Updated Nov 27, 2025 • ~6 min read
Jo spent the entire next day rehearsing.
“I love you.”
Too abrupt.
“Logan, I think I’m in love with you.”
Too uncertain.
“You know what? I love you. Deal with it.”
Too aggressive.
By the time Logan knocked on her door at seven, Jo had worked herself into an anxious spiral and abandoned all her carefully planned speeches.
She was just going to have to wing it.
“Hey,” Logan said when she opened the door. He was holding takeout bags and wearing that soft expression that made her heart skip. “Brought Thai food. Your favorite.”
“You remembered.”
“I always remember.”
They settled on the couch with food and Olive between them. Easy conversation flowed—Logan’s day at the shop, Jo’s nightmare client who kept changing requirements, normal couple things that felt extraordinary because they were doing them together.
“So I sold the phoenix piece,” Logan said casually.
Jo nearly dropped her pad thai. “What? When?”
“This afternoon. Gallery called. Someone from last night made an offer.”
“Logan, that’s amazing!”
“It’s weird. Someone’s going to hang my art in their home. Actually display it.”
“Because it’s good. Because you’re talented. Because people see what I see—that you’re incredible.”
Pink tinged Logan’s cheeks. “You’re very enthusiastic about my art.”
“I’m enthusiastic about you.”
The words hung in the air.
Logan set down his food, turning to face her fully. “Jo—”
“I need to tell you something,” Jo blurted out.
“Okay.”
“And I’m going to mess it up because I’ve been rehearsing all day and none of the speeches work and I’m just going to say it and hope it comes out right.”
“Abbott, you’re spiraling.”
“I know. I can’t help it. This is important.”
Logan’s hand found hers. “Whatever it is, just say it.”
Jo took a breath. Met his eyes. Decided to just leap.
“I love you.”
Logan went very still.
“I know it’s fast,” Jo continued, words tumbling out. “We’ve only been dating a few weeks. But I can’t keep it in anymore. Last night, watching you with your art and your friends, seeing that side of you—it just confirmed what I’ve been feeling for a while now. I’m in love with you, Logan Marchand. Completely, terrifyingly in love. And if that’s too much or too soon, I understand, but I needed you to know because—”
Logan kissed her.
Not soft and sweet like their usual kisses. This was consuming. Desperate. The kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Logan rested his forehead against hers.
“I love you too,” he said, voice rough. “Have for weeks. Was waiting for the right moment to say it.”
“Really?”
“Really. God, Jo, I’m so in love with you it’s terrifying. You and your chaos and your sunshine and your ridiculous dog.”
Joy burst through Jo’s chest. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you, Jolene Abbott. Love you so much it scares me.”
Jo kissed him this time. Logan pulled her closer, until she was in his lap, arms around his neck, everything else forgotten.
Olive, sensing she was no longer the center of attention, huffed and jumped off the couch.
They barely noticed.
The kissing intensified. Logan’s hands found the hem of Jo’s shirt, fingers brushing skin, making her gasp.
“Jo,” he breathed against her neck.
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure? Because if we keep going—”
“I’m sure. So sure. I love you and I want you and I’m done waiting.”
“Thank god.”
Logan stood, lifting Jo with him. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her toward the bedroom, kissing the whole way.
They made it approximately three steps before Logan’s back hit the wall, Jo pressed against him, both of them too desperate to make it any further.
“Here?” Jo gasped.
“Here. Now. Can’t wait.”
“Bedroom’s literally right there.”
“Too far.”
Logan kissed her again, hands sliding under her shirt, warm against her skin. Jo tugged at his shirt until he pulled back long enough to yank it over his head.
Tattoos everywhere. Muscles and ink and beauty.
“You’re staring,” Logan said, slightly breathless.
“You’re beautiful.”
“That’s my line.”
“Too bad. I said it first.”
Logan laughed and kissed her again, lifting her slightly to adjust their position against the wall.
They stayed like that, kissing and touching and murmuring love declarations between gasps, until the wall became uncomfortable and they finally made it to the bedroom.
What followed was tender and passionate and everything Jo had imagined and better. Logan was careful and attentive, checking in constantly, making sure she was okay, making her feel cherished and wanted and loved.
After, they lay tangled together in Jo’s bed, sweaty and breathless and grinning like idiots.
“That was—” Jo started.
“Yeah.”
“I mean really—”
“I know.”
“We should have done that weeks ago.”
Logan laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest where Jo’s head rested. “We did it right. Waited until it meant something.”
“It meant everything.”
“Yeah. It did.”
They lay in comfortable silence, Jo tracing the tattoos on Logan’s chest, Logan running his fingers through her hair.
“I love you,” Jo said quietly.
“I love you too.”
“Think we’ll ever get tired of saying it?”
“Not a chance.”
Later, much later, they ordered more food because the original takeout had gone cold. They ate it in bed, naked under the sheets, feeding each other and laughing about nothing.
“Olive’s judging us,” Logan observed. The dog had settled in her bed in the corner, pointedly looking away.
“She’s scandalized.”
“Good. She caused this whole thing anyway. She should deal with the consequences.”
“How did she cause this?”
“Doormat incident number one. That’s when it started.”
“When what started?”
“Me falling for you. Saw you standing there, soaking wet, apologizing profusely, and thought ‘this woman is going to ruin my life.’ Turns out I was right.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“In the best way. You ruined my life in the absolute best way.”
Jo kissed him, soft and lingering. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They fell asleep eventually, wrapped around each other, Olive snoring from her corner, the city quiet outside the windows.
And Jo dreamed of forever.
Of doormats and tattoos and a grumpy artist who’d become her entire world.
Of a future full of chaos and sunshine and love.
So much love it was almost overwhelming.
But Jo wasn’t overwhelmed.
She was home.
Finally, completely, perfectly home.
In Logan’s arms.
Where she belonged.
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