A career change that might take her in a completely new direction—onto the front line even—had never occurred to her. Until now.
‘I might think about what you said,’ she told Matt as they made their way back downstairs. ‘I could do with a new life.’
‘Really? You not happy with the old one?’
Tori could have sworn she read real concern in Matt’s eyes and she bit back the denial leaping to her lips.
‘It’s been a weird few months,’ she admitted. ‘I’m not enjoying anything right now as much as I used to.’
‘What happened to change things?’ Matt not only slowed down on the stairs, he paused on the landing. Tori stopped as well.
‘It’s your fault again,’ she said with a grin. ‘It was that USAR course that did it.’
Matt raised his eyebrows in both a silent protest and question.
‘You remember that cyclone that was happening in the Pacific then?’
Matt nodded but then frowned. ‘But USAR didn’t get activated for that.’
‘They sent a medical relief team, though, and thanks to doing that course, Sarah got called. I couldn’t go because my leg wasn’t up to it, but she went.’
‘Sarah’s your sister, yes?’
‘Foster-sister really, but we’re very close. We were both still living at home and we looked after Mum for ages before she died last year.’
‘I’m not quite following how this is my fault yet.’ Matt’s attention was fully focused on Tori and the sensation was far from unpleasant.
‘I went to that course and dragged Sarah along purely for your benefit, you know.’
‘Really?’
Tori nodded firmly. ‘I’d decided you two were perfect for each other.’
‘We were?’
Tori nodded again. ‘She loves kids and you’re running a private orphanage.’
Matt laughed. ‘Hardly. They are family.’
‘Yeah. And you were just too nice a guy to say no.’
‘That’s me.’
‘Modest as well.’ Tori grinned. ‘I’m actually quite disappointed you’re not going to be my brother-in-law.’
‘I haven’t had a chance to try,’ Matt protested. ‘Where’s Sarah? Not that I’ve proposed to anyone for a while, but I’m prepared to give it a shot.’
‘I’ve been trying to tell you,’ Tori growled. ‘Sas went off to help with that cyclone relief team and she never came back.’
‘What?’
‘She got kind of involved with someone there. She’s living in London now but they’re going back to Fiji to get married in a couple of months.’
‘I guess she won’t want another proposal, then.’ Matt shook his head philosophically. ‘Story of my life.’
‘Well, it’s changed my life, too, you know.’ Tori sighed. ‘I’m living alone for the first time in my life, rattling around in a house that’s far too big. Nobody wants to come and live with me because it’s too far out of town, and I can’t sell up because it’s half Sarah’s house and, anyway, it’s where I grew up so I don’t really want to sell up.’ Tori smiled a little sadly. ‘So, here I am with the freedom to be out having a wild old time but instead I’m working all hours and missing having Sas around. My job was what was holding it all together and now—thanks to you—I’m starting to feel like it might not be exactly what I want to be doing.’
Matt’s pager sounded and he read the message. ‘Joe’s waiting for me. I’d better head back. Nice long drive out to the country. Hardly an exciting end to the day.’
‘Beats being stuck inside, waiting for another sprained ankle or a sore tummy that’s going to be around for hours demanding to know why something isn’t being done to fix them.’
Matt held the fire stop door open for Tori this time. ‘Seeing as it’s all my fault that life is less than perfect for you right now, why don’t I make amends?’
Despite herself, Tori’s heart gave an unusually vigorous thump. There was no disputing Matt’s attractiveness, and even being the object of conversational attention was enjoyable. How far would he go to make life a bit more interesting?
‘Keep talking,’ Tori instructed.
‘Come out on the road properly some time. I can arrange for you to be on board as an observer—especially if you are at all interested in changing careers.’
‘Who would I go out with?’
Matt grinned. ‘I don’t think Joe would protest at having you as third crew, and seeing as I’ve mucked up your life I feel obliged to help you find a bit of excitement again.’
Tori’s nod was satisfied. ‘Sounds fair to me. I’ll talk to my people and get back to you.’
* * *
‘We’re just good friends.’
Tori’s airy statement earned her a black look from Maureen, who dropped the magazine she’d been leafing through and stalked out of the emergency department’s staffroom.
Erin, the nurse who had brought up the subject of Tori’s relationship with Matt, eyed the abandoned seat at the table and gave Tori a meaningful glance.
‘Someone’s not happy.’
Tori shrugged. ‘She’s on the hunt for a new boyfriend. She liked the look of Matt.’
‘Can’t say I blame her.’ Erin took another bite of her sandwich. ‘So how long have you been seeing him now?’
‘I’m not seeing him, Erin. When I said we’re just good friends, I meant it. I’ve been out on the road with him a couple of times. I’m seriously thinking of becoming an AO.’
‘You’re kidding!’
‘Nope. I love it. Every job is different and you never know where you’re going to be next. We went from this mansion, which actually had a maid to let us in, the other night to an incident at a gang headquarters, where the police had to escort us inside for safety.’
Erin shuddered visibly. ‘And what happens when the police aren’t there?’
Tori ignored the warning. ‘It was a gunshot wound,’ she said. ‘With a hole in his chest sucking in air. I had to seal it with my hand until we could get an occlusive dressing on it, and then we had to load and go with the armed offenders squad outside dealing with the rival gang.’ She sighed happily. ‘It was really exciting!’
‘I’d rather be in here with a few security guards sitting on the troublemakers,’ Erin said firmly. ‘In fact, I think I’ve had about enough of Emergency. I’m thinking of transferring back to Orthopaedics.’
‘I love it,’ Tori repeated. ‘Especially being out with Matt and Joe. They’re great fun.’
‘Hmm.’ Erin’s expression was supremely tolerant. ‘Just good friends, huh?’
* * *
‘We’re just good friends,’ Tori said again later that night when Sarah rang from London. ‘He’s such a nice guy, Sas. Maybe you should reconsider.’
‘When I’ve got Ben? Not in this lifetime, kid!’
Tori suppressed the pang of totally unreasonable envy that Sarah had found ‘the real thing’. It wasn’t even on her own agenda, was it? Not