Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 629 Gwen's POV | woke up to sunlight spilling through the curtains I'd forgotten to fully close. Nick had slept in the guest room. I'd stayed in mine. It felt right to give each other space after everything that had happened. But when | walked into the kitchen, he was already there. Standing in front of the coffee machine, staring at the buttons like they were written in another language. "Good morning," | said, stepping closer. He turned and gave me that slightly sheepish smile. "Morning," he replied. "!

was going to make coffee, but this machine looks like it could launch a spaceship." | laughed and moved beside him. "It's just this button," | said, pressing it. The high-end Valentian machine hummed to life with sleek efficiency. "Double espresso in thirty seconds." "Of course," Nick muttered. "Thirty seconds. Because waiting three minutes would be unbearable." ---- | grabbed two cups and poured the coffee when it was ready. We stood there quietly, sipping, letting the morning settle around us. "| was thinking," | started carefully, "maybe we could just stay here today. In the apartment.

Baby steps, remember? Nothing overwhelming. Just... us." Nick nodded, looking relieved. "That sounds good." The morning unfolded gently. We talked about nothing important. He told me stories about Bella when she was little. | showed him old photos of me and Christian. We laughed. Fell into comfortable silences. Refilled our coffee when it went cold. It was simple. It was good. Around noon, my stomach growled loudly enough to embarrass me. It wasn't surprising. After fleeing the restaurant the night before and surviving on coffee alone that morning, we were both overdue for actual food.

---- "Hungry?" Nick asked, grinning. "Starving," | admitted. "I'll order something. Is there anything you've never tried but always wanted to?" He thought for a moment. "Lobster?" he said, almost shyly. "I've never had it. Always seemed... extravagant." | smiled and grabbed my phone. | called a restaurant | trusted and placed the order. Lobster thermidor. Saffron risotto. Fresh oysters for a starter. When the food arrived, | set everything up in the dining area like it was a proper restaurant. Candles. Linen napkins. The right silverware.

how to pull the meat free. He tasted the first bite carefully. His eyes widened. ---- "Oh my God," he said slowly, chewing. "This is... this is incredible. | laughed, genuinely happy to see him enjoying it. "Better than the pizza we made together?" | teased. He actually considered the

with a grin. We ate slowly, talking about light things. No Kensington. No money. No differences. Just us. After we finished eating, we stayed there talking for a while longer. Nick tried the oysters too, with an initial skepticism that quickly turned into approval. We cleared the table together, putting away the empty containers. By the time

argued. "No one kicking your seat from behind." We picked a classic Valentian film. Nick settled beside me, his arm around my shoulders, my head resting against his chest. Perfect. By the time the movie ended, the sun was already starting to dip. "Come on," | said, standing and pulling him up by the hand. "I want to show you something." I led him out to the terrace, where

| said, biting my lower lip with a teasing smile. I guess you'll have to improvise." When I came back a few minutes later, carrying a bottle of

smiled. That smile that knew exactly what it did to me. | set the bottle and glasses down carefully at the pool's edge. Then, keeping my eyes locked on his, | reached for the