Flipping the Switch by Brigham Vaughn

FOURTEEN

A clattering sound made Logan look away from Tony. Jude scowled as he stared down at the table. His phone had been tossed aside so Logan assumed that was what had caused the noise.

“You okay?” Logan asked. He’d been not-so-secretively eavesdropping on Jude’s phone conversation since he realized Jackson was on the other end of the line. He’d gotten distracted for a few minutes by Tony shyly flirting with him but when Jude’s voice rose, he’d tuned back in.

“I’m … no,” Jude said, looking up at Logan with pleading eyes. Every instinct Logan had to protect kicked into high gear as Jude sighed wearily. “I’m really not.”

Logan let Tony go with a little squeeze and walked over to Jude.

“Come here.” Logan held out a hand, which Jude took. Logan guided him to his feet, slipped an arm around his back, and coaxed him toward the living room. “Let’s talk.”

Jude shrugged listlessly. “There’s nothing to talk about. My dad’s an asshole—sorry, I know he’s your friend, Logan, but …”

Logan grimaced as he manhandled Jude down onto the large sectional. “You know I respect your father as a businessman and as a person. But I’ve always vehemently disagreed with him about how he treats you.”

“I know.”

“Based off what I heard, he knows you hired me to work on the restaurant project?” Logan guessed.

“Yeah. It sounds like he knows all of it. I should have anticipated this. He’s hellishly well connected and if he wants something, he always gets his way.” There was a bitterness to Jude’s tone that was rare for him.

“Some of this is my fault,” Logan said with a frown. “I should have mentioned this to you but he called me yesterday. I kept it vague when we spoke and I only mentioned that I was working on a project in Pendleton, but once he found out about you firing the original crew, he must have put two and two together.”

“I’m sure he did. Besides, if he really wanted to find out, all he’d have to do is check the permits you pulled.”

“True.” And Logan wouldn’t put it past him. Jackson liked to keep his finger on the pulse of everything that was happening in the real estate and construction markets. Who was working with whom. Who was about to sell. Where the hot new area was. It made him an enormously successful businessman, but it was hellish to be his son.

Jude’s sigh was even more heavy and world-weary than the first one. “He just makes me feel like shit every time. Every trait I have that he dislikes is one he loves in other people.”

“I know.” Logan’s heart went out to Jude, and he rubbed his shoulder, trying to soothe him.

“You’ve always stuck up for me though. Remember when I graduated high school?”

Logan nodded. Jackson had been on a tear about Jude attending culinary school and Logan had tried to help Jackson see that it was no use forbidding Jude to do anything. That, if anything, it would only make Jude more determined to do it. Logan had tried to get Jackson to see reason, but of course he hadn’t listened.

“So, you two have known each other for most of Jude’s life?”

Logan looked up to see Tony hovering a few feet away. Logan motioned for him to come over. “Yeah. Just about. I think I got to know Jackson when Jude was about ten or so.”

“Is that ever weird for either of you?” Tony settled on Jude’s other side. “I mean, now that we’re …”

Logan shrugged. “Sometimes. We do have a history, and it’s a little unnerving to remember that. If this situation had come up a decade ago? I don’t know that I could have gone for it. But Jude is a grown man who knows his own mind.”

“I’m not going to lie,” Jude said. “It being taboo is why it’s so hot for me.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Logan burst out in laughter.

“You are ridiculous. You don’t mean that, do you?”

Jude shrugged. “Nah, I’m teasing. Mostly, I’m worried about how pissed my dad will be if he finds out about us.”

Logan stilled. “Well, if you aren’t comfortable continuing ...”

“Oh, fuck no,” Jude said. “I’m not letting him take this from me. He’s shit on my career my whole adult life, and it’s never stopped me. I’m certainly not allowing him to fuck with this either. Besides, I don’t see how he’d find out. Oh, wait, are you going to be at the holiday party?”

“I was invited,” Logan said.

“Don’t you mean told to go?”

