Page 14 of Christmas with Three Firemen

Even so, she’s incredibly dedicated to her career if she’s willing to handle the inconvenience of it all. I have to admire that.

I pour her a fresh cup of coffee, replace her cold one with it, then pour my own mug and settle into the chair across from her.

She doesn’t look up.

I wait, but it’s like I’m not even there.

Finally, I clear my throat loudly. “Good morning.”

Without lifting her eyes from the screen, she says, “Statistically speaking, that’s debatable. Most mornings are not good. They are just mornings.”

A grin immediately tugs at my mouth. Feisty and deadpan at the same time. I have a feeling most people might mistake Noelle’s attitude for hostility, but I know better. Hostility is loud. It wants a reaction.

This kind of behavior… it’s just who she is.

“Excellent,” I say. “Our investigator is in a terrible mood. I’m sure that means today is going to be fun.”

At last, she looks up. Green eyes slice me in half. I cobble myself back together again in the blink of an eye and smile.

She looks entirely unimpressed with me, but there’s a gleam in her that tells me I’m not totally intolerable.

“Nothing about that statement makes sense,” she informs me. “My investigation does not coincide with how much fun you do or do not have during your workday.”

So serious. It’s cute.

“Well, that’s because you don’t know where we’re going yet,” I say.

Her eyes narrow with suspicion so automatically that I’m sure she isn’t even aware of it.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” she responds.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re not going anywhere. You might go somewhere and I might need to go somewhere else, but we are not collaborators in any regard, Mateo.”

“So, actually, there’s a funny story—”

“I don’t like funny stories.”

“You’ll love this one.”

“Doubtful.”

I laugh.

Across the room, Danny glances up from his newspaper. Noelle doesn’t notice but he gives me a look. A look that says, I’m a wise old man and I know what you’re up to, kid. I won’t stop you, but I also won’t come to your rescue if you make a fool of yourself.

Daring to push one too many buttons, I reach forward and press my fingertips against the back of her laptop, shutting it halfway. “Get your coat, Meadows.”

“Pardon?”

“Get your coat.”

“Yes, I heard you.” She rolls her eyes. “I am working.”

I shut her laptop fully and grab it. The look she gives me would probably kill a weaker man. Fortunately, my survival instincts are exceptional.

“Work with me. I think it will help the case.”