Page 35 of Claws and Effect (Paranormal Dating Agency #87)

THIRTY-FOUR

O nce Zyle’s car vanished down the driveway, Laykin reached for her phone. Time for her own intelligence operation.

Ten minutes later, she cornered Holden in the security office, closing the door firmly behind her.

“Is this a security matter, Princess?” he asked, his professional tone belied by the knowing glint in his eyes.

“The most critical kind.” She perched on the edge of his desk. “I need to know everything Zyle loves but never tells anyone about.”

Holden’s eyebrow arched. “That sounds suspiciously like treason.”

“Die by his hand or die by mine,” she said with mock gravity. “Choose.”

His eyes widened with amusement. “Where shall I begin? One, he has an incurable sweet tooth for salted caramel chocolates,” Holden offered. “And a collection of classic action movies he claims are for ‘cultural research purposes’ despite watching Die Hard every Christmas. Twice.”

Laykin leaned forward eagerly. “Go on.”

“For company milestones, he orders the same comfort food—buttermilk fried chicken and honey biscuits. His mother made them for family celebrations until his father died.”

The detail struck Laykin’s heart with unexpected force. She pictured a younger Zyle, freshly grieving, still demanding the same celebration food even when there was little to celebrate. Still honoring traditions even as his world collapsed.

“Anything else?” she asked, her voice softer now.

Holden hesitated. “He reads poetry before bed. First editions only. There’s one volume missing from his collection—Frost’s ‘North of Boston.’ He’s searched for it for years.”

“Poetry?” She couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.

“His most closely guarded secret.” Holden turned back to his monitors. “He’ll execute me for telling you any of this.”

“Your sacrifice for the greater good will be remembered,” Laykin promised, already mentally planning her next steps as she slipped from the office. “Oh, and I need his office schedule for today.”

The fierce tiger alpha had secret soft spots. She’d discovered the warrior, the businessman, and the passionate mate. Now she would find the man who savored chocolate, action movies, comfort food, and poetry. The man whose complexity called to something equally complex within her.