After the party, Joe and Maria told Hollie that they were giving her the afternoon off. “It’s your birthday,” they said. “Go out and enjoy your day.”
“But...”
“We’re planning to close the diner early today anyway,” Maria said. “Joe’s taking me out on a date,” she added with a wink.
Hollie spent the day with Kyle, Shane and Ian. They decided to catch a scary movie, but Shane and Ian laughed throughout the movie. Those guys saw the funny side of everything. Hollie ended up laughing with them.
Shane and Ian had plans for the evening, so they left soon after the movie.
Kyle took Hollie out for dinner at a cozy restaurant, and they spent the evening just relaxing and talking. By the time they got home, Hollie felt a little tipsy. She wasn’t sure if it was the wine or if she was just drunk on happiness.
This was seriously the best day of her life.
Hollie touched the mark on her neck. There was just one more thing she wanted.
The mate mark throbbed beneath her fingers. She wanted to make this permanent. She wanted to wear Kyle’s mark forever.
“Kyle,” she whispered. They were both standing in front of his bedroom door. She had been living with him, but she had her own room. Kyle showed his affection openly, but he respected her privacy and boundaries and was infinitely patient and gentle with her. She saw the hunger in his eyes, but he wanted her to come to him when she was ready.
“I...want...” Hollie stuttered, unsure of how to make her feelings known to him.
Kyle looked deep into her eyes and said in a low voice, “What do you want, Hollie?”
She swallowed and said, “I want to be yours, Kyle.” She stepped closer to him and whispered, “Forever.”
Kyle wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a deep, searing kiss.
Hollie parted her lips and kissed him back fervently, letting him know how much she wanted him.
When their tongue tangled, electricity sparked through her nerves. It was exhilarating, thrilling and sweet. She could feel Kyle’s passion and love. He desired her, and he truly respected and loved her.
He was thoughtful and caring, and he did everything to make her happy. For the first time in her life, Hollie felt that she mattered. She mattered to Kyle, and she mattered to the people around her. She worked hard at the diner, and the diner was busier than before. Customers were coming to Joe’s Diner to try the new dishes on the menu, dishes that Hollie had created.
Joe and Maria valued her, and they were proud of her. She had overheard Maria announcing to her customers, “Joe and I are really so thankful to have Hollie with us. That girl is incredibly talented and she created all these amazing new dishes for the diner. If you enjoyed the food, please do send your compliments to Hollie!”
They never tried to take the credit away from her. They gave credit where it was due, and they looked after the welfare of their staff.
It was so different from her working conditions in the pack. In the Black Blade pack, she was expected to work long and hard without ever being recognized or rewarded for anything she did.
The pack exploited her. They bullied and abused her, and trampled on her rights.
Hollie felt angry thinking about her treatment at the hands of the Black Blade wolves. But she refused to waste another minute of her life thinking about the past.
She had a life to live. A whole new life with her mate.