Page 159 of Meet Me in the Valley
He’s in a fitted navy t-shirt that clings to his chest and shoulders in all the right places, the fabric stretching ever so slightly when he moves. His athletic shorts sit perfectly on his hips, hitting mid-thigh and revealing just enough of his toned legs to make me lose my train of thought. The backward baseball cap seals the deal. All boyish charm with the confidence of a man who knows exactly what he’s doing.
And God help me ... it works. Every damn time.
“Get over here, baby,” Logan calls, opening his arms with that crooked smile that’s impossible to resist.
I’m in his arms in seconds, feet off the ground as our lips collide in a sweet, breath-stealing kiss. Somewhere behind us, Cali makes a loud gagging sound.
“Ugh, get a room,” she groans.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. I’d love a repeat of this morning,” Logan rasps in my ear.
A blush climbs up my chest as flashes of this morning flicker through my mind. Logan thrusting into me like a madman before the sun had even risen, the memory playing out like my favorite dirty movie.
We’ve been staying in Logan’s dad’s pool house while our home is still under construction. I still spend a few nights a week at my parents’ place to help with Mom, but having a space just for Logan and me feels like a soft landing after long, emotional days.
And somewhere in the chaos of building our custom home, we started a business together.TLo Concepts.Oakwood Valley’s very own design duo, Logan handles architecture, I’m on interiors. Thanks to the network we built at Corrigan and Roy’s glowing referrals, we’ve begun working with clients all over Northern California.
The past six months together have been nothing short of pure bliss. Every day is a new adventure. A new challenge. A life I can’t believe is mine with Logan by my side.
“Have I told you how much I love you today?” Logan whispers, dotting kisses all over my face, then settling again on my lips.
I smile against Logan’s mouth, laughing as he gently sets me down. “Yes. Only about a million times.”
“That’s not enough.”
This man never fails to make my stomach flip.
I brush my nose against his, only for him to steal one more quick kiss before nudging me aside with a playful shove.
“Cali girl!” he grins, holding his arms wide.
Cali breaks into a delighted jog, flinging herself at him. Logan lifts her easily, spinning her in a circle as she giggles and squeals.
“Hey, Uncle Logan!”
When he sets her down, they launch into their ridiculous secret handshake—a chaotic mashup of high-fives, fist bumps, finger snaps, and an exaggerated fart noise to finish it off.
Nora rolls her eyes beside me, but there’s the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth. Ah, the classic Young women move: deny amusement at all costs.
Logan, of course, zeroes in on her like a heat-seeking missile.
“Noraaa,” he sing-songs, arms open. “Come here, sis! I missed you!”
She immediately starts backing away. “Absolutely not. Don’t even try it.”
But Logan’s already chasing her in slow, dramatic pursuit around the massive living room, arms outstretched like a toddler who doesn’t know personal space.
“Oh, come on,” he whines, over-the-top and gleeful. “We’re practically family. Get your stubborn ass over here!”
No matter how much Nora tries to pretend otherwise, she has a serious soft spot for Logan. She always has. I think it traces back to that day in Vegas last year, when he showed up at her door the morning after I left. Something shifted between them that day. A quiet understanding. A mutual respect that’s lingered ever since.
And Cali absolutely adores him. Every visit, she practically counts down the days until she can hang with Uncle Logan again.
Secretly, I think Nora loves it too—watching her daughter light up, getting a break from the weight she carries. Even if she’ll never admit it out loud.
And if there’s anyone who can lift the weird energy that settled earlier when we arrived, it’s Logan.
From the corner of my eye, I catch the rest of our friends outside playing corn hole. Laughter spills in through the open patio doors.
