Switch Master: 6 (Ink and Kink) (34 page)

Sam unfolded a thick document detailing Mark Cormack’s last will
and testament where it pertained to Abigail O’Neal. In addition to a
substantial inheritance, Mark had arranged for her to receive a yearly stipend
from the medical malpractice suit he’d filed and won.

“Does this look legal, Taran?” she asked, looking up to be
sure she was reading the document correctly. Combined with her inheritance and
the stipend, Abigail could pay off college loans if she had them, put a down
payment on a home, invest, anything she wanted.

“Yes, everything’s in order,” Taran assured upon reading it.

Samantha noticed something else in the envelope. Taking it
out, she felt her mouth drop open. It was a bank check written out to her, the
sum of which nearly made her collapse.

“Half a million dollars?” she choked out. “Mr. Cormack, if you
think money will make up for what your family did to mine, you can go to hell
where you all belong.”

Prepared to tear the check into shreds, Sam stared her
father down. Martin stared back.

“Nothing will make up for it,” he agreed. “Rumor has it that
you and your beau are making plans to turn a Boston brownstone into a foster
home for teenagers. Maybe that money will help.”

“How do you know about our plans?” Sam demanded of her
father, worried he might do something to interfere.

“I’m a Cormack, I’ve my ways.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a Riley. I will not be bought.”

“It’s your half of the lawsuit mentioned in his will. Mark
had his private investigator track down six women Dr. Solomon preyed on,
including you, and took the hospital and his former practices to court. They
won and he split the money awarded to him between you and Abigail. He didn’t
take a dime.”

“I can’t take this,” Sam said.

“Take it or not, give it to charity. Whatever you choose to
do, it’s yours to do with as you wish.”

“You should go. My teammates need to finish getting ready
for the derby.”

“Not until you tell me whether I have a chance with you.
After you come back from Arizona, will you meet me for coffee and show me
pictures of my granddaughter?”

“Please, I need to think about it. If you leave your phone
number, I’ll talk it over with Taran and we’ll be in touch.”

Martin squared his shoulders. “That’s all I can ask. Thank
you.”

He left without saying goodbye or leaving his number. Sam
turned the large, thick envelope over to Taran.

“Looks as if we’re going on a trip soon,” Taran said. “You
okay, doll?”

“Yes, I’m good, a little shaken but I’m good. Are you okay
with leaving on Monday?”

“Sure. I’ll change my appointments for next week.”

“Martin didn’t leave his phone number.”

“Check the flowers,” Taran suggested.

Sam withdrew, going over to the flowers perched on her
table. Finding the card, she saw Martin’s name, phone number and Cambridge
address written in a neat, crisp lettering.

“What are you thinking, Samantha?”

“That maybe I should have coffee with Martin Cormack…my
father,” Sam answered.

“It won’t be easy for you. I’ll be right there beside you
the whole time.”

“He looked defeated and heartbroken,” Sam said.

“I’d imagine coming here, facing rejection, was difficult
for him.”

“He broke my mom’s heart, threatening her to the point she
was afraid to say his name.”

“And he broke yours, doll. Amazing thing about broken hearts
is they can mend over time. Maybe it’s time for the healing to begin.”

Refusing to cry, Sam pressed herself up against Taran.
“Thank you. I love you, remind me that you’re mine every day, will you?”

“Every day,” he promised. “Before you go rushing out there
to trounce an Amazon, you need one thing to take with you.”

“I do?”

Taran tucked the envelope into an inside pocket of his
leather jacket. He became serious, focused, his gaze intent upon her face.

“I do, unless you think this might get caught in someone’s
hair or something?” From another pocket, he withdrew a black box, opening it to
reveal an emerald and diamond ring.

“Taran…” she breathed out, comprehension dawning, her
heartbeat going a mile a minute, tears threatening to fall.

“Samantha Riley, I offer you my heart,” he said, going down
on one knee. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Overjoyed, Sam couldn’t speak through the tightness of her
throat, her vision blurred with tears. Finally, she knew exactly what to say.
“Yes, Taran Maddox, I will be your wife.”

Taran slipped the ring onto her finger and climbed to his
feet. She was swamped by the strongest arms she’d ever really known, he drew
her in and kissed her, thinking her sweetly for saying yes.

