While John enjoyed learning about the woman who originally wanted him for his body, he was nervous about what this knowledge would do to his heart. The first part of their date had been delightful. They drank hot cider, picked out two pumpkins, and wandered around the corn maze. In the car, she had kept mum about the second activity as she’d stuffed herself full of kettle corn. He’d been expecting a low-key, relaxing dinner or a movie. John could have easily seen a movie with her; instead he was going to have a heart attack. “I don’t do well with crazy shit jumping out at me,” he warned. “I make it a point to never watch horror movies either.”

Victoria leaned against his chest and rubbed his shoulders. “If you don’t want to do this, we can always go home,” she said, giving him an out. And he probably would have taken it if her breasts weren’t pressed against him while she loosened the tight muscles of his neck.

“Mmh,” he groaned at the pleasurable pressure from her hands. “You’ll hold my hand?” he asked, letting his eyes fall shut.

“Of course, I will,” she chuckled. “You’re not leaving me in there like your little girlfriend.”

A smile spread across his face. “Kimberly Yates was really pissed.”

“What was all that Halloween magic you talked about with your kids?” she asked applying that same pressure to his deltoid muscles. John was very close to agreeing to a number of dangerous activities, if she kept touching him like this.

“I was talking about lighthearted spooky magic, as in Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin.”

Victoria ended her massage by cupping his face and stroking his beard. “I can be your blanket, Linus,” she teased. “You can hold on to me for dear life all you want.”

For the first time since they arrived to the haunted warehouse, John’s pulse slowed its rapid pounding and his breathing returned to normal. “You promise?” he asked as he held her flannel covered hips. She felt warm and alive, even in the chilled autumn air. A steady anchor for him to hold on to.

She nodded as she ran her thumb along his jaw. “I do.”

John blew out a sigh. “Alright then, let’s get this over with.”

He could tell she was trying to hide her excitement as she took him by the arm and pulled him forward. John could keep his shit together for a few minutes if it meant Victoria could have fun. At the ticket counter, a large heavyset man collected money and distributed tickets. He took his role seriously, dressed as a ghoulish butcher with blood splatter on his dingy white apron. A real cleaver sat on the counter, covered in matted blood and hair. A realistic touch that made John sick.

“What’s this year’s theme?” Victoria asked the man as she slapped down her cash.