Love and Logic

I have never taken a course in this but I am going to get the books hear shortly to see what help they can offer. My question is how did your teens take "I love you", which is a primary prinicpal of the books? E is really stand offish when it comes to hugs, or showing any emotion towards me especially, part of that is my fault for sure as I am not sure where his boundaries are right now. I am not sure if me saying I love you will disarm him completely or put us both in a really uncomfortable situation. I suspect my DW will have a considerably easier time with this than I will.