“It’s a damn good thing too,” Phalen stated, storming
through the doorway, causing them to chuckle and draw apart. “Took you long
enough, little brother, thought I was going to have to come in here and crack
your skull.”

“Hey, I work on my own timetable, bro,” Taran said, slipping
his arm around her back. The next thing she knew, her derby teammates came
crashing into the room, surrounding her and congratulating them.

Outside the dressing room, Sam knew all her friends and
family were waiting for the Femme Fatale roller derby debut. She was excited to
start a new adventure, an adventure where Taran was her Dominant Prince
Charming and she was his Cinderella switch.

* * * * *

“You have everything set up?” Taran asked Alex Grant.

Alex leaned back on his bleacher seat, his eyes on the women
currently circling the roller rink adapted for roller derby. Thus far, the
Fatales were dominating the Amazons.

“Doc’s at the castle putting the final touches on
everything. You sure she’s ready?”

“Samantha’s more than ready,” Taran said confidently.

“Are you?” Alex looked away from the action.

Taran had to admit watching roller derby was hot. Knowing
his woman was among those rocking and rolling around the course, doing her
pivot thing and scoring made it sweeter.

“Taran? You ready?” Alex asked again, nudging him.

“I am. Make sure your husband doesn’t hurt Samantha or I
might be forced to take him out.”

“Doc’s a surgeon. He’ll take care of both of you. Trust me
on that.”

“I trust you. Samantha was especially fond of the Shibari
munch we attended. Put us down for the next one, would you?”

“Of course I will. What did you think of Martin Cormack? The
whole place was buzzing out here when the three of you were in the dressing
room together.”

“I think he’s trying to make amends. Wish he’d done it
sooner though, for Sam’s sake.”

“She’s amazingly resilient,” Alex said. “I like her very
much.”

“Glad you approve of my future wife.”

“Glad you got off your ass and claimed her. Doc and I were
thinking about locking the two of you in a basement dungeon at the castle if
you didn’t do something.”

“She made the first move,” Taran admitted. “It won’t be the
last.”

“Ethan claims Sam gets all girly when you show up at the
precinct with chocolates and flowers. The other detectives are razzing him
about it.”

“That’s because they know she’ll kick their asses six ways
to Sunday if they tease her.”

“That she would,” Alex agreed. “Make sure you take care of
her, Taran.”

“I plan on doing that for the rest of my life.”

There was a rush of footsteps up the bleachers. Taran looked
over, seeing Luke and Emily take their seats.

Ostensibly they’d gone to take a short walk and get some
refreshments. Emily had a large cup of soda and a telltale flush on her face,
not to mention her clothes were a little disheveled. Ah-huh, he knew that look.

“You two have fun?” he asked Luke.

The boy grinned as if he knew something Taran didn’t. The
grin was a nice change from the sullen kid he’d met in February. But he
understood what’d gone on during that walk.

Taran was going to have to give Luke the sex talk Phalen had
drilled into his head when he’d started dating. Don’t rush the girl. Respect
her at all times. No means no and not saying no doesn’t mean yes, only yes
means yes. Wear a condom!

Luke removed his backpack, opened it and took out his
sketchpad. “Drew this while we were waiting for the derby to start. What do you
think?”

Taran took the pad. Wow, impressive. Luke’s earlier drawings
were all good, yet something had changed. This drawing of Emily showed more
maturity. She was still depicted in super heroine fashion, but her features
were prettier, softer and more realistic.

“This is excellent, Luke.” Being sure to look at Emily so
she could watch his mouth when talking, he spoke directly to her. “You all
right, Emily?”

“Yes, Mr. Maddox, I’m fine. Thanks,” she answered, grinning
shyly.

Her voice was a little flat due to her hearing loss, but
since getting to know her, he’d gotten used to it. He really liked her and
thought she was a sweet girl who’d begun to blossom around Luke, especially in
her role as tutor.

Recently, Emily told him and Samantha that she planned on
majoring in education when she went to college next fall. Already, she’d helped
Luke bring up his grades and ace his paper on
Romeo and Juliet
.

