Changes Part 21


"Brooke? What are you doing here?" Said Megan as she jumped from her desk to give her friend a hug. "I am so glad to see you! You look great! I didn’t even know you were out yet."
"No one knows but Katie. I got released this morning so I called her to pick me up. It’s good to see you too Megan!" She hugged her. "Thanks for the lovely flowers you sent and the books and magazines."
"Why are you back here so soon?"
"I didn’t want to just go home and sit around the house. I won’t stay all day but I wanted to see people, to feel like I’m part of life again.' She smiled at Megan and touched the bandages on the side of her face. "I don’t look too scary do I?"
"You look wonderful!" Megan said as she took in Brooke’s short summery sundress and sexy white sandals.
"What’s all the excitement about?" Eric asked as he walked over. "Brooke! My God what are you doing here?" He gave her a big hug.
"Surprised you huh?" She said as she kissed him on the cheek. "I got sprung today!"
"Well you shouldn’t be working!"
"Who’s working?" She said with a smile. "I just thought I might ask my friend Megan to lunch."
"I’d love to go to lunch with you." Megan answered.
"I can’t believe that you’re here." Eric shook his head. "Does Ridge know?"
"No one knows but you two and Katie. I didn’t even tell Taylor yet."
"Surely Connor knows." Eric stated.
"Well, no, he doesn’t know either. I figured he’d rush me home and make me go to bed and I wanted to be out. You don’t know how good it feels."
Brooke looked at her office door. "I’m a bit scared to go in there again though."
"The police are done in there Brooke." Megan assured her. "I had the carpet torn out and replaced. There is a chair and a new coffee table, wood this time and everything is all cleaned up."
"Thanks Megan. Maybe I should just go in and rid myself of these ghosts."
"I’ll go in with you Brooke." Eric volunteered.
"Thanks, but I have to face it myself. If I don’t I may never be able to get back to normal."
"Brooke!" Ridge shouted when he saw her. He ran over to her and lifted her into the air and spun her around. "Oh Logan I am so relieved to see you back here again!" He kissed her.
"Business couldn’t go on without me huh?" She said with a smile.
"I couldn’t go on without you." He answered. "Logan why didn’t you tell me you would be here today?"
"I didn’t know till Michael let me out today."
"Let me look at you." He said as he stepped back to take her in. "Amazing! You look fantastic!"
"Thanks Ridge, I feel fantastic too." She smiled at Ridge but was overtaken by the sadness in his eyes. "We have to talk Ridge." She said softly to him as she took his hand.
"There’s nothing that can be changed Logan." She said with a sigh.
"You don’t know that. I still have hope for you two."
"It’s over. But look, we can talk about this later. Why don’t I take you to lunch?" He said with a smile.
"Too late! I already asked Megan."
"Well then we can all go. What do you say?"
"I say you two go." Megan answered. "Brooke and I can go anytime. I think you two need time together."
"Thanks Megan. What do you say Brooke?" Ridge asked.
"First I have to see my office."
"Okay let’s go." Ridge answered.
"No. I have to do this alone. You go to your office and I’ll meet you there in half an hour okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive." She turned to Ridge, Eric and Megan. "I have to do this."
"I’ll be right outside." Megan promised.
"You call me if you need me." Eric supplied.
"Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?" Ridge asked.
"Thanks Ridge, but I’m okay." She told him as she put her hand on the doorknob.

"Do you live here now?" Stephanie rudely asked when Bryan answered the door at Brooke’s home.
"Not that it’s any of your business but no." He answered. "I suppose you’re here to see Taylor."
"Well I certainly didn’t come to see you." She walked in. "Would you mind leaving? I have personal things to speak to Taylor about. Things that don’t concern you."
"Everything about Taylor concerns me but I would be happy to give you two some time alone. Let me go see if she’s dressed yet. We slept rather late this morning." He said with a grin as he saw her grimace. "I’ll be right back." He walked upstairs.
Stephanie looked around the house randomly picking things up and putting them back down.
"I have you to blame for this Brooke. She would never have brought him to her own home." She picked up a framed picture of Brooke with Ridge and Thorne. "At lease I have you out of their lives. You go marry your Connor and stay away from us." She dropped the picture to the floor making sure the expensive glass frame broke.
"What happened?" Taylor asked as she came down the stairs. She was wearing a short silk robe and her hair was tied back in an impromptu ponytail.
"Oh, I knocked it over with my purse. So clumsy of me." Stephanie replied. "I’m sure the maid can clean it up."
"I will." Taylor said as she got to her knees and started picking up the pieces of glass. "I don’t want the children to cut themselves."
"Where did HE go?" Stephanie asked.
"Bryan is in the shower. He’s going to go to the office as soon as her dresses." She reached for a stray piece of glass and it became clear to Stephanie that Taylor had nothing on underneath her robe.
"Did I disturb you?"
"Well actually you did Stephanie. Bryan and I were still in bed."
"You aren’t even divorced yet Taylor." She sternly commented.
"Yes, I guess you must have forgotten to tell Ridge that before he visited Morgan."
"Taylor, I didn’t come here to fight."
"Why did you come here?" She asked as she stood up. "I know you don’t approve but what do you expect me to do just crumble up and die? I never wanted this to happen but it did. Ridge was the one who cheated on me. My marriage was over when Bryan and I got together."
"Taylor, your marriage isn’t over yet. You still have time to change things."
"Morgan is having Ridge’s baby. There is nothing to change Stephanie."
"And if she wasn’t?"
"He still made love to her."
"Made love?" Stephanie spat. "They rutted like a couple of dogs! They never made love. The only one Ridge ever made love to in his life was you!"
"Stephanie that’s ridiculous. You are trivializing his marriages to Caroline and Brooke."
"Well maybe he did love Caroline." Stephanie admitted.
"He loved Brooke too. That’s his problem. He doesn’t know how to love only one woman."
"He only loves you."
"Yeah, this week." She threw up her hands, which lifted her robe to barely cover herself.
"Taylor you know that isn’t true. And why don’t you go put some clothes on. For heavens sake I can see everything! I can’t think straight looking at you like that!"
"We weren’t expecting company." She answered as she tugged at the robe. "I’ll get dressed as soon as Bryan is done."
"Do you love him?"
"Bryan?"
"No! Ridge!" Stephanie incredulously asked.
"I did."
"And you don’t anymore?"
"I don’t want to talk about this anymore Stephanie."
"Why Taylor why? Why are you throwing your marriage away for that man?"
"I am not throwing away my marriage. Your son already did that. And as for Bryan, yes I love him, I love him very much."
"It’s only revenge Taylor, can’t you see that?"
"No it isn’t Stephanie. Bryan and I go back years and years. I almost married him once and this time I will."
"You’re going to marry him?" Stephanie turned white as a sheet. She slowly sunk into a deep soft chair. "Please Taylor, tell me this isn’t true."
"Stephanie are you alright?" She ran to her mother in law and put her hand on her forehead.
"Please Taylor don’t do this. You can’t." She begged.
"Stephanie let me get you a glass of water." Taylor started towards the kitchen but Stephanie grabbed her by her robe and pulled her back.
"Taylor, have your fun with this man, have your revenge. Screw him inside out and upside down if you have to but don’t marry him! Taylor you and Ridge can still save your marriage."
"But Stephanie." She looked her in the eyes. "I don’t want to."
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Stephanie cried as she clutched her chest. "Oh Taylor, help me Taylor!" She said as she passed out and slid to the floor. Taylor just stood there in shock staring at her until she recovered enough to scream. "Bryan! Help me Bryan!"

