Morning Star
Chapter 1
"Yes!" Gage practically shouted as he returned the phone to its cradle and leapt from his chair. "Trivette, I have a date tonight with a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader!"
"How did you pull that off?" asked Trivette, grinning in amusement at Gage's youthful exuberance and obvious delight.
"Must be my charm." Gage replied, not catching Trivette's indulgent expression. "Last week, after we went to the game, just as you pulled away from the parking lot Jennifer just walked up to me and we got talking. I gave her my phone number, you know, in case she should ever need the services of a Texas Ranger."
"Naturally." Trivette responded. "So, it's Jennifer is it?"
"Mmmm, hmmm" replied Gage "Tall, blonde, blue eyes, legs that go on forever."
"Sounds like a good match for you."
Lost in his thoughts, Gage just mumbled "Mmmm, hmmm" again.
Frozen, Sydney Cooke stopped just short of the office doors. Gage has a date tonight? Tonight? Well - tall, blonde, blue eyes, long legs, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Yep, sure sounded like someone would Gage would jump at the chance to go out with. And no denying it, Trivette was right, someone like that would be a good match for Gage.
So why was she standing out here in the hallway, eavesdropping on this conversation? Straightening her shoulders, Sydney strode into the office, opening the door with significantly more force than was necessary.
"Good morning Sydney!" Trivette spoke, shaking Gage out of his reverie.
"Good morning." Sydney replied, trying her best to sound unshaken by the conversation she had heard, but failing somewhat. Her greeting sounded flat, especially to her own ears.
Gage turned from his standing position at Trivette's desk, and being unable to read Syd's unsmiling expression, interpreted it as his partner's need for a cup of coffee. Striding over to the coffee pot he poured her a cup and brought it to her. In mock servitude he presented her with the cup.
"Your beverage m'lady." Gage spoke, bowing as he placed the cup on her desk, giving her one of his patented All-American smiles.
"Thank you." She spoke quietly and sat down at her desk.
Gage looked at her quizzically. Normally such a ridiculous gesture either brought a smile to his partner's lips or a retort that she didn't need to be served and was capable of getting her own coffee, thank you very much. Today, it elicited nothing but an uncharacteristically quiet thank you. He was about to ask if she was alright when Trivette spoke with great enthusiasm.
"So, Sydney – have you heard about Gage's hot date tonight? He's going out with a Dallas cheerleader."
"Really? Wow, that's great Gage." Syd tried to sound bright. "Congratulations. I'm sure that you'll have a great time."
Trivette immediately noticed the shift in Syd tone and the false brightness which punctuated every word. He studied the way that Syd was avoiding Gage's gaze, yet trying to look interested. How had he not noticed this before?
"Thanks Syd. I was thinking of taking her to Lyman's, over on 48th, what do you think? Not too intimate for a first date, but fancy enough to show that she's special."
"I really wouldn't know Gage."
"Aw, c'mon Syd, you've got the woman's perspective and all. How would you feel if a first date took you to Lyman's?"
"Gage..." sighing, but then covering it with a cough, Syd replied. "I am sure that Lyman's will be great. You are the one with all the expertise in dating, after all. Umm, look guys, I missed my morning workout today so I think I'll head down to the gym."
"Want some company? I'm sure I could use a good workout to get ready for my date tonight."
Before Syd could respond, Trivette spoke up.
"Actually Gage, I uh, really need your help on these files."
"Sorry Syd, duty calls." Gage rolled his eyes and headed over to Jimmy's desk, not even realizing that Syd had not responded to his suggestion.
Her coffee untouched, Syd left the office.
Chapter 1
"Yes!" Gage practically shouted as he returned the phone to its cradle and leapt from his chair. "Trivette, I have a date tonight with a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader!"
"How did you pull that off?" asked Trivette, grinning in amusement at Gage's youthful exuberance and obvious delight.
"Must be my charm." Gage replied, not catching Trivette's indulgent expression. "Last week, after we went to the game, just as you pulled away from the parking lot Jennifer just walked up to me and we got talking. I gave her my phone number, you know, in case she should ever need the services of a Texas Ranger."
"Naturally." Trivette responded. "So, it's Jennifer is it?"
"Mmmm, hmmm" replied Gage "Tall, blonde, blue eyes, legs that go on forever."
"Sounds like a good match for you."
Lost in his thoughts, Gage just mumbled "Mmmm, hmmm" again.
Frozen, Sydney Cooke stopped just short of the office doors. Gage has a date tonight? Tonight? Well - tall, blonde, blue eyes, long legs, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Yep, sure sounded like someone would Gage would jump at the chance to go out with. And no denying it, Trivette was right, someone like that would be a good match for Gage.
So why was she standing out here in the hallway, eavesdropping on this conversation? Straightening her shoulders, Sydney strode into the office, opening the door with significantly more force than was necessary.
"Good morning Sydney!" Trivette spoke, shaking Gage out of his reverie.
"Good morning." Sydney replied, trying her best to sound unshaken by the conversation she had heard, but failing somewhat. Her greeting sounded flat, especially to her own ears.
Gage turned from his standing position at Trivette's desk, and being unable to read Syd's unsmiling expression, interpreted it as his partner's need for a cup of coffee. Striding over to the coffee pot he poured her a cup and brought it to her. In mock servitude he presented her with the cup.
"Your beverage m'lady." Gage spoke, bowing as he placed the cup on her desk, giving her one of his patented All-American smiles.
"Thank you." She spoke quietly and sat down at her desk.
Gage looked at her quizzically. Normally such a ridiculous gesture either brought a smile to his partner's lips or a retort that she didn't need to be served and was capable of getting her own coffee, thank you very much. Today, it elicited nothing but an uncharacteristically quiet thank you. He was about to ask if she was alright when Trivette spoke with great enthusiasm.
"So, Sydney – have you heard about Gage's hot date tonight? He's going out with a Dallas cheerleader."
"Really? Wow, that's great Gage." Syd tried to sound bright. "Congratulations. I'm sure that you'll have a great time."
Trivette immediately noticed the shift in Syd tone and the false brightness which punctuated every word. He studied the way that Syd was avoiding Gage's gaze, yet trying to look interested. How had he not noticed this before?
"Thanks Syd. I was thinking of taking her to Lyman's, over on 48th, what do you think? Not too intimate for a first date, but fancy enough to show that she's special."
"I really wouldn't know Gage."
"Aw, c'mon Syd, you've got the woman's perspective and all. How would you feel if a first date took you to Lyman's?"
"Gage..." sighing, but then covering it with a cough, Syd replied. "I am sure that Lyman's will be great. You are the one with all the expertise in dating, after all. Umm, look guys, I missed my morning workout today so I think I'll head down to the gym."
"Want some company? I'm sure I could use a good workout to get ready for my date tonight."
Before Syd could respond, Trivette spoke up.
"Actually Gage, I uh, really need your help on these files."
"Sorry Syd, duty calls." Gage rolled his eyes and headed over to Jimmy's desk, not even realizing that Syd had not responded to his suggestion.
Her coffee untouched, Syd left the office.