It wasnt at all what he had expected.
Not the 40 foot yacht adorned with fruit and champagne and all the other clichés from the Daytime Dramas Guide to Romance. Or the perfectly beautiful spring day.
Those things he had grown accustom to.
It was the fact that he was waiting for Veronica Mars, and he didnt care who knew.
Because in some utterly bizarre twist of fate he had began to fall for her and saw no sense in stopping. Curious how a few comforting words on a mothers passing could spark such interest, especially after he had trained himself so diligently to hate her.
Logan let out a long sigh. What part of ten oclock was so hard to understand?
The dizzy feeling of anticipation took over.
Maybe she wasnt going to show and he would be left with nothing but the rush of the ocean and a bottle of chilled champagne as his company?
That wouldnt be a first, but that was a different story.
Hey stranger, Logan turned his head to see the petite blonde standing on the dock, her hands snug in her back pockets.
With a new feeling of relief and optimism, he extended a hand. What took you so long?
Me? She arched her brows innocently with the practiced ease of a southern debutante. I had more important things to do.
He humored her with a crooked grin. Really? And what was that? With her hand still delicately placed in his, Logan directed her towards him bowing his head to whisper hotly. Or will you have to kill me first?
She rolled her eyes. Now theres an idea. She tipped her chin with a bright smile. Actually, I had an English paper due.
Its nice to see that I rank second on your list of priorities.
Veronica laughed, And what makes you think youre number two?
Extracting her hand from his, Veronica took the opportunity to examine their pending first date.
Champagne? Check.
Fruit? Check.
Cheese? How convenient? Two kinds!
Wow Logan, thanks for not going overboard! She placed a teasing hand on his chest.
Well after your sentiments of ring tosses and teddy bears, I realized topping your concept of tacky dates would be no easy feat.
Veronica was obviously not amused as she flashed Logan a look that could kill. Youll literally be going overboard if you keep that up.
He took a moment to size up his threatening attacker. Five foot one wasnt the most frightening stature, in his estimation. Youre cute when youre trying to be angry, you know that?
Snaking his arms around her waist, Logan pulled her against him. Besides, there are better things we could be doing, he murmured huskily against her neck.
I thought we were having a date, she weakly protested.
We are, he dismissed, dragging his lips to her chin. And what a date its been.
She rolled her eyes and pushed him away. Whos going to drive the boat?
Logan had to laugh. The guy my dad pays to drive it of course.
The skipper, of course, she said dryly. Youd think Id learn by now.
Extravagance was something Veronica would never get used to, even after her stint as an 09er, and out of all the students at Neptune High, Logan was probably the most accustomed to it.
So will a stereo be spewing the ballots or have you hired Whitney herself to perform? She questioned.
Sadly she nor Mariah werent available. Rehab or some nonsense like that, he muttered before leaning in for another kiss.
Veronica had to admit this had all become an odd turn of events. A few months ago, the mere mention of Logan Echolls sent her gag reflexes in a frenzy, and she imagined he went through a similar sensation in respect to her. And yet, she couldnt think of any redeeming character turns that would lead her to change her opinion.
No, he was the same old Logan and yet he seemed different. Perhaps it was his home life that had swayed her opinion. His devotion to his mother, his distance from his dad, and Trina and her Trina ways. These factors had softened him and gave him depth beyond one dimensional jackass.
He was flawed, and she liked that.
Trapped in a kiss she had no intention of breaking, Veronica and Logan stumbled across the deck nearly hitting the railing and falling overboard.
She may have liked the passion too.
Crashing onto the bench in the galley, he eagerly pushed her blazer off her shoulders, letting his hands run down the heated skin of her arms. This is one hell of a first date, he said, capturing another kiss.
His hot breath trailed down her neck, whispered against her skin, leaving her crazy wanting more. This sense of desire was completely foreign to her and she wondered if it was their prolonged façade of hatred towards one another that fueled it.
Logan placed a few nipping kisses on her shoulder before climbing back to his feet. Lets take a break, he said offering his hands to help her into a sitting position. I mean I didnt pull out all the stops for nothing.
I certainly thought I was giving you something, she said, leaning forward to kiss him.
He allowed her to take advantage of him briefly before placing a finger on her lips. True sugarpuss, he said with a wink. But thats not all Im looking for.
The statement caught Veronica off guard. Certainly it was implied that this relationship was beyond their initial attraction, but sentiments of actual emotional depth had been dually avoided.
Alright then, she said. She shifted on the bench, Whats first?
Id think a private eye like yourself would already know the full itinerary of todays events by now.
My source Ricco was a little short on details, she shrugged.
Logan fished out the bottle of champagne. Ricco, he mused, isnt that like having a butler named Jeeves? He asked pretending to shake the bottle before aiming it at Veronica.
You wouldnt, she warned.
With an evil smirk, he tipped the mouth of the bottle away; holding it out over the water as he carefully popped the cork. Dont want to waste perfectly good bubbly.
Veronica put on a face of mock shock, Did Logan Echolls just choose the noble path?
He brought the bottle to his lips and took a long swig, No this is just exceptional champagne and I dont want to waste it on you literally that is.
Lifting her flute to him she arched a brow, Care to share?
That was the plan, wasnt it?
Logan slipped back onto the bench, allowing his arm to hang loosely across her shoulders. So shall we toast?
To your fathers boat? She suggested.
An honorable candidate for sure, and much more classy than something like to us, but I was thinking of something with more pizzazz.
She pursed her lips, Your fathers really big boat?
Poetic, he toasted.
She touched the glass to her lips, pausing for a moment. To something, she stated, even though we dont know what that is yet.
A slow grin spread across his face, Sounds good to me.
Taking a sip, Veronica set her flute on the table. So now that the obligatory date part is over, lets get back to what we were doing. She said fisting his tee-shirt in her hand and pulling him towards her.
The champagne flute that slipped from Logans hand went unnoticed as their kisses grew into that same eager passion they couldnt escape. Hands clawing, finding anyway to be closer.
This attraction was hard to beat.
But this attraction was wrong.
Logan broke away, This isnt right.
She only flashed that teasing grin that got him in trouble in the first place. Dont worry there arent any sexual discriminating signs here, boys are allowed.
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, Its not that. He sighed, Its Duncan. I feel like Im lying to him. That Im keeping secrets from him.
Youre not though, she offered. Its not your fault that Duncan happened to be completely MIA when this whole thing blossomed.
He sat back on the bench, the more space between them the better. I know, he frowned. The corner of the label on the champagne bottle was loose, he noticed, in fact that was all he tried to focus on. Letting his fingers drift down the slick neck of the bottle, he picked at the ripped label aimlessly. Hes my best friend, Veronica, he said. No matter how you mold the story I betrayed him.
Veronica scoffed, If you and me dating ranks on Duncans list of greatest betrayals, than hes obviously doing something wrong.
He smiled sadly, Yeah.
It was all a long time ago.
Right, he nodded.
She edged closer, And now were all different people. Placing her fingers under his chin, she tilted his face towards her. Duncan and I broke up, and hes over it were over it.
Logan frowned, I know.
So whats the problem then? She asked, flashing him a hopeful smile.
Nothing, he concluded kissing her quickly. Nothing at all.
The only problem was though, that Duncan Kane still loved Veronica Mars, and he knew it. Yet he was falling for her anyway.
And he had no intention of stopping.





