Brooke slowly closed the door behind her and turned on the light. Her eyes were quickly drawn to where the table had been.
"What?" She cried as she saw the large pool of blood and shards of broken glass. She blinked her eyes and it was gone. "Whoa girl, you’re spooking yourself."
She walked to the new table and touched it’s smooth surface reassuring herself that it was really there. She slowly moved to her desk and sat on the new soft leather chair.
"This is nice." She said as she opened her top drawer. Everything was exactly as she left it. Suddenly her eyes jumped to the door as a bright flash went off.
"Ahhh!" She screamed only to realize it was another hallucination. "Get hold of yourself Brooke. Everything is all right. Thorne isn’t here. Thorne?" She suddenly pictured that night clearly in her head. She pushed down her intercom button. "Megan! Please get Eric and Ridge in here right away! Hurry!"
The two men burst into her office.
"What’s wrong Brooke?" Eric asked.
"Logan what is it?"
"Thorne!" She said in a strange voice.
"No Logan, Thorne isn’t here. We told him to stay away from Forrester until things calmed down." Ridge explained.
"No Ridge, I can see it now. I can see it all. The lights went out and I saw a flash and I felt the pain. I looked down and I was bleeding and then I looked up and saw someone running out. But Ridge, Eric! It wasn’t Thorne!"
"Who was it Logan? Who?"
"I don’t know, but it wasn’t Thorne."
"How can you be so sure?" Eric asked her.
"Because it was a woman." She started to shake and the tears started running down her cheeks. "It was a woman."
Ridge ran to her and took her into his arms.
"It’s okay Logan, it’s okay. You’re safe, you’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you."
"Oh Ridge, it wasn’t Thorne. Thank God it wasn’t Thorne." She held him tightly. "Please don’t leave me, I’m so scared and so confused."
"I’m not going anywhere Logan." He pulled her tighter into his arms. "Dad! Call Jonathan! He has to hear this."


"You’re going to be alright Stephanie." Taylor said as she held the glass of water to her mother in law’s mouth. "Take a sip." Stephanie complied. "Another." Taylor told her. "Thank God Bryan came down and gave you CPR. I was in so much shock that I couldn’t even move."
"I’m sorry Taylor, I didn’t mean to scare you."
"It’s alright Stephanie. You’re going to be fine."
"Bryan helped me?" Stephanie asked.
"He saved your life Stephanie." Taylor answered.
"Here they come!" Bryan said as he opened the door and the sound of sirens filled the room. "In here guys!"
"Did I have another stroke?" Stephanie asked.
"I don’t know Stephanie. The paramedics are here. Bryan called them. They are going to take you to the hospital."
"I don’t want to go to the hospital."
"Ma’am, will you step aside please." The EMS worker asked Taylor. They started to examine Stephanie and Taylor went to Bryan and he took her in his arms.
"Is she alright?" He asked her.
"I think so. I have to get dressed Bryan. I have to go with her."
"You need to stay with the children. Remember you gave Katherine the day off."
"You’ll have to stay with them Bryan, she needs me."
"The kids don’t know me yet Taylor they’ll be frightened. You stay with them until you can get someone over here. I’ll go to the hospital with her."
"I don’t think that’s such a good idea Bryan, she hates you."
"She doesn’t even know me. She can’t hate me. We can’t let her go alone and you need to stay with your children." He walked over to the paramedics. "How is she?"
"She’s stable. We need to get her to the hospital so we can better evaluate her condition."
"Stephanie can you hear me?" Bryan asked.
"You saved my life." She said to him.
"I didn’t do anything that you wouldn’t have done for me. Stephanie is it all right if I come to the hospital with you? I don’t want Taylor to leave the children with a stranger."
"I don’t need to go to the hospital. I’m fine."
"You need to get checked out. Would you mind if I came with you?"
"Alright. Will Taylor follow?"
"As soon as she can get Bridget or Katie to watch the kids okay?"
"You saved my life. Why did you do that? Why didn’t you just let me die?"
"Now why would I want to do that?" He asked with a smile. "Taylor and the children love you. You and I aren’t enemies Stephanie. I certainly don’t want any harm to come to you."
"But you hate us, you hate us all."
"No I don’t. I don’t hate any of you." He said reassuringly as he tenderly wiped her sweaty brow.
"Okay we’re ready to roll." The EMS worker said.
"Can he ride in the back with me?" Stephanie asked.
"Sure." The man answered. "Let’s go."
"I’ll see you at the hospital Taylor." Bryan said as he followed the stretcher to the ambulance.



"I’m okay Ridge." Brooke said as she took a gulp of water. "I can’t believe how that all came back to me like that."
"I’m sorry you had to get so scared Logan but I sure am glad you remembered what you did."
"I hope the police believe me."
"Why wouldn’t they?"
"They may think I’m lying to save Thorne. But Ridge, I wouldn’t do that. I didn’t want him to go to jail but now I know he can’t! He really didn’t do it."
"But Logan, he was here. They have his footprints in your blood."
"Then why didn’t he help me?"
"Maybe he was helping the one who did it?"
"You mean covering up for her? Who is that important to him?" She started to cry. "I can only think of two people who are that important to him that he would leave me to die."
"Yeah, me too. But Logan why would either of them do this to you?"
"Ridge your mother has always hated me and Macy thinks it’s my fault that she and Thorne aren’t together anymore."
"Somehow this makes it even worse. He was ready to let me die just to save one of them."
"I’ll kill the bastard myself!" Ridge shouted. He came to Brooke’s side and once again took her into his arms. "No matter what happens Logan I am on your side. I lost Taylor and I will not lose you too! I swear that whomever did this to you will pay! I swear it!"
"Ridge, you haven’t lost her yet. She still loves you." Brooke said through her sobs. "I know you can work it out. I want you two to be happy."
"Oh Logan, thank you for thinking of me at a time like this but it’s way too late for that. It’s over."
"Maybe I can help you. Don’t give up Ridge, don’t let this end it for you. We lost what we had and I’ll regret that till the day I die but I’ll regret even more if we gave up our love for nothing. Please you have to fight for her."
"My sweet, sweet Logan. I never gave up my love for you. I will always love you, just like I will always love Taylor. I guess I’m just a loser Brooke. I never realize what I have till I lose it. I just hope that someday Taylor and I can get to the place where you and I are." He kissed her on the nose. "You know you’ll always mean the world to me."
"Ridge, Morgan isn’t half the woman Taylor is. Why are you throwing in the towel like this?"
"I thought you liked Bryan."
"I do like Bryan, but I LOVE you. And I love Taylor too. And she is still so in love with you Ridge."
"I wish there was a way to fix it but there isn’t." He handed her a tissue. "Now wipe those pretty eyes. No more tears for me, I’m not worth it."
"Yes you are." She smiled at him. The phone suddenly rang. "Excuse me." She told him as she lifted the handset to her ear. "Brooke Logan." She said with a sniffle. Suddenly her eyes lit up and a huge grin spread across her face. "Hi! How did you know I was here? Hold on a sec." She put the phone down. "Ridge, if you don’t mind?" She smiled at him.
"No problem Logan, say hello to Mr. Loverboy Lawyer for me. Tell him I think he has great taste in fiancées." He grinned at her as he walked out. Brooke picked up the phone again.
"Sorry about that. Ridge was here. Hello Michael." She smiled.

