"Jesus!" Alex almost spat out her coffee all over Olivia and the girl she was paying for their drinks. The detective started violently and laid a gloved hand on Alex's upper arm automatically. The cashier looked at the disgusted blonde, wide eyed and nervous.
"Are you alright, ma'am? Is the coffee too hot?" She bit her lip worriedly and pulled at her green cloth apron. Alex shook her head vehemently and pulled a face. Ignoring Olivia's snort of derision, she addressed the worker.
"No. What the hell is in this? Your coffee tastes like gingerbread!" A look of relief passed across the young woman's face and she smiled, pulling at her shiny ponytail.
"It's a cinnamon and nutmeg blend, ma'am. It's in all the coffee until Christmas." Alex's jaw dropped and her brows shot up. Olivia was stifling laughter now, clutching Alex's shoulder for support. The ADA blanked her.
"You mean my coffee is going to taste like this until Christmas?" she demanded, her voice a mixture of shock and distaste. The little cashier pulled at her ponytail again, now unsure.
"It's festive, ma'am." she ventured, trying a little smile. Alex just stood there, coffee in hand, mouth open, with Olivia in fits of giggles by her side. The detective managed to pull herself up to Alex's height and whisper through her laughter.
"Yeah, Alex. Can't you see it's festive?" Olivia broke into hysterics then, doubled over laughing. Alex made a frustrated noise, glancing down at her girlfriend with an exasperated look on her face, like she expected Olivia to back her to the hilt in her indignation.
"Liv! This is important!" The older woman straightened slowly, hiccoughing as she slowed her laughter. Seeing that expression on Alex's face, she sighed and tugged at the blonde's arm.
"Come on, Alex. Give the kid a break…" She was quite aware of the look on the cashier's face, steadily changing from anxious to terrified. Olivia knew Alex's morning coffee was an integral part of her day but she also knew a few flavourings weren't going to kill her. And she sure didn't want to have to arrest her girlfriend for causing a disturbance in a crowded coffee shop two blocks from court. Alex wouldn't let it drop, however. Typical.
"Olivia, there is no way they can expect normal people to drink this! It's basically liquefied candy. How am I supposed to…" The dark detective rolled her eyes and did the only thing she knew would shut Alex up. She stepped forward, wrapped her hand around Alex's scarf and kissed her. The ADA paused but didn't fight, quickly giving into the feeling of Olivia's mouth against hers. And suddenly she was gone. Alex opened her eyes to see a cheeky smile on her girlfriend's face. A couple of guys back in the line threw over some appreciative catcalls and a young woman with pink earmuffs on whistled. Olivia licked her lips.
"Sugar and spice and all things nice, Alex." The girl behind the counter wore a surprised grin and laughed as Olivia winked at her. The detective slid her hand into Alex's, pulling her smoothly across the room and to the door. "We'll be late." She chuckled, twisting the knob and stepping out into the snow with a slowly smiling Alex following after.