Gypsy Lover

Alodia slept in Harman's condominium unit, and they made love all through the night. He was happy she confirmed that she was already his girlfriend from that moment on.

She did not know why she was happier with his reaction than what she felt for him. Yes, he was already her boyfriend. If she was not going to count the past men in her life that she only played a game with, Harman was her very first man, the one that she could call her real boyfriend. And he was hers.

But what's so different about Harman? Am I not just playing a game with him? Her mind was asking when she was already back to her employer's house. Her logical mind seemed to be back after being fogged when she was with him. It was almost noon because Harman forced her to have breakfast with him and she called her employers to let them know she was okay and to apologize to them. They were such understanding people that her heart would seem to burst when Iustina said it was nothing to worry about.

Yeah, right! But I like him. Perhaps that's the difference between Harman and those worthless men! the other part of her answered her own thought.

But I'm telling you that you feel something for Harman even though you want to admit it or not, her heart whispered. Seriously, she thought she was going crazy because of her internal conflicts. Must she see a shrink and ask for an advice? "So, how was your date last night?" Iustina asked delicately but with teasing eyes as she looked at her.

They had their lunch together at around three in the afternoon. Giani was busy watching her favorite cartoon while eating in front of the TV. Petru, on the other hand, was not there as he was having an out-of-town business meeting that weekend. It was normal for the family as he was a well-known architect in Bucharest.

She smiled at her lady employer. "It was... great! Thank you for asking." Then she ate a piece of her pork steak, which she made herself. The good thing with her employer was that she was treated like their family. And she appreciated that very much. Not all employers were like them.

"Hmm... I bet it is more than great." Iustina winked at her mischievously. "For a gorgeous man like him, I should say you really had a gorgeous night, too. Right, Alodia?"

She laughed at that, heat creeping up her cheeks. And Iustina gave her a knowing smile.

***

Alodia's boyfriend called up after a few hours to take her out that evening. He said they were going to a café that he knew she'd like. So, she chose her dress carefully for their date.

It was a white summer dress with semi-balloon skirt. She paired it with open high-heeled sandals of color white, too. She applied makeup and lipstick and sprayed her favorite perfume before she met him at the porch.

They bade Iustina goodbye and promised she won't be staying out that night because her employers have work to do and she was going to do her babysitting Giani the next weekday. And because her boyfriend knew about it, that was why he said they would just go to a café and come back right away.

"You just look so gorgeous than ever!" he whispered in her ear, smiling at her. He kissed her lips then before he started the engine of the car.

Alodia smiled at him as she could still feel his lips on hers. She was happy to be with him again after their long night last night. She thought it was the wildest and most beautiful night she had ever had in her entire life. Harman took her to the so-called Grădina Verona. It was a garden oasis, which was just behind a well-known bookshop in the city. He ordered iced-tea infusions that had mixed peony flower, lime and mango.

"You should try that," he urged her while they waited for their order to come.

She had not tried it yet. When she took a sip, her eyes widened, and he laughed at that. The taste was weird but good. She smiled as she took another sip of the potion.

"It looks like we've been waiting for ages!" she commented after a few minutes that she finished her drink.

"It's the way it is here. It takes a lot of time to get your order. But it's fine. It would mean that we're going to spend more time together, wouldn't it?" He shrugged. His hand reached out for one of hers on the table and squeezed it.

"What? You knew about this but still you brought me here? You're really... conniving!" She laughed at him with a shake of her head. She enjoyed this side of him though. All the while, she wanted to ignore the heat that he awakened in her as he stroked her hand on the table.

"That's my purpose of bringing you here." He winked at her charmingly.

Her heart seemed to jump out of her chest because of it. She could still remember how those cherry lips kissed her and loved her last night. And she could not help but blush furiously. She was grateful for the dim lights, and he could not see it.

"But I love the place. It's... remarkable," she said distractedly while looking around her. His hand was still holding hers in an intimate way.

The tables and chairs were arranged in such a way that it looked airy and comfortable; so were the decorations, the flowers, the aroma of espresso, of the different flowers and his cologne that made her feel good. "Right. I fell in love with this place the first time I came here. It was Pali who told me about this place," he told her conversationally.

She did not want to ask if he was here with someone... with Laili.

"I was alone at the time by the way," he added quickly as if to have read her mind.

"I wasn't asking..." She tried to defend herself.

"It's written all over your face, Alodia," he answered while he reached out to caress her face lightly.

"Excuse me, your order." The smiling waiter broke in with a tray of their orders in his hand.

They both smiled at the waiter and Harman sat back.

She flirted back with Harman while they ate. She would look at him in the eye while she licked her finger innocently. Also, she'd play the straw around the glass with her finger as Harman's eyes followed it. "Are you trying to seduce me right now?" he asked at last with his bedroom voice that made her heart beat faster.

She acted innocent and frowned at him. "What? Me? Of course, not! How can I even seduce someone like you?" she denied coquettishly.

He chuckled at that and shook his head.

After dinner, they ended up in Harman's condo again.