"I have to call Eric!" Taylor said to Katie who was straightening up the room form the mess the paramedics had left.
Taylor picked up the phone and punched in his number.
"Eric Forrester." He answered.
"Eric! It’s Taylor. You have to get to the hospital right away! I think Stephanie had another stroke."
"What?"
"She was here. We were arguing and suddenly she grabbed her chest and passed out. The ambulance just left. I was waiting for Katie to get here to watch the kids. I’m on my way over right now."
"Oh my God! How is she? Is she conscious?"
"Yes." She replied. "The paramedic said she was stable but I’m worried Eric. This has happened way too often."
"Thanks Taylor, I’ll get Ridge and get right over there. Do me a favor and call Thorne would you?"
"Oh course Eric." She said and they hung up.

"Mrs. Forrester you have to keep the oxygen mask on." The paramedic insisted as she put the mask back into place over Stephanie’s mouth and nose.
"I can breathe fine. I need to talk to Mr. Jackson." She said as she pushed the mask off again. "Now Bryan, you seem to be a reasonable man. And a kind one too. Can’t you find it in your heart to leave Taylor alone for awhile? Can’t you give them a little time to see if they can work their marriage out."
"Stephanie, it isn’t what Taylor wants."
"She doesn’t know what she wants. Sure she enjoys a stud like you in her bed, and sure she is getting her revenge this way but they have a family. If you weren’t in the picture I’m sure they would be back together by now."
"I offered to give her time. She didn’t want it. I love her Mrs. Forrester."
"Think of those adorable little children. How can you let them grow up in a broken home?"
"I didn’t break their home Mrs. Forrester, your son did. I came along after Taylor left him."
"But she would have gone back, don’t you see. Please give them some time. If it doesn’t work out then I will give you my blessing."
"That’s very kind of you but I don’t need your blessing. I love Taylor and I plan on marrying her as soon as she is ready."
"One month! That’s all I ask of you. Leave town for one month. Tell her you have business. I’ll pay any expenses you have. Then when you come back if she and Ridge are back together you’ll know that that’s what she wants. If they aren’t then you can pick up where you left off. That isn’t asking very much Bryan. One short, tiny month."
"I can barely stand to be away from her for a minute Mrs. Forrester. You have no right to ask this of me."
"Please Bryan, if you love her as much as you say you do then give that love a test. You know that saying about letting love go to see if it will come back to you."
"I did that years ago. She’s back now. I don’t want to lose her again."
"But what if you never really had her? Think about that? One month, you can do that."


"Really, I’m fine. I just needed to be out. I’m so tired of being cooped up." Brooke told Michael.
"I think that’s great, but I really don’t think you need all the stress from work."
"I really just wanted to see some of my friends. I’m going to have lunch and then I’ll leave."
"I have a better idea."
"You do?" Brooke said with a smile.
"Do you like sailing?"
"I love it."
"Great! Don’t move! I will be at Forrester in fifteen minutes. You and I are going out on my sailboat."
"Michael, that sounds wonderful but I already made plans."
"Break them! It’s a beautiful day for a sail. I have me pressing issues for today. The fresh air will do
you a world of good. Come on Brooke say yes."
"Yes!" She replied with a smile.
"Great! I’ll pick up a picnic lunch and then pick you up. This will be fun."
"I can’t wait."
"Me either." He said and they hung up. Brooke felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she was grinning from ear to ear. "I better tell Ridge I have to cancel." She started to pick up the phone but decided to tell him in person. "Thank goodness I’m dressed for it." Brooke thought as she picked up her purse, turned off the lights and closed the door to her office.
"Megan what’s wrong?" Brooke asked seeing the expression on her secretary’s face.
"Stephanie had another stroke Brooke. They took her to the hospital."
"Oh no. How did it happen?"
"I don’t know. Ridge and Eric just left to go to her. Ridge asked me to apologize to you."
"Oh course, I understand he has to be with her. I hope the old battleaxe is okay."
"Brooke! That isn’t nice."
"Oh come on Megan, you know how we feel about each other. Seriously, I do hope she’s okay. Especially if it turns out that it was her. In that case I want to be the one to make her pay."
"If what was her?"
"Nevermind, it’s not important." Brooke told her. "I’m leaving for the rest of the day. I really just came in to say hello. Do me a favor and let Eric know that any decisions he makes are alright with me okay Megan?"
"Sure Brooke. You sure seem happy. Big date huh?"
"You bet!" She replied with a grin.

"I’m going to talk to Dr. Cannon Ridge. You go in and see your mother." Eric told his son.
"Okay Dad." Ridge told him and headed for her room. He was taken by surprise to see Stephanie sitting up in the bed and laughing with Bryan.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He angrily asked Bryan.
"Bryan brought me here honey. Don’t worry I’m fine. He was just keeping me company till you got here. He was telling me a joke."
"A joke? You’re sitting in the hospital laughing with the man who stole my wife?"
"Lighten up Ridge. Your mother is just fine. The doctor said she’s doing fine. He was just waiting your you to get here and take her home." He turned to Stephanie. "I’m glad you’re doing so well. You take care now."
"You’ll think about what I asked?" Stephanie said with a serious expression.
"I will." He answered. "Ridge, take good care of her." He said and he walked out.
"What the hell was that about?"
"Bryan saved my life honey. He gave me CPR. He’s not so bad. Maybe you can all be friends, you and Morgan and Bryan and Taylor."
"Are you nuts?"
"You know, go on a double date. Have little baby parties together."
"I don’t believe this."
"Well that is what this is all heading to!" She said sternly. "If you can’t be bothered trying to save your marriage then maybe it’s up to me. I think my little plan worked rather well don’t you?"
"Your little plan? Don’t tell me this mother, don’t tell me this was all an act!"
Stephanie laughed as she pretended to hold up an award. "I’d like to thank my producer, my costar Taylor as unwitting as she was and all the little people out there."
"You didn’t have a stroke at all did you?"
"Well Dr. Cannon thinks I had a, what did he call it, oh yes a little incident. Me I just call it good drama. But honey I think it worked. Bryan is starting to feel sorry for me. I think I can get him to back away from Taylor."
"Mother, this isn’t about Bryan and Taylor, it’s about Morgan and my baby."
"Oh I have plans for Morgan too honey, don’t you worry about that."
"How could you worry us all like this?"
"And how could you sleep with that tramp?" She shouted.
"Which tramp are you talking about this time mother?"
"This time I meant Morgan. You and Taylor have convinced me that Brooke isn’t a problem for you that way for now. I have to concentrate on Morgan. I can get back to Brooke later."
"You will never cease to amaze me. Mother it’s finished, it’s over. Please don’t interfere with this anymore. Morgan and I are doing as Dad asked, we’re getting married and there is nothing you can do to change that."
"I wouldn’t be so sure." She said with a smile. "Now why don’t you wait outside while I get dressed. I have a lot of work to do."