Logan made a non-committal noise. That was more accurate. “Are you going?”

“Oh, I was told in no uncertain terms I am required to be there,” Jude said. “And he pulled the ‘your mother misses you’ card, which I can never refuse.”

“Are you close to your mom?” Tony asked, tone curious.

“Yes,” Jude said as he turned to look at Tony. “We have a much better relationship than my dad and I do. I’ve just gotten busy lately and been a bad son.”

“You’re allowed to have a life of your own,” Logan pointed out.

“I know. I should have answered at least one of the six emails from her that are currently in my inbox though.”

“Well, yes,” Logan said with a laugh. “You probably should have.”

“So, what’s this party like?” Tony asked. “It sounds like a big deal.”

“Ugh. You have no idea.” Jude made a face. “It’s super fucking fancy. Everyone in suits and cocktail dresses. Catered canapes and Champagne. The food and drinks are good, but the rest is a pain in the ass. Lots of my father’s business contacts mingling and trying to one-up one another. People I don’t give a flying fuck about, mind you, but I have to be trotted out as the dutiful son. Even though there’s this pervasive sense of shame that I’m a cook.”

“Aren’t you a chef? I thought that was an important title.”

“I am a chef. And it is a title that I earned through a shitload of hard work, so my career should be a big deal, but it’s in the service industry and the kind of people my parents hang out with are not impressed by that. I guess this year I’ll be able to say I’m opening a restaurant, so maybe that will help.” He rolled his eyes.

“Do you actually care what they think?” Tony’s expression was curious.

“Fuck no. I think people should do what they love.”

Tony frowned. “I don’t get to do that.”

“Scrap metal and towing doesn’t thrill you?” Jude’s tone was lightly teasing, but he reached out and stroked Tony’s leg.

“Uh, no.”

“Not everyone has a job they’re passionate about, Jude,” Logan pointed out. “I mean, you and I are lucky.”

“True.”

Logan sighed. “Although I am starting to worry that if I don’t find someone for the finish carpentry for your bar, we’re going to get behind schedule. Once I hit that point, I will not be enjoying my job because I will spend days obsessing about the problem.”

“Damn,” Jude said. “You can’t find anyone in the area?”

Logan sighed. “No. The few who are talented enough to pull off what you have in mind are already booked or not interested in the job. I even reached out to the guy who did the paddle we used last night. I have a bunch of his stuff. I wasn’t sure if he ever did big projects like that so I knew it was a longshot. Unfortunately, I was right. He turned my offer down.”

“He what?” Tony’s voice was unusually loud.

Logan gave him a puzzled look. “Uh, this local guy, Joseph Lynch. I emailed him and asked about working on the bar for Logan’s restaurant, but he declined. Said he didn’t do commercial projects.”

An uneasy look crossed Tony’s face. “So … fuck. Um, can I tell you guys something that you have to promise to keep a secret? At least for now.”

“Sure.”

“Of course.”

Jude and Logan’s words overlapped as a relieved expression crossed Tony’s face. “So, uh.” He licked his lips. “I’m actually Joseph Lynch.”

“Your name isn’t Tony?” Jude looked perplexed.

“No. It is. My given name is Anthony Christensen. But I’m the guy who does the woodworking for the Joseph Lynch brand.”

“Oh.” Logan blinked.

Jude frowned. “Huh. I swear I remember meeting the guy once. Donovan—my ex—was really into the stuff. We went to some art festival and talked to him and everything.”

“Yeah, there’s a real guy named Joseph Lynch who is the face of the company.”

“Please, start at the beginning,” Logan said. “If you’re comfortable sharing.”

“Okay.” Tony licked his lips. “So, when I was in high school, I started to do a lot of woodworking. I started out with the easy stuff. Cutting boards, bread boxes, spoons, that sort of thing. I got better, and I started turning bowls and making pens. I mostly just gave them away as gifts to a few friends and family and stuff. But by the time I graduated, it was pretty clear a lot of people were interested. I started this side job of selling it. Nothing formal or anything, just by word of mouth. I was doing this informal apprenticeship thing with Joe, and eventually we could both see that my stuff was better than his.”

