Lara Lynn

CHRISTMAS CAROL: MERRY ALMOST-CHRISTMAS

Added 2025-12-13 09:00:09 +0000 UTC

He grabbed the right cup and a marker. "Caramel brulée latte. I’ll put it in as a custom so they don’t yell at me about inventory later."

She watched him as he wrote with a curiosity that made him feel examined and… seen.

"So, do you like working here?"

"Here? I mean… this is a Starbucks." She didn’t seem to catch the irony. "Not particularly. I can’t think of anyone who enjoys being a Latte Alchemist."

"Uh?"

"No, it—it was a joke. Forget it. Sorry. I’m actually a postgraduate. Specializing in…" He stopped himself. No one ever cared. "Stuff. I specialize in stuff."

"An academic barista. That’s kind of hot."

He nearly dropped the marker.

Hot.

That word had not been used about him in… well. Ever, probably.

"There is something about you."

"Something?"

"Yes. A little veil. Some people carry them."

He snorted before he could stop himself. Damn, she was weird. Weird but hot. A little weird he could handle. "You know, just trying to bring cappuccino to the masses."

She laughed yet again, and this time it felt like he’d earned it.

"Name for the cup?" he asked, grateful for the script of his job.

"Hmm… Carol."

"Carol," he repeated, writing it down. "Like… Christmas carol?"

"Something like that."

Enjoyyy! 💋Xoxo💋
Lara Lynn