"Thank you Dr. Cannon, thank you so much." A relieved Eric said as he shook the doctor’s hand. "I promise I will make sure she is not upset again."
"You do that Eric. I don’t know how many more of these she can take. We were very lucky this time. I’ve signed the release papers so you and Ridge can take her home. Remember no more stress."
"Thank you doctor." Eric turned to head for her room when he ran into a perplexed looking Connor. "Connor, what are you doing here?"
"The same as you I imagine. I came to see Brooke and they tell me she’s gone home."
"She was at Forrester when I left her." Eric answered.
"Forrester? She went to work?"
"No she wanted to have lunch with Megan and Ridge."
"Then why are you here?"
"Stephanie has another stroke."
"Oh Eric, I’m sorry. How is she?"
"She’s alright, thanks to Bryan."
"Bryan?" Connor asked.
"Bryan gave her CPR. She was visiting Taylor when it happened. I guess the strain of seeing them together was too much for her. But Dr. Cannon assures me that she’s going to be fine. This time."
"I better get to Forrester and see if I can catch Brooke."
"Well Ridge is here with me so she and Megan might have gone alone."
"My cell phone is dead. Can I borrow yours?" Connor asked.
"Sure." Eric said as he handed it to Connor. "Memory 5 will get you to Megan’s desk."
"Great," Connor replied as he hit the preprogrammed number.
"Megan, Hi! It’s Connor. I’m glad I caught you before you and Brooke left. What? Where did she go? No, but my cell died today. Yeah, I’ll try my office. What? No I never called her. I didn’t even know she had been released. Okay thanks, I’ll ask him." He shut the phone off and handed it back to Eric. "That’s strange." He said.
"What’s that?"
"Megan said that Ridge told her that I called Brooke and that Brooke asked him to leave so we could have privacy. I wonder why he said that?"
"Well you can ask him now. Here he comes." Ridge walked over to join them.
"Mother is fine Dad. We can take her home now."
"You don’t sound very relieved son."
"You talk to her Dad, then tell me how I should feel." He turned to Connor. "Davis? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Brooke but they told me she had left."
"You knew that, you just called her at the office."
"No, I never called her."
"Well I thought it was you. She seemed really happy to hear whoever she was talking to and she sure wanted me out of there. I just assumed it was you."
"Don’t try to start trouble where there isn’t any Ridge. Brooke and I have a solid relationship."
"I never said you didn’t. All I said was she was happy to speak to whoever it was. Maybe it was her mother."
"Yeah, it probably was. But she’s not at Forrester now."
"She probably went to lunch with Megan."
"No Ridge, Megan thought she was with me. She said she looked like she was…Nevermind, I’ll find her."
Connor quickly ran to catch the elevator.
"Trouble in paradise?" Ridge said to Eric with a laugh.
"I have no idea son."
"I think I do. I think my friend might have made a move."
"Your friend?"
"Mike Copeland. I got him to do Brooke’s surgery."
"Not THAT Mike Copeland?"
"The one and only." Ridge answered.
"The only man with a worse reputation as a ladies man than you. And you set him up with Brooke?"
"Strictly professionally Dad. You know he’s the best."
"Ridge, he’ll break her heart. He does it every time and you know it."
"I didn’t fix them up for a date, I just hired him for her plastic surgery. It’s not my fault if Davis isn’t man enough for her."
"You have to let her go son. You have enough troubles already."
"Dad I have let her go, she’s my friend and I care a lot about her. I’ll talk to Mike and make sure he backs down. I don’t want to see her hurt, that’s for sure."
"Then keep Mike Copeland away from her Ridge, keep him far away from her."


"Are you sure she’s alright Bryan. Are you sure they are letting her go home?" Taylor asked.
"Eric and Ridge got there to get her so I left. She’s a tough lady baby. She’ll be fine."
"Thanks to you." She said with a kiss. "You are such a kind, wonderful man. No wonder I love you so much."
"I only did what I would do for anyone Taylor."
"But you did it for someone who only wants to tear us apart. I am so proud of you."
"There’s nothing to be proud of. You didn’t think I could just leave her there on the floor like that did you?"
"No, of course not." She hugged him tightly. "It just made me realize how special you are and how much I love you and how much I want you."
"I don’t feel very special Taylor." He pulled out of her embrace. "That poor woman might have died and it would have been all my fault. I was the cause of her stroke. I feel like a rat."
"It’s not your fault Bryan." She rubbed his arm. "It’s not your fault that you love me."
"She’s so fragile Taylor. Her whole world revolves around her family and here comes Bryan tearing it all apart."
"Fragile?" Taylor laughed. "Fragile is one thing that Stephanie Forrester definitely is not! She’s a very strong woman Bryan. She has to face facts. Ridge and I are over and my future lies with you."
"Maybe it shouldn’t."
"What?" Taylor asked in amazement.
"Maybe you should try to work it out with Ridge, maybe we are moving to fast. Taylor this really opened my eyes. I couldn’t live with myself if my love for you caused that woman her life and it might!" He punched the wall. "I hate to say this baby but I think we should take a break from each other for awhile."
"Bryan no! Please don’t do this. I need you." She begged him.
"I need to think about this baby. I love you, I love you more than life itself, but maybe I’m just screwing up your life. You need to decide what you really want. Without me hovering over you. I’ve made a decision Taylor."
"What? What kind of decision?"
"I was offered a case in Chicago. It should last about a month. I’m going to take it. Then when I come back if you still want me, the I’ll be yours forever."
"I want you now Bryan."
"You don’t really know that baby. You need this time to make sure it’s what you really want. I love you. I know that. That’s why I have to do this for you. If you choose Ridge I will understand."
"I don’t! I don’t choose Ridge! I choose you."
"In a month. I love you. I love you so much." He kissed her tenderly. "Don’t forget me baby. I love you." He said as he walked out.
"Why?" Taylor fell to her knees and cried. "Why Bryan why?"
Outside Bryan got into his car as the tears streamed down his face. "Alright Stephanie, you get your month. But after that she’s mine and damn anyone else who gets in our way."

 

Changes Part 22

Brooke was sitting on a bench outside Forrester waiting for Michael when Morgan suddenly walked up.

"Brooke! What are you doing here? I didn’t know you had gotten out of the hospital?"

"What am I doing here? I think the question is what are you doing here? I may have been gone for awhile but I certainly remember that I fired you."

"Come on Brooke, let’s let bygones be bygones. You know how it is with Ridge and me. He wants me here. And you know what a contribution I make to the company. Can’t we start over, can’t we be friends?"

"I know exactly how it is with you and Ridge." Brooke said to her. "That’s precisely why I fired you."

"You don’t want to have a lawsuit now do you?" Morgan said sweetly. "Not only that but you don’t want to pit Forrester against Forrester?"

"Ha!" Laughed Brooke. "Like that would be something new. Morgan I told you how I felt about you and I gave you a fair settlement, now why don’t you leave before I get security after you."

"Ridge and I are getting married."

"Sure you are, and I’m going to fly to the moon today."

"It’s true. He asked me yesterday."

"He’d never marry you Morgan, no matter how many babies you manage to conceive. He loves Taylor and you know it."

"You’re just jealous because I managed to get what you always wanted."

"If I wanted Ridge all I’d have to do is snap my fingers! I am totally not interested in him that way. I want him to be with Taylor, she makes him happy. And that’s all I want for him, happiness!"

"Then why did you take her away and tell her to dump him?"

"I did nothing of the sort. I took her away so she could clear her head. I totally support any decision she makes. I never told her to leave Ridge."

"Never? You seem to have forgotten quite a lot of your life Brooke."

"I meant now, not that it’s any of your business."

"You are so jealous Brooke. He dumped you so many times you can’t count them anymore. Well he’s mine now and he wants me here so I’m staying and you can’t do one single thing about it."

"You seem to be forgetting who’s the CEO here Morgan!"

"You may own 51% but you’ll never get what you really want…a Forrester! Ridge hired me back and you gave him the right to choose his own staff."

"Well maybe I’ll just change that!"

Morgan slowly rubbed her belly. "Here’s another thing you always wanted. Ridge’s baby! I hear that you tried awfully hard to have one but you just couldn’t manage to keep it inside you! Too bad! Ridge and I will have lots and lots of beautiful babies."

"You are a cruel woman Morgan. My miscarriages are a very personal thing! How dare you throw them in my face like that!"

"If you ever were really pregnant. You even tried to pawn off Eric’s kid as Ridge’s. You are pathetic Brooke!"

"Get out! Get the hell out of here!" Brooke screamed.

"As if you could make me do anything? Come on Brooke, there’s no need for us to be enemies. You have your 51% and I have Ridge, we can both be happy."

