Page 7 of Need

His smile took a slightly rueful turn for just a second. It was so quick that if I had not been so used to watching for subtle reactions, I would have missed it. “Just wanted to make sure your secretary gave you the final grant proposals for your signature. They need to get out this week.”

“She did,” I said in a tone that I hoped made clear that I did not appreciate him second-guessing my assistant and her ability to do her job.

He continued to sit there, and his eyes began taking in my office as a whole. It was quite apparent that he was looking for something. I just had no idea what. Karl had been in my office many times before, yet he had never scrutinized it so closely.

“Is there something else you needed?”

That seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he’d been in. “Um. No. No. I’ll just...”

He stood fluidly from the chair and headed toward the door. I lowered my head back down to my paperwork in clear dismissal.

I heard the knob turn and the door begin to open slightly. “One more thing,” he said.

My frustration rising, I raised my gaze to meet his across the room. An all-too-innocent expression crossed his face. “I was wondering if you were planning on bringing that girl with you Saturday night. What was her name?” He paused. “Oh yes, Brianna.”

It took a great deal of effort to keep my face from showing the emotion I was feeling, but I managed. I had not had a chance to talk to Brianna about Saturday. She was still leery of people, but I was hoping she would accompany me. Karl, however, did not need to have any doubts as to Brianna’s availability.

“Yes,” I said, keeping it simple.

His mouth pulled down in a false frown. “Pity,” he said, then turned his back on me and left.

I hadn’t realized just how much rage I was feeling at Karl’s show of interest in Brianna until I heard the pen I’d been holding snap in half. He’d be there Saturday night. North Memorial was where it had all started for The Coleman Foundation. It was an important event for not only the hospital, but for us as well.

After throwing my now-useless pen in the trash, I tried to pick up where I’d left off, but couldn’t. The only thing I could think about was Brianna. Before I could second-guess myself too much, I picked up the phone and dialed her cell phone.

She answered on the second ring. “Hello—” She paused. “Hello.”

Brianna was still having trouble figuring out what to call me. She hadn’t actually called me anything since we’d talked about names yesterday.

“Hello, Brianna. How’s your morning so far?”

“Good, Um...”

I decided to address the point directly. “You may call me whatever you wish, you know.”

“I know,” she said shyly. “It just doesn’t feel right to call you by your name.”

“Try it.”

“What?” she gasped.

I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped my lips. “Say my name.”

“I... I...”

“Don’t say you can’t, because I know that you can. You are capable of so much, Brianna. You just have to push beyond your fear.”

She was quiet for so long that I thought she wasn’t going to respond. Then, I heard my name spoken in what barely qualified as a whisper.

“Again,” I said.

“Ste... phan,” she squeaked.

It was louder, but she could do better. “Again, Brianna.”

She paused and I could almost see her pressing her lips together on the other end of the line. “Stephan.”

My name was still foreign on her lips, but it was progress. “Thank you.”

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