Page 1 of Smoky Mountain K-9

One

The thump of the electronic dance beat coming from the speakers reverberated in Mara Roth’s chest. She couldn’t believe she let herself get talked into coming to this thing. It was one thing to agree to host the Valentine’s bachelor auction at the equestrian center, but it was quite another to be part of the audience. She hadn’t planned to come, but her friend, Brooke McGinty, showed up on her doorstep a half hour before the auction started and told her to change clothes, and she wasn’t taking no for an answer. Mara tried to protest, anyway, but Brooke threatened to call their other friend, Gemma Davidson, who was co-conspirator for the auction benefitting the Foggy Mountain Women’s Crisis Center.

At that point, Mara knew resistance was futile, so she changed into a black party dress and let Brooke usher her into the passenger seat of her car.

This was fun, though. She’d expected to feel out of place—she wasn’t in the market for a man. But a lot of the women here had come in small groups, with only one of them bidding. Once Mara noticed that, she relaxed and started to enjoy herself. Some of these guys were total hams and worked the stage for all they were worth. It was great to see so much money raised for such a good cause.

“Okay, ladies. Next up we have Carter Townsend. He’s Ferris County’s K-9 deputy.” The emcee’s voice rose over the music. She held out an arm, gesturing to the man emerging from behind the curtain.

Mara’s eyes rounded, and a tingle went through her lady parts. A lopsided grin sat on the man’s square-jawed face beneath a shock of sun-bleached dirty blonde hair. In black tactical pants, black department polo, and combat boots, he loomed large on the stage. Beside him trotted a mostly black dog.

She swallowed, hoping none of the drool ran out. Damn.

“Carter is accompanied by his partner, Maverick,” the emcee said. “For his date, Carter has planned an evening at the zoo for a behind-the-scenes tour of the elephant exhibit. The tour also includes a paint-and-sip event with Thelma the African elephant. The event also includes dinner.”

“That sounds like a fun date.” Brooke glanced at Mara and grinned.

“What?” Mara’s eyes flitted to her friend, then back to the stage. “Oh, yes. You’re right, it does.”

“One thousand!” Brooke’s hand shot up, and she waved her paddle.

“What are you doing?” Mara frowned. She didn’t understand why Brooke would bid on anyone. Her friend was happily engaged. They were just here tonight to watch, have fun, and support Gemma.

“Buying you a date.”

“What? No.” She grabbed Brooke’s arm and yanked it down when she would have raised her bid.

“Oh, yes.” Brooke wrenched her arm away and raised it. “Fifteen hundred!”

“You cannot spend that kind of money on a date for me. Are you crazy?”

Brooke giggled and held her arm out to the side as Mara made another grab for it. “No. I saw the look on your face when he stepped out. I’ve never seen you look at a man like that. And, honey, it’s past time for you to go on a date. It’s been three years since Blake died.”

Mara didn’t need that reminder. She was well-aware of how long she’d been a widow. “So? There’s no timeline on grief.”

Brooke raised her paddle. “Eighteen hundred!” She glanced at Mara. “I know, but you’re not grieving anymore. Not the way you want people to think. You wouldn’t have looked at Deputy Townsend like that if you weren’t ready to put yourself out there again. You’re just scared.” She grinned. “I’m giving you a push.”

“Brooke—”

“Twenty-one hundred!” Brooke waved her paddle, hopping on her toes.

“Oh my God.” Mara groaned and covered her face. “Would you stop? Please?”

“Do I hear twenty-two?” The emcee’s voice carried over the crowd. “Going once…”

“Sweet Jesus,” Mara muttered. This wasn’t happening.

“Going twice…”

“Someone please bid. Anyone.” She peeked through her fingers as she prayed for divine intervention.

Brooke giggled and bounced on the balls of her feet.

“Sold! To number fifty-two for twenty-one hundred dollars.” The emcee banged her gavel.

Mara groaned. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Believe it, sister. You now have a date for Valentine’s Day.”