“And he wasn’t threatened by that?” Logan asked.

“Surprisingly, no. He was impressed with my work. He kept saying that if he had my talent, his business would be thriving. I told him if I could, I’d make it a full-time career, but my dad expected me to take over the towing company. You should have seen it.” Tony stared in the distance like he was seeing the moment play out right in front of him. “It hit us at the same time that it was the perfect solution. He didn’t have the skills I did, and I didn’t have the time to do the marketing and sales to really get something off the ground. We came to an agreement. I’d do the woodworking and he’d focus on being the face of the business. We hammered out some terms that felt fair to both of us and signed a contract. It’s worked out great ever since.”

“Well, damn,” Jude said. “You are amazingly talented.”

Logan nodded. “You are. There’s a level of skill and quality to your work that I rarely see. I have a real appreciation for old craftsmanship in homes and you’re at that level, Tony, if not surpassing it.”

He glowed at the praise. “Thank you.”

“I’ll admit I don’t know a lot about woodworking, but everything of yours I’ve used is incredible. Both in the kitchen and in the bedroom. I’ve never seen anything like that paddle.”

“I’ve never felt anything like that paddle.” Tony made a face. “Last night I regretted my decision to make it.”

Jude laughed. “I can see why.”

“You seem to love the woodworking,” Logan said. “Do you think you’d enjoy it less if it was your full-time job?”

“No.” Tony shook his head. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to spend every day in my shop. But my dad has an autoimmune disorder that causes a lot of chronic pain. It will only get worse and he needs me to look after him and run the towing business and scrap metal yard and ...”

“Oh, damn,” Jude said. “You’d told me he had some health issues but I had no idea how bad it was. He wouldn’t be open to selling the business or …”

“Well, I’ve tried bringing it up, but he completely shuts down when I talk about it.” Tony sighed.

Logan frowned. “Would you like us to help? I am sure between the three of us we could come up with some ideas for how to approach him. Or at least figure out ways you can do what you love more.”

Tony looked stunned. “You’d do that for me?”

“Of course!” Jude shot Logan a baffled look like he couldn’t understand why Tony would be shocked by the offer of help. Logan nodded his agreement.

“Absolutely,” Logan replied. “Tony, if you want something and I have the ability to help, I will do whatever it takes to get what you need.”

“Same for me,” Jude said.

Tony’s swallow was audible. “No one’s ever done that for me.”

“Well, they should have,” Logan said firmly.

“I agree.” Jude reached out and pulled Tony closer. “So, tell us what you need.”

“Um, before that can we go back to what you said earlier? About what Joe said about commercial projects. That’s always been the standard reply I had him give people who inquired. But I might make an exception for you guys.”

“Yeah?” Jude smiled at him, and Logan was glad to see his earlier low mood had lifted.

“Well, I’d like to know more about what you’re looking for,” Tony said. “I have to be sure I can do it, but I’m interested.”

Logan nodded. “Of course. Do you have your laptop handy, Jude? I don’t have mine with me and it’ll be easier to see everything we sent back and forth about it on there than if we use our phones.”

“Yep. I’ll grab that now.” Jude stood and retrieved the computer from a desk area on the far side of the living room.

They’d mostly been here at night and Logan hadn’t taken a lot of time to look around the space this morning, but the condo really was beautiful. It certainly wasn’t budget accommodations, but it wasn’t the most luxurious of the developments Maddox Real Estate had done in the area. For Jude, this probably was being frugal.

The penthouses above likely had stunning views of Pendleton Bay, but this wasn’t too shabby either.

“You have a hell of a view, Jude,” he said.

“Don’t I?” Jude shot him a little grin as he took a seat, balancing the laptop on his knees. “I probably could have found a cheaper place, but the kitchen and view sold me.”

