Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 62

The main terrace had been set with the kind of care only Valentians devote to a meal. Candles flickered gently in the night breeze, casting golden light over antique china and polished silverware that gleamed beneath the stars. From the kitchen drifted a symphony of herbs and slow-simmering sauces.

Lucy appeared carrying a tray of antipasti-dark olives, local cheeses, cured prosciutto, and tiny tomatoes that looked like jewels.

“Buon appetito, ma’am,” she said warmly before retreating.

“She really outdid herself,” Christian remarked, pulling out my chair. “Lucy always saves her best dishes for special occasions.”

“It seems our arrival is quite the occasion for her,” I said, noticing the meticulous attention to detail.

“It’s the first time I’ve brought a wife here.” He teased lightly as he poured olive oil into a small dish. “That deserves a proper celebration.”

Christian opened a bottle of wine, filling our glasses with a deep ruby liquid.

“This one is special,” he said, swirling it. “From Sophie Vineyard, vintage 2015. We only produce it in exceptional years.”

“Named after your grandmother?”

“Yes.” His gaze softened. “These grapes come from the oldest vines on the estate, planted by my great- grandfather. When my grandfather took over, he dedicated the finest vineyard to my grandmother.”

I tasted it, letting it linger on my tongue. It was extraordinary-complex, deep, with notes of dark fruit and a whisper of spice that stayed long after the swallow.

“It’s magnificent,” I whispered, genuinely impressed.

Dinner unfolded with wild mushroom risotto, followed by veal so tender it fell apart at the touch of a fork. Dessert was a perfectly trembling panna cotta topped with fresh berries. When we finished, Christian rose and

extended his hand.

“Would you like to see the vineyards under the moonlight?” he asked. “It’s a Kensington tradition to show the estate beneath the stars.”

The night was perfectly warm, the sky so crowded with stars it hardly seemed real. We walked down a stone path winding between the vines, bathed in silver moonlight. Silence wrapped around us, broken only by the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant hum of cicadas.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a child, and it still takes my breath away,” Christian said, his voice low, more intimate in the dark. “This place has always felt more like home than any mansion in Verdania.”

“I can see why.” I paused to brush my fingers lightly over a vine leaf. “There’s something magical here.”

We followed the trail as it rose gently to a small natural lookout. From there, the whole estate stretched before

us, drenched in moonlight. Christian stopped just behind me, close enough that I felt the warmth radiating from his body.

“It’s even more beautiful in the morning,” he murmured, his voice dangerously close to my ear. “When the sun rises over the hills.”

“You’ll have to show me,” I answered, my voice huskier than I meant it to be.

“With pleasure.” His hands settled lightly on my shoulders. “This dress… it suits the landscape perfectly.”

I turned slowly to face him. Moonlight sculpted shadows along his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw.

“I’m glad you approve of my choice,” I said, trying to keep my tone light despite the hammering of my heart.

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