Mesmerized

closer, pressing her body against his. "You're a very attractive man." 
    "Th-thank you," he stuttered. 
    "Take me to your car." 
    He obediently turned and led her to the car. It was a dark sedan with heavily tinted windows; good for being invisible. Charles gestured to it, then dropped the keys in Lily’s hand. "Here are the keys. It has a full tank of gas." 
    Heat flooded Lily’s body and colored stars burst in her eyes. Mindlessly, Lily shoved him up against the car, pressed her lips to his, and felt his body relax. 
    Jake voice came from across the parking lot. "Lily! What are you doing?"
    "Oh my God,” she said breathlessly. “I don't know what got into me. I couldn't control myself."  
    Jake was at her side. He clasped the necklace around her and she instantly felt better. Normal.
    "Oh Jake, what have I done?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry."
    Jake shook the man and then slapped him across the face. He wouldn't wake up. "His pulse is steady. I don't think you caused any real harm. Put your arm around him and we'll put him in the other car. I'm sure he'll wake up shortly."
    "Are you sure?"
    "We need to hurry, and from now on you are keeping the necklace on unless it's an emergency."
    Lily nodded her head. She was so embarrassed by her actions. 
    They put the man in the car, and went through the drive-thru. 
     

Chapter Fourteen
     
     
     
    Lily pulled into her long, hidden driveway relieved to see the farmhouse was just as she had left it. She took comfort in the large, wrap-around porch, and the wooden swing she had spent countless hours on growing up. So much had changed—home needed to stay the same. 
    “We’re here,” she said to Jake. She kissed him lightly on the lips. They were still swollen and looked like they hurt. 
    She led Jake through the gate to the backyard and punched in her code. The door unlocked and she walked in. 
    “Mom! Dad!” She wondered if they were home from New York yet.
    Within a couple of seconds, she got her answer. Her mom appeared at the top of the steps. She was stunning in her black cocktail dress and high heels—as usual. She pressed a hand to her chest as she descended the stairs. “Lily! Are you okay?”
    From the living room on their right, her father appeared. He looked tired and disheveled, with his tie hanging crookedly from his neck and his hair sticking up. He wrapped Lily in a hug. “Where have you been?” he said gruffly.
    Lily pulled away from her father’s hug and answered her mother’s questions first. “I’m fine.” Then she faced her father and said, “It’s a long story.”
    Her father looked over at Jake. "Who is this, Lily?"
    Lily laced her arm through Jake’s. "Daddy, this is Jake. We need to help him."
    "I’m Gregory Anderson.” Her father eyed him suspiciously.
    Her mother smiled at Jake and batted her eyes. “I’m Sandra.”
    Lily’s father cleared his throat. “I think we need to sit down and sort this all out. Let’s go to the kitchen.”
    While her mother turned on the coffee, Lily filled them in from start to finish explaining about Jake and the curse. How they were kidnapped and the way they escaped. 
    At the end of the tale, her mother sat tapping her long nails on the table lost in thought. She finally looked up. "I think I know someone who can help."
    A surge of hope raced through Lily. "Who is it, Mom?"
    "A powerful witch I've known for a long time. She might even be able to break the curse." Her mother looked over her fingers at Jake. "That is, of course, if you want it broken."
    Jake’s mouth hung open. He had dreamed of someday finding a way out of the curse. But, now he had Lily. What would that mean for them? "I'll have to think it over." 
    Lily looked back and forth between her mother and Jake—she wasn't getting the full implication of what breaking the curse would mean. 
    "Do you think we can take care of the family that has been after Jake?" Lily asked hopefully.
    "That's not as easy as it sounds. We would have to destroy all the evidence and I doubt they left it lying around. You're talking generations of research that has been passed down. We also need to find out if he has any children. I'm sure they would be in on it as well."
    Lily's shoulders sagged. Her mother was right as usual. This was probably an issue that was bigger than a little compulsion.
    "I will get in touch with Camille today, and we'll get a better idea of our options. You should also know that Ben is out of his