Page 75 of Smoky Mountain K-9

He glanced at the dog, and his eyes widened. “Oh, geez. What are you wearing? I’m so sorry, Mav.”

Mara giggled. “He likes it.”

“He does not. He’s a badass police dog. They don’t wear party hats. And they certainly don’t like them.”

She hummed and lifted an eyebrow.

Grinning, Carter waded into the room and found his mom. She was talking to Tristan’s wife, Laurel, and holding their son, Wyatt.

“Hi, sweetie.”

“Hey, Mom.” He enfolded her in a hug, baby and all. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.” She kissed his cheek, then peered past him at Mara. “I like your girlfriend even better in person. She’s bold, like you. And hard to say no to. Mara called me out of the blue last week and asked me to come out for a visit. She was very persuasive.”

They’d had several video chats between the three of them in the last month. Carter knew Mara and his mom were getting along great, but he had no idea they’d become so buddy-buddy behind his back. “You still could have said no.”

She gave him a look that said he was crazy. “And miss this?” She gestured around the room. “Or this?” Tilting an elbow, she raised the baby in her arms. “Speaking of, when do I get one of these from you?”

Carter patted her shoulder with a chuckle. “Slow down, Mom. We’ve got time.”

She let out a little snort. “Not that much.” She shook a finger at him. “Don’t take too long. You never know how quick it’ll happen.”

Sobering at the reminder of her infertility issues and the reason he was an only child, he nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Now, introduce me to some of these people. They’ve all arrived in the last ten minutes or so, and I only know a few.”

Smile returning, he led her around the room. One person he was surprised to see was Agent Porter. Pausing next to the man, who stood with Jake and the local coroner Cullen Tate and his fiancée Piper Riordan, Carter held out a hand. “Thanks for coming, Agent Porter.”

“Call me Finn, please. And I’m glad to be here. I was in town to talk to Ben, and he suggested I swing by.” He shrugged. “I’m not one to pass up cake, so here I am.”

“Cake? Mara didn’t tell me there was cake.” Carter looked at his mom. “Is there cake?”

“What’s a birthday party without cake?” A wicked smile crossed her face. “I brought the candles.”

Carter laughed. “I hope Mara invited someone from the fire department.”

Hands snaked around his waist. He raised an arm as Mara ducked under it.

“Don’t worry, hon. There’s a fire extinguisher under the sink.”

Smiling down at her, he held her close. “You sure you’re okay tying yourself to such an old man?”

A sweet smile settled over her features. “Yeah. He’s a pretty great old man. And I love him.”

Carter lowered his head. “He loves you too.”