"I am not going to let you ruin my good mood Morgan! Go ahead, go in and pretend you have a place here. When I get back to work you will be gone."

"Have a nice day Brooke, oh by the way. You don’t look so bad with all those scars. Don’t pay any attention to what the press says, I don’t think children will be afraid of you when they see your face. Ta ta!" She waved and entered the building.

"Why did I ever hire her in the first place. Oh Ridge, Taylor I’m so sorry."

Suddenly a shiny silver 2000 Lexus SC 400 2-Door Coupe pulled up and stopped in front of her. Michael jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened the passenger door for her. "Your chariot awaits you!" He said with a smile.

"Get me the hell away from here Michael." Brooke told him as she got in.

"Hey what happened to the happy woman I spoke to before?"

"Morgan Dewitt." Brooke replied. He closed her door and got in his side.

"Ready?"

"Let’s go!" She replied.

He hit the gas and peeled away burning rubber.

"So who’s Morgan Dewitt" He asked.

"I don’t want to talk about her. Let’s just forget her and go have some fun."

"You got it babe!" He pushed as CD in and the car filled with the sounds of Santana Supernatural. "Is this okay?"

"It’s fine." She answered still coming off as angry.

"You know I was really surprised that you agreed to come with me today. Pleasantly surprised but surprised non the less."

"I think I surprised myself too." She said a little friendlier. "Sorry for the bad mood. That woman just, no I won’t even think about her anymore."

"Good!" He said with a smile as he rested his hand on her thigh. Brooke made no move to remove it. In fact she found that she rather enjoyed his touch. "You look lovely today."

"That’s not what Morgan said."

"I thought we weren’t going to talk about this Morgan."

"We aren’t." She looked around the car. She liked the feel of the leather seats on her bare legs but not quite as much as she liked the way his fingers were dancing on her skin. "Nice car. New?"

"I’ve had it for a few months. It gets me where I’m going."

 

My God it’s starting all over again. She thought. All I can do is imagine myself in his bed, this has to stop.

"You smell great." Brooke said. She then felt herself flush with embarrassment for being so bold.

"It’s Versace you like it?"

"Very much."

"Good." He said as he squeezed her leg. "I hoped you would." We’ll be lovers before the day is through. He thought. "Do you have a jacket? Sometimes it gets cool out on the ocean."

"No, I didn’t know I’d be on the ocean when I dressed." I sound like an idiot. She thought.

"No problem, I have a few extras, they’ll be a bit large but they’ll do the trick."

 

You can keep me warm. She thought. "Michael, thanks so much for asking me. This is just what I needed."

 

I have a lot more that you need Brooke. He thought. "Here we are." He said as he pulled into the parking lot at the marina.

"So many boats. Which one is yours?" She asked. He got out of the car and ran to open her door. He helped her out and took her hand.

"Come on! I’ll show you." They walked out on the dock to a magnificent 40-foot sailboat. "This is a Moody 42." He told her. "It’s British and it’s really nice. I picked it up at an auction for 200 G’s. This thing is cherry and it goes for at least 260. The owner died and his wife just wanted it gone. Come on lets get on board."

He helped her on and untied to boat. He started the engine and steered out of the marina. "We have to use power till we get out a bit." He explained. "Come here." He said. Brooke walked over to him and he put his arm around her. "I’m giving you warning this time."

"Yes?" She asked.

"I’m going to kiss you." He took her into his arms and kissed her deeply and intensely.

"Wow!" Brooke said aloud after they parted. "I thought we weren’t going to do that anymore."

"Are you complaining?"

"No." She said as she snuggled into his arms. "Not at all."

 

"How could you do this! How could you do this Bryan!" Taylor cried. She had been sitting on the couch crying for over an hour since Bryan had left. "I have to stop you." She blew her nose and picked up the phone. She hit in Bryan’s home number and was greeted by his answer machine.

"Bryan, if you’re there pick up. Bryan it’s Taylor please pick up. Bryan please don’t leave me, please." She said. She hung up the phone and started crying again.

"God Damn it! Why did I listen to you Stephanie?" Bryan shouted hearing the desperation in Taylor’s voice on his machine. "She loves me, I know she loves me. Why did I let you get to me? Why? This is stupid!" He said as he grabbed the phone. "I’m here baby, I’m here." But she had already hung up.

"Thorne the reason I asked you to come is that Lt. Burke and the D. A. want to ask you a few questions. I don’t know what they have in mind but as your council I wanted to keep all the doors open. If at any time you don’t want to answer or I tell you not to answer we can just walk out. Do you understand?" Jonathan asked.

"They came here? To your office?" Thorne asked.

"In light of what Brooke told Ridge today I agreed to meet them. I thought you would be more comfortable here. This is strictly informal."

"I don’t know what Brooke was talking about Jonathan. I know what I did."

"It seems that you are the only one of that opinion right now Thorne. I think that there is a good chance they will drop the charges against you if you cooperate."

"What can I do Jonathan? How much more can I cooperate than I already have."

"Thorne, let’s just hear them out shall we?" He pressed the button on his intercom. "Send them in will you Debbie?"

Lt. Burke walked in accompanied by a tall, slender, well-dressed Afro-American woman.

"Thorne, Jonathan." Said Lt. Burke. "This is Elizabeth Garner and she has a few questions for you."

 

"It’s so beautiful out here!" Brooke said excitedly to Michael. "Your boat is magnificent." They were operating at full sail and they had a wide open sea all around them.

"Would you like me to put the sails down for awhile so we can eat?"

"Do you have to?"

"Well, I don’t have a crew so yes I do. We can sail some more first if you’d rather."

"No I’m famished. I guess all the salt air does that." She walked over to him and kissed him full on the mouth. "Thank you so much. I really needed this." She started to walk away when he pulled her back to him.

"Stay." He said as he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again.

"Umm, so good." She said as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Let me put the sails down and then I’ll go below and get the food." He told her.

"Let me. I’m good in the kitchen. You do the sail stuff and I’ll set a table."

"Do you want to eat down below?"

"No, I’ll bring it back up here." She said as she headed down to the cabins. She got down and opened the refrigerator and found the bag of sandwiches he had bought. She grabbed them and a jar of pickles and a bunch of grapes. She started to close the door. A bottle of cold white wine caught her eye and she grabbed that along with two crystal wineglasses. She was about to go back up when curiosity got the better of her and she opened the door to the main cabin. Inside was a magnificent cherry wood bed with a soft mattress and dozens of pillows thrown across it. There was a mirror on the ceiling above the bed, which made her laugh out loud. Next she felt the urge to open his drawers and see what was inside. There were two large soft Terry robes, several fluffy towels and a collection of bikinis in various sizes.

"I guess these come in handy." She laughed as she looked through them. She stopped when she saw a tiny white one in her size. "Should I? Why not?" She put the supplies on the bed and stripped down. She walked to the regular mirror and examined her body. She gazed at the small bullet hole on her upper chest where she had been hit. Although it was healing nicely it still upset her. "Just a millimeter over it would have been all over for you Brooke." She told herself. "Okay let’s do it." She said as she put on the tiny swimsuit. Once more she examined herself in the mirror. "Not bad Brooke, you’ll do." She said as she picked up the supplies and made her way back up to the deck. Any doubts she had about her appearance disappeared when she saw the look on Michael’s face.

"Forget the food and get over here." He said to her.

"Nope! I’m hungry." She said as she proceeded to lay out her meal. "I see you have a lot of females guests on board."

"I have a lot of sisters." He joked.

"Liar!" She said. "Here. Open this." She handed him the wine.

"With what? My teeth?"

"Oh, I forgot the opener. Wait! I’ll go get it."