Better yet, Emily’s father wasn’t as forbidding about Luke
hanging out with her anymore. Taran and Sam had spoken with him, twice
chaperoning them when they’d gone to the movies.

“I heard Sam said yes,” Luke said.

“She’s going to be my wife. You okay with that, son?”

“Yeah, as long as you stay true to her, I’m good with it,”
Luke answered, smiling again. “When are you going to teach me to drive?”

“This summer, after school lets out,” Taran said.

“Great. Did I mention your Uncle’s been putting the moves on
my aunt?”

“Has he now?” Taran asked. He knew, Samantha told him and
Glenda showed him a text.

“Heck yeah, I’m thinking the daisies he sent her this
morning were a sure sign that he’ll be making a visit to Framingham.”

“Hope so,” Taran said. “You interested in crashing at the
brownstone soon? Sam and I have to go somewhere next week, but we could arrange
something for when we get back.”

“Can Emily come?”

“Not for the night. She can stay for movies and popcorn.”

Luke frowned, making as if he was going to argue, and
thought better of it. “Okay, guess it’s for the best.”

“Take it slowly with her, Luke,” Taran said softly, clapping
his hand on Luke’s shoulder to be sure he heard him exclusively. “Enjoy the
rest of spring and summer together, but don’t forget she’s going to college
next fall, know what I’m saying?”

“I like her, Taran.”

“I know you do. That’s why I’m telling you to take it slow.
She’s shy and real sweet. Treat her right.”

“Maybe you’d give me some advice? I want to ask her to her
senior prom in May.”

“Anytime, be glad to talk.” Taran nodded, letting Luke go.

“Thanks, man.” It took all of five seconds for the kid to
rock back on the bleacher and prop his arm behind Emily, using the bleacher
behind him for support.

“You like the derby, Emily?” Luke asked when she looked at
him.

“Um-hmm, thanks,” she said, making a grab for the soda she’d
placed between her feet.

“You’re going to have to talk to that boy about sex, and soon,”
Alex whispered, waiting until Luke and Emily weren’t paying attention to them.
“The way he’s looking at Emily, I’d say he’s thinking about more than dancing
with her on prom night.”

“Heard the conversation, did you?”

“Only the last part,” Alex said.

“Luke’s still a virgin. There’s time.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, pretty sure, before he met her he was too shy to talk
to girls much less take things further. By the way, thank you for letting us
move all of our equipment to the castle before the brownstone renovations
begin.”

“Sure, no problem, Doc and I will take care of it,” Alex
said.

“Alex, soon as it’s legally possible, Samantha and I are
going to apply to become foster parents. We both feel as if we could be
positive influences for older kids.”

“That’s great, I’m happy for the two of you.”

The music overhead blared, Samantha’s theme song making the
whole roller rink shake. At once, the Femme Fatale fans leaped to their feet,
shouting and cheering.

“Guess that means, Slam Bam Sam pivoted and scored,” Alex
commented.

“She’s pretty amazing,” Taran said, waiting until the uproar
returned to a conversable level and sat back down.

“Yeah, remember what I said, little bro, take care of her or
Ryan and I will take you out to the Maddox shed.”

“Don’t I know it? No worries. I had good examples around me
while growing up, you for one.”

“You think I’m a pain in the ass.”

“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be family,” Taran stated,
knocking his elbow into Alex’s rib cage to drive his point home.

“Careful, wouldn’t want to remind you which of us can take
down the other.”

“Ha, the other day, I won,” Taran reminded him.

“The other day, I let you win.”

“Is that a challenge for a rematch?”

“At Phalen’s and my new dojo,” Alex replied. “Contract’s
been finalized.”

“Well now, I’d say, bring it on. I’ve got moves you haven’t
seen yet.”

“Watching Bruce Lee movies with Sam won’t help you.”

Taran laughed, reaching down for the bucket of popcorn he’d
set on the bench, grabbing a handful and throwing it at Alex’s head. They
lobbed popcorn for a couple of seconds before Ethan got into the act.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be watching the women?” Hazard
Osbourne, linebacker for the Alexandria Griffins, interrupted from nearby,
dodging popcorn as it flew around the bleachers.

“The only one I came to see is my fiancée. You should think
about that, Osbourne. Alex’s sister deserves a ring by now,” Taran suggested.