Mr. And Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

bright blue eyes sparkled, and a slight smile tugged at his lips. Lily couldn’t help but smile. A “shadow” had to mean he was Pete’s bodyguard. It made sense that someone of Pete’s stature would have a bodyguard. It was probably mandatory. She knew in her gut that the Pete she’d just gotten to know on the flight had probably put up a fight but in the end saw the good sense of having someone watching his back.
    “I can meet you by baggage claim, Zolly. Get Winston, and make sure he gets some water.” Winston was Pete’s one true love—his German shepherd—and he never traveled without him.
    “No way, boss. You know the rules. We stick together. There’s your package.”
    He was so fast on his feet, Lily could only gasp when an arm bigger than a tree trunk reached out to intercept the manila envelope a flight attendant was holding out to Pete.
    “You get used to it after a while.” Pete grinned. “He’s my nanny.” Pete waited patiently until Zolly opened the envelope to scan the contents. Satisfied, Zolly handed it over.
    Pete slapped the thick envelope against his leg as he waited for Zolly to take a call on his cell phone.
    “Winston’s up and ready,” Zolly said as he clicked off. “An attendant is getting him some water because he’s panting. He probably has your scent already, boss.”
    “Then let’s go. Winston hates to be kept waiting.”
    Five minutes later, all hell broke loose in the airport. Screams seemed to be coming from every direction. Zolly looked at Pete, and Pete looked at Zolly. Both men were grinning from ear to ear.
    Pete looked over at Lily and explained. “Winston doesn’t have much patience. If we stand still, he’ll find us.” Pete whistled shrilly, a high, piercing sound. He was rewarded with a bark from somewhere in the airport.
    “How the hell did he get loose?” Zolly grumbled.
    “Here he comes!” Pete laughed.
    Lily watched as people stepped to the side, their eyes on the black streak barreling down the center of the concourse and heading straight for them. One hundred and twenty pounds of pure dog bent on reaching his master, airport security and police hot on his trail. Pete whistled again. The black streak seemed to slow down in midair and finally came to a standstill in front of Pete. He held out one huge paw, and Pete shook it.
    “That wasn’t nice, Winston.”
    The shepherd hung his head but only for a moment before he stood on his hind legs to put his paws on Pete’s shoulders. He looked over at Zolly and barked a happy greeting.
    The authorities were not pleased, but when they saw the shepherd’s owner, they adjusted their attitudes. The dog had been crated, but it was airport personnel who let the animal get away from them. They knew it, and Pete knew it. Apologies were all over the place as Zolly reached into a cavernous bag on his shoulder for a leash and collar.
    Security followed what became known as the “Kelly party” out of the airport. At least that’s how it was reported on the evening news. If Peter Aaron Kelly went to the drugstore, it was news. If he went on a plane trip, the stock market went wild wondering what he was up to. Suddenly, Lily was in awe of the man at her side.
    Outside the airport, a caravan of four Hummers was waiting. Three contained PAK Industries security. Zolly had his own Hummer, which was the third car in line. Pete, Lily, and Winston climbed into the second Hummer, and they were off.
    Winston barked his pleasure as he tugged at his seat belt.
    “I taught him to do that,” Pete said proudly. “And he’s only two years old. I had his parents, but they…they got old and went peacefully in their sleep. I have a whole menagerie back in Georgia.”
    Lily laughed as Winston kept slapping her hand with his paw. “What other kind of animals do you have?” She wondered why she’d never gotten a pet.
    “I have a big old cat named Agatha. She just wandered by one day, decided she liked me, and stayed. She’s