"Nevermind. I will." He patted her on the but as he walked past. She giggled and grabbed his but as he went down the stairs.

 

I’m going to make love to him today. Brooke thought. There’s not a doubt in my mind. I want him so badly it hurts. How can I do this to Connor? I just can’t think about him right now.

She looked down at the ring on her finger and slowly removed it and put it in her purse. Maybe Taylor is right. Maybe we are moving too fast. God help me I want this man, I want him now.

"Okay Brooke." She said to herself. "It’s all up to you. Whatever happens it will be your own doing."

Michael came back up with the bottle of wine, which was now open. He had changed into a swimsuit too.

"You know where we’re heading don’t you Brooke?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said.

"If you want to stop, now is the time." He said as he moved closer to her.

"I’m scared." She said with a shudder.

"Don’t be." He said. His mouth enveloped hers and her reached behind and undid the tie on the bikini top allowing it to fall to the floor. "Last chance." He said.

Brooke reached down and undid the tie that kept the bottoms up and left the to join the top. She tried to reach down to the front of his suit but he pulled her hand away.

"I am going to make you scream with desire before you’re ready for that." He said as he laid her down gently and his head disappeared between her legs.

 

"Thanks for coming back so soon Katie. I really didn’t know whom else to call. I have to find Bryan; I have to make him stay." Taylor told Brooke’s sister.

"Why did he leave? I thought you two were really tight."

"We are. But somehow he got this crazy idea that I needed more time."

"Maybe you do."

"Katie whatever I feel for Ridge is irrelevant. I will never be able to get past that child."

"You got past Bridget when you thought she was Ridge’s."

"That was different, no matter what there was Bridget was conceived in love. At least I thought so when I thought she was Ridge’s. He did love your sister at the time but he chose to be with me. As hard as it was I was able to deal with the feelings he had for Brooke. And he wasn’t cheating on me at the time. We weren’t together and I accepted that. He left my bed for Morgan’s and I can’t forgive him for that."

"But isn’t it hard to throw away your feelings for Ridge for Bryan?"

"No. I’m not exchanging one for the other. It’s different, but now I’ve lost them both."

"But you said that Bryan told you he would come back."

"I need him now." She grabbed her keys. "Thanks Katie!" She said as she walked out.

Taylor got into her car and drove to Bryan’s house. She immediately saw that there were no lights on and his car was not in the driveway but she went to the door and rang the bell anyway.

"Bryan! Are you in there Bryan?" She shouted.

"He left an hour ago." The woman next door told her.

"Was he alone?"

"I think so, he had a couple of suitcases with him. He gave me his key and asked me to take care of his mail and his plants. Told me something came up real quick. You’re his girl aren’t you?"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Then how come you don’t know this already? You two have a fight?"

"No, we didn’t have a fight." Taylor said as the tears fell from her eyes.

"Hey, are you okay? You wanna come in here for awhile?"

"Thanks but no, I have to find him."

"Don’t think you’re going to. Like I said he left over an hour ago. Headed for the airport he said. Going away for a month. But you must already know that right?"

"Yes." Taylor said with a sob. "I already knew that." She walked back to her car got in and buried her head in her hands and sobbed.

 

"Come on Thorne! Why won’t you tell us the truth?" Lt. Burke said.

"I am telling the truth lieutenant. I’m not covering for anyone."

"Mr. Forrester, Thorne," Elizabeth said softly. "I don’t want to prosecute you for a crime you didn’t commit. Your lawyer, your friends, Lt. Burke they all want to see you go free on this. Why do you refuse to help yourself?"

"I told you everything I know."

"Then start again, from the beginning." She pleaded.

"Macy and I were at Mannequins, we saw Brooke and Connor together. I got mad, I started a fight with her. I threatened her. We left, I took Macy home, and I went out again and got drunk. I got the gun, went to Brooke’s office and shot her. I saw her on the floor and I got scared so I ran out."

"Where did you get the gun?"

"I don’t remember."

"You mean you have guns laying around everywhere so all you have to do it just pick one up?"

"No. I don’t own a gun. It must have been my mother’s."

"Your mother has a gun?"

"It wasn’t Stephanie Forresters gun." Lt. Burke interrupted. "We already checked that out."

"Thorne how am I supposed to believe you when you can’t even tell me where the gun came from?"

"I was so mad, I loved he so much and I was so mad."

"You didn’t shoot her Thorne!" The D. A. shouted in exasperation.

"Then who did?" Thorne shouted back. "Who did?"

"Regrets?" Michael asked Brooke as they lay in each other’s arms on the bed in his cabin.

"One." She meekly said.

"What?"

"I didn’t open my eyes and look in the mirrors." She said with a laugh.

"We have plenty of time for that." He said as his body covered hers again.

"Are you going to make me scream and beg again?" She asked him.

"Do you want me to?"

"Oh yes!" She answered.

 

Somehow Taylor had forced herself to drive back to Brooke’s. After thanking Katie she had bathed and fed the kids and put them in for a nap. She decided that she needed some pampering so she took a long, hot bubble bath. Although it relieved her sore muscles it did nothing to relieve the aching she felt for Bryan. She almost gave in to her sadness by going to bed herself but being the kind of woman she was she pushed herself into getting dressed again and facing her problems head on.

"I wish I had asked Katie to stay, then I could have gone to the hospital to see Brooke. I know she would have found a way to make me feel better." She told herself as she looked into the mirror and combed her still wet hair. "Oh Bryan, why don’t you call me. I know I could convince you to come back." She was jolted out of her self-pity by the doorbell. A smile came to her face with the thought Maybe it’s Bryan!

She ran down the stairs and opened the door in anticipation only to come face to face with Connor.

"Connor? What are you doing here? Did Bryan send you?"

"Bryan? Don’t talk to me about Bryan. We have a ton of cases and he takes off for God know where on some whim. Leave me a message, 'Sorry man, this can’t be helped. I gotta get out of town for awhile.’ Man, I trusted him Taylor, this business needs him. I thought with you he had found some stability but no, same old Bryan. Always taking off when the going gets tough." He looked at her tear stained face. "I’m sorry Taylor, I didn’t mean to come down on you about this. Just tell Brooke I’m here and I’ll get out of your hair."

"Brooke? Brooke isn’t here. She’s in the hospital isn’t she?"

"Apparently she was released today and didn’t find it necessary to let her fiancée or her best friend know."

"She was released? How did you find out?"

"Oh this is a classic. Eric and Ridge told me. I was at the hospital to see Brooke, who wasn’t even there and they had come in to see Stephanie, who by the way is alright now."

"I know about Stephanie, I didn’t know about Brooke. Well if she isn’t at the hospital and she isn’t here then where is she?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Taylor. She WAS at Forrester but she left. Her car is still there so obviously she didn’t leave alone. Megan doesn’t know where she is, Ridge doesn’t know where she is, Eric doesn’t know where she is, or at least none of them are telling. Did you ever get that feeling you were reliving your past? Well this sure feels a hell of a lot like last time."

"I’m sure she’s fine Connor. Maybe she’s with Rick or Bridget. I haven’t seen either of them all day."

"Maybe. I don’t know Taylor. I thought we had reached a point in our relationship where we could fully trust each other. I guess she doesn’t trust me yet."

"Oh Connor come on. This has been a real trying time for her. I think she just wanted to be away from both of us for awhile."

"I hope you’re right. I don’t think I could take her leaving me again like she did before."

"Do you know where Bryan went?"

"No, he didn’t say where, just that he had to get out of town."

"He told me he had a client in Chicago."

"Bryan has never been to Chicago. He’s lying to one of us."