“It really is amazing,” Tony said. He looked wide-eyed as he glanced around. “Honestly, every time I’m here, I feel too grubby to even exist in a place like this.”

“Aww don’t say that,” Jude said. “I think you’re perfect the way you are. What’s your place like?”

Tony grimaced. “I live in an old family farmhouse with my dad.”

“Ahh that’s why you can’t host. I figured you had a roommate or something. Well, I suppose you do, but that’s even worse.”

“Uhh, yeah,” Tony said. “I don’t think he’d be too thrilled with me hooking up with two kinky guys.”

“The gay thing or the poly thing or the BDSM thing?”

Tony gestured vaguely. “The … all of it thing, I guess. I don’t know. Mostly I think he’s just a miserably unhappy guy who doesn’t know how to be happy for someone else anymore. He changed a lot after my mom left, and his diagnosis just made it so much worse.”

Logan nodded. “If you met the man who was the Dom of your dreams, would you go for it anyway? I mean, are you out?”

“I’m out as being gay. I’ve never wanted to hide that,” Tony said. “As far as the rest, well, I don’t know. If I ever want to be public about being the creator behind my woodworking designs, I think I’ll have to be out about the kink. I could try to deny it, but no one is really going to believe I create all this stuff just because it makes me money. They’ll assume things, right?”

Logan smiled. He liked that Tony was becoming a little more talkative and giving Logan a bigger glimpse of his life. “Probably. Are you okay with that?”

“I think if I ever have the courage to get out from under the life my father wants me to have and do what I want, I won’t really care what other people think. So yeah, I think I could be open about it. I just have to … do it.”

“What about you, Jude?”

He shrugged. “Well, everyone knows I’m gay. I’m open-ish about the kink, I guess. If someone asks, I’ll tell them. Donovan was a little more hesitant but he’s pretty private in general.”

“He’s your ex?” Tony asked.

“Yes.”

“Did he ever collar you?” Logan asked.

Jude winced. “Well, that’s a loaded question. He wanted to. I said no. I felt like it was negating my switchiness to wear his collar, and we never really found a good compromise.”

“Ahh, okay.”

“So, what about you, Logan?” Tony asked. “Are you out?”

“I’m bi. Some people in my life know. I’m at a point in my life where I have no desire to hide who I am, so yes, I have no problem being out about my sexuality. I was hesitant about the kink, but I’m starting to realize it isn’t as big of an issue as I thought it might be at first. I could potentially lose business contracts and I do have my employees to consider, but I am not ashamed of it, and I’d have no trouble being open about it if I had a partner who wanted to be.”

“I think it makes a difference that we don’t have kids,” Jude said. “Well, you have Archie, but he’s fully grown, so it isn’t going to impact him the same way.”

“Yes, exactly. If I’d been in this position when Archie was a kid, I would have felt different.”

Jude winced. “And this is when it gets weird, because when Archie was a kid …”

“Yes, well for the sake of it not being weird, this hypothetical scenario didn’t involve you, Jude,” Logan said teasingly. “It’s not all about you.”

“Lies!” Jude protested with a laugh. “It’s always about me.”

Tony just shook his head as if amused by the two of them.

Logan gestured to the laptop, hoping to get the conversation back on track. “Okay, let’s get back to the building project. If you are on board, Tony, I want to get you up to speed as quickly as possible.”

Jude flipped open the computer and typed in his password. They were all silent as he opened his email and brought up the first image.

“Oh, wow,” Tony said with a small intake of breath. “Oh, that’s gorgeous.”

“Isn’t it?” Jude smiled. “I’ve been working with an amazing architect and designer on this. She really brought my design to life.”

Logan mostly listened as Jude walked Tony through his plans, showing him the renderings of what the space would look like. He liked the sight of Tony’s short dark hair against Jude’s longer golden strands as they leaned in to look at the screen. He liked the sound of their voices, their rising excitement. He liked the way they laughed together, and the way Jude pulled Tony from his shell. The way Tony’s eyes lit up when he talked about what he was passionate about.

He just liked them.