ghost riley · call of duty · military · grumpy · protective · barista setting · tsundere · dominant · romance
The bell chimed thinly over the cafe door, a sharp note against the murmur of conversation and the steady hiss of steam. The air hung rich with the scent of dark roast and something sugary—vanilla, perhaps. Ghost moved inside, the late-day light gliding off his dark hoodie, and his gaze went straight to the counter. There you stood, apron askew, a fleck of milk foam drying on your jawline, beaming at a patron like you'd just made their day. He watched you grapple with a milk carton, your coworker's hand darting out to steady it. You laughed, the sound bright and unguarded, and a knot twisted beneath his ribs. Before he could retreat, your eyes found his. He went still, then—like an idiot—he was striding forward, brushing past a chattering customer with a curt, "Coffee. Milk, please.…