong ideas about how things should be.”

Annie went quiet for a few seconds, like she was turning something over in her mind.

“And do you really think your family is ready for me?” she asked, her voice carrying a vulnerability that hit me square in the chest. It made me want to shield her from every possible kind of rejection.

I shifted on the couch so I could face her fully, cupping her face gently in both hands.

“It’s perfect,” she said, leaning in to kiss me. “Thank you.” She paused, then let out a small embarrassed laugh. “Now I feel terrible for getting you those plain cufflinks. Next to this, it looks like I just grabbed something from

the first store I saw.”

I laughed, and she buried her face against my shoulder, mortified.

“Annie,” I murmured, gently nudging her back so I could see her. “You could give me a paperclip and I’d treasure it if it came from you. And for the record, I love the cufflinks. I’m wearing them for Christmas.”

I leaned in to kiss her, and what started soft quickly shifted-deeper, hungrier-when she pulled me closer. There was something different between us in that moment. A new kind of closeness, sharper and more intimate. When we finally broke apart, she was smiling against my lips, her hands still looped around my neck.

“Come here,” I whispered against her mouth, standing and offering my hand.

Annie held my gaze for a few seconds before slipping her hand into mine, letting me lead her to the bedroom.

The next morning, I woke before she did. Early light filtered through the curtains, painting warm gold across her face as she slept. She was curled on her side, one hand resting on my chest, her breathing slow and even.

I watched her for several long minutes, trying to memorize everything—the way her eyelashes cast soft shadows on her cheeks, the slight part in her lips, the absolute peace in her expression.

And that’s when the full weight of everything crashed down on me.

Here was the woman I was completely, unbearably in love with… sleeping trustingly in my arms… without knowing I’d been lying to her from the beginning.

I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering so quietly I barely heard myself:

“I’ll tell you. I just need you not to run when you find out.”