"He’s trying to give me time Connor."

"Time for what?"

"Do get over Ridge or to go back to him."

"I thought you made that decision already Taylor. We filed the papers and Jonathan and I leave tomorrow morning for Santa Domingo to finalize everything."

"Jonathan and you are what?"

"We’re flying to Santa Domingo. Jonathan said this is what you both wanted. By this time tomorrow Taylor you will be a divorced woman, divorced and free to remarry. That is if you remarry in Santa Domingo."

"Why did I hear nothing about this? Does Ridge know?"

"He’s coming with us. Jonathan told him he didn’t have to but he felt that one of you should be there."

"I don’t believe this. How can they do this? I never agreed to this."

"You are the one who wanted the rush on it Taylor. Have you changed your mind?"

"No but, no it just is well I didn’t think Ridge wanted it like this."

"He seemed pretty eager, at least that’s what Jonathan said. I’m sorry Taylor, I thought you knew about this."

"No. I didn’t know a thing. But then why should I? It’s only my life. Does Stephanie know?"

"No and Jonathan doesn’t want her to find out. What with her last stroke and all."

"No, I wouldn’t think so." She pushed her hair back. "So I go from a woman who had two men after her to a woman all alone."

"I’m sorry Taylor."

"Don’t be. Who needs them anyway?" She said as the tears welled up in her eyes. "I need them that’s who." She started to cry and Connor took her into his arms and stroked her hair.

"It’s okay Taylor, it’s okay."

"Oh Connor, what’s wrong with me? Why do I always let men do this to me?"

"Shhh. It’s okay." He gently pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "What can I do? What can I do to make you feel better?"

"Just hold me Connor, please just hold me." She said as he hugged her tightly to him as she cried.

 

"Oh that feels so good." Brooke purred as Michael licked her hardened nipples. "And it is so exciting to watch it all happen." She teased as she looked at their reflection in the mirror.

"Stop!" Michael laughed. "You’re breaking the mood. Besides I didn’t put that there, the boat came with it."

"You didn’t take it down."

"It’s a conversation piece."

"I didn’t come in here to talk." Brooke said as she reached down to run her finger down his chest. "I came here for his." She said as she bent over and kissed his nipple. "And this." As she kissed the other. "And especially for this." As her mouth found his desire.

"Well this is getting us nowhere." Lt. Burke said. "Thorne you keep going around in circles."

"I keep telling you I don’t know anything else."

"Alright I think this is enough." Jonathan broke in.

"We are just trying to help him." The D. A. said.

"I appreciate that but it doesn’t seem to be doing any good." Jonathan answered. "Perhaps we can try again."

"Your client is running out of chances." The D. A. said as she picked up her briefcase and stood up. "Gentlemen this is it for today, let’s go Lieutenant." He got up and they walked out and headed for their car.

"What do you think?" Lt. Burke asked.

"We don’t have a shred of evidence to convict him on. The jury will acquit him in ten minutes."

"Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, I don’t think he did it."

"No, I don’t either, but I think he’s hiding something."

"It was his wife or his mother, I’m sure of that."

"Well Lieutenant, if you are so sure then get me some proof. We can’t go to the grand jury with what we have."

"I know Liz, I know."

 

"What time is it?" Brooke asked Michael. They had returned to the deck of the ship where they had been laying in the sun making out like teenagers.

"Why do you have a curfew?"

"No, but I don’t want to worry Taylor. I never even told her I was getting out today."

"Then why would she be worried?"

"Because I’m sure by now she knows."

"Well it’s almost four p.m." He answered. "Do you want to head in?"

"Oh I don’t want this day to end. It’s been so wonderful." She kissed him and placed his hand on her breast. "Let’s just lay here for a little longer."

"Ummm." He said as his finger circled her nipple. "But you need more sunscreen."

"Always the doctor." She laughed. "Okay you can rub it on all over me. And then we’ll just have to rub it off again."

"You know it doesn’t have to end today Brooke. I can sure envision a future for us." He said as he applied the sunscreen all over her.

Brooke started to laugh. "Come on Michael, you know as well as I do that this is purely physical for us."

"It doesn’t have to be." He said seriously.

"Yes it does." She answered. "My future is with Connor. You and I, we’re just, well I don’t exactly know what we are."

"We are good together."

"That we are." She smiled. "Let’s be good together one more time before we leave."

"I think we have more than just this."

"I think that this is enough. I think today is enough. Come on Michael I know your type. You’ll be moving on to the next woman before I pull into my driveway."

"What if I told you I won’t."

"It wouldn’t matter."

"I know you aren’t like this Brooke."

"What do you mean? I’m not that kind of woman?" She laughed. "You’re right, I’m not. I have never before in my entire life went off and had sex with a man I don’t even know. But it was fun while it lasted."

"What if I tell you I want a relationship with you."

"You mean you want to take me to bed again."

"That too."

"I don’t think so. I think I will always have today to remember."

"What about tomorrow?"

"Connor is my tomorrow." She sat up. "You know what? Maybe we should head in after all." She got up and headed for the stairs. She grabbed her purse but didn’t hear the sound as her ring fell out and hit the deck and rolled into the corner.

"Wait Brooke! Don’t go yet."

"I think I want to get dressed." She said as she walked down.

 

"Why don’t you wait here for her?" Taylor suggested to Connor. "I can make dinner."

"I am so mad I don’t think it would be a good idea if I see her at all today."

"Too late! Here comes her car!" Taylor said hearing Brooke pull in the driveway.

"Don’t let me kill her or anything." Connor said to Taylor.

"Silly!" She replied.

"Hi! I’m home!" Brooke said as she walked in. "Connor, when did you get here?"

"I’ve been here for hours Brooke. Where have you been?"

"I went for a ride."

"Don’t lie to me Brooke, your car was at Forrester all day."

"You didn’t let me finish. I went for a ride on a horse! Donna came and got me and we went riding. She just brought me back to Forrester to get my car. I’m sorry." She came over and kissed him.

"You got a lot of sun." He said.

"Yeah, it was really nice out."

"Brooke?" He said as he took her hand. "Where’s your ring?"

Changes Part 23

"My ring?" Brooke asked as she looked down to her bare finger. "Oh! Um, before we went riding I noticed the stone looked a little loose so I took it off and put it in my purse." She opened her purse. "It's right here." She started rummaging through it. "Wait I know I put it right here."
"Then it has to be there." Taylor commented.
"No! I can't find it! I can't find it!" Brooke started to panic. She walked over to the table and dumped all the contents out of her purse and started sifting through them. "Oh my God, it's not here."
"Okay calm down Brooke. Think, where were you when you last saw it?" Taylor asked.
"Wait! When I got in my car I threw my purse on the seat. Maybe it fell out."
"Give me your keys Brooke, I'll go look." Connor volunteered. Brooke handed him the keys and he walked out.
"Okay Brooke out with it. Where did you really go?" Asked Taylor.
"Oh Taylor I was so stupid. I went sailing with Michael."
"Then why didn't you just say so?"
"We didn't do much sailing."
"Oh Brooke!" Taylor voiced her disappointment.
"Don't you start on me, I've already said it all to myself. I know, I know it was a big mistake but I just couldn't help myself."
"That's why you took your ring off?"
"I felt guilty."
"You should! Connor is such a great guy."
"I know he is. I know what I did was wrong but it felt so good. Taylor, you told me yourself that you thought I was moving too fast."
"Well this sure wasn't slowing things down."
"It was nothing but sex Taylor. Pure lust. I swear it will never happen again."
"Don't tell me."
"You don't think I should tell Connor?" Brooke said as her eyes widened.
"No, I don't think that would help anything." Taylor shook her head. "Brooke I told you to be careful of that guy."
"I couldn't get him out of my head. Every time I touched Connor I saw Michael's face. But it's over, done, finished. I got it out of my system and from now on it's Connor and only Connor."
"I hope you were careful." Taylor warned.
"Very careful, we both used…oh my God!" Brooke said as she noticed the condoms in the pile of things that came out of her purse. "Do you think he saw them?"
"Probably. Why Brooke?" Taylor asked.
"We don't use them. Connor knows what I use. Oh God he's going to know."
"Just tell him you had them in case. He won't have any reason to doubt you."
"Shh! Here he comes." Brooke said as Connor walked back in.
"I looked all over the car. It's not there Brooke."
"It has to be!"
"Try to remember where you were when you last saw it." He suggested.
Brooke looked at him and started to cry. Connor felt his anger melting when he saw her dismay. He put his arms around her and held her. "It's just a ring honey. We can get another."
"I don't want another Connor, I want that one." She sobbed.
"Okay then let's get into the car and ride over to the stable. I bet it's there somewhere." He suggested.
"I'm sure it's closed by now Connor." Taylor interjected.
"What about Donna's? Maybe it's in her car. Let's give her a call." Connor said.
"No!" Brooke said in a panic. "She had a date. She isn't home."
"Okay, calm down honey. We can go over there tomorrow." Connor kissed her and sniffed at her. "New perfume? I don't recognize the scent but somehow it's familiar."
"I tried something Donna had. I didn't want to smell like horses, silly me I never looked at it till I sprayed it on. It's men's stuff." Brooke lied.
"Well it's nice. But I don't want you smelling like a man." He smiled at her and she burst into tears again. "What's wrong honey. Please don't worry about the ring, we'll find it."
"You're too good to me Connor, I don't deserve it." She sobbed. He hugged her tightly and gave her a kiss.
"You look really tired honey, why don't we go upstairs and lie down for awhile?"
"I want to take a shower. I'll be okay."
"I'll make some dinner." Taylor suggested again. "Then Brooke can get some rest."
"I'll be down in a while." Brooke said as she walked up the stairs to her bedroom. When she was gone Connor turned to Taylor.
"Alright Taylor, who was she with? I know she wasn't with Donna, she left yesterday."
"Connor I" Taylor stopped.
"Nevermind I think I know. She was with him wasn't she?"
"Him?"
"That doctor, the surgeon. He told me he was going to go after her, I just never thought she would fall for him." He walked over to the table where her purse and the contents were and picked up the condoms. "I guess I was wrong."
"Connor she regrets it already. Are you going to tell her that you know?"
"I think I'll let her sweat awhile, see how many more lies she can come up with. I want to see how far she thinks she can take this." He said with a trace of bitterness.
"She loves you." Taylor told him.
"She has a strange way of showing it." He tossed the condoms back on the table.
"Are you going to leave her?"
"No. I love her too much. But I want her to ask me to forgive her. She has to come clean with me and it has to be on her own. You can't tell her I know."
"Connor she's hurting."
"How the hell do you think I feel? Do you know what she did with the ring?"
"No, I think it must be on Michael's boat."
"Oh, that's how she got that tan huh? I think I'll give him a call and see if we can find the ring. No on second thought I think I'll stick real close to her and see how she tries to get rid of me to go back there."
"Connor that's cruel. Why don't you just let her go get it?"
"Why? So he can get her in bed again? And is it any crueler than what she did to me?" He asked. "Taylor I don't know what to do, how can I trust her? How did you do it with Ridge?"
"I didn't. But this is different. She's just been through a tragedy that almost took her life. She's acting out on it."
"At least she was careful." He said as he looked at the condoms again.
"Connor I don't know what to say." Taylor came up to him and gave him a hug. "Hang in there. Don't lose everything like I did. You love each other. It's not too late to fix things, Connor listen to me, don't let this destroy what you have."
"Taylor I love her too much to lose her but she has to be taught a lesson. You don't mess with people that you love like this. I don't give a damn about the ring, I'd buy her a dozen more, I just want her to be honest with me."
"Don't play games then Connor, it can only make things worse. She doesn't want to hurt you. If she thinks she can hide it from you she will. If you carry this too far you could lose everything."
"I guess it's up to Brooke then." He said as he once more stared at the condoms.


"Come on Ridge pick up, please pick up." Brooke said into the phone.
"Hello." Said Ridge.
"Oh thank God!" Brooke said.
"Brooke? What's wrong?"
"Oh Ridge I did something really stupid and now I need to get in touch with Michael and I don't even know where he lives or what his phone number is."
"Whoa! Slow down Logan, what did you do?"
"It isn't important Ridge. But you have to help me get in touch with him."
"Logan, that isn't such a good idea. Look, I recommended his as a doctor but I don't think it's a good thing for you to get involved with him."
"It's too late for that Ridge."
"Why? What did you do?"
"Oh Ridge, I was so stupid."
"That's who you were with today wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"He didn't try anything did he?"
"Oh God Ridge, it wasn't just him, it was both of us."
"What did you do Brooke?"
"We spent the day on his boat."
"That sounds tame."
"In his cabin."
"Logan!" He said sternly.
"Not you too, I've already heard it from Taylor. I know it was wrong, but Ridge it felt so right."
"You aren't falling for him are you?"
"No! Of course not!" She said almost too quickly.
"Logan, he's not the kind of guy that's going to settle down any time soon."
"I could see that from his supply of bikinis. But Ridge I left my ring somewhere on his boat."
"Your engagement ring?"
"Yes and now I have to get it back. Connor doesn't know what happened and I don't want him to find out."
"I don't blame you for that. You were careful weren't you?"
"Yes, I'm already protected and we used condoms too."
"Condoms plural? It happened more than once?"
"It happened all day if you have to know."
"Logan!"
"I don't need a lecture, I need your help."
"Okay, where do you think it is?"
"I took it off on the deck but I know I put it in my purse."
"Did you check your purse?"
"Do I look stupid? Of course I did. It's not there."
"Okay, then where did you open it?"
"Oh God, everywhere. I opened it every time we needed a condom. So I guess in the cabin, on the deck, in the shower."
"I don't think I want to hear this Logan."
"I told you I was stupid."
"That is beyond stupid honey."
"Just say you'll help me."
"Okay, I'll call him. No better yet I'll go to his place and go down to the boat with him. Don't worry, we'll find it."
"What if it went overboard?"
"I can't help you there."
"Do you hate me?"
"No Brooke, but Connor might."
"You won't tell him will you?"
"Oh sweetie, of course I won't. You just stay home and I'll call you later. Don't worry if it's anywhere on the boat I'll find it."
"Thanks Ridge, I owe you one."
"You owe me nothing, I love you Brooke, I'm your friend and this is what friends are for."
"I'm sorry."
"Logan, you don't need to apologize to me, just make sure Davis never finds out about this."
"Thanks Ridge, I won't ever let him find out. That could ruin everything for us" She said. She put down the phone and let out a sigh of relief.



"Hey Forrester, what brings you here?" Michael said when he answered the door and found Ridge.
"Hello Mike, can I come in?"
"Sure." He said as he opened the door and escorted Ridge inside.
"Nice place." Ridge said as he looked around the room. The walls were painted a soft gold and the furniture was rich and expensive looking. On the wall were several paintings including two magnificent nudes of beautiful women. "I like the company." Ridge said gesturing to the paintings.
"They're mine." Michael answered.
"Both of them? Wow you are busy."
"Not the women, although we do have a history. The paintings, I did them."
"I'm impressed. The man has talent."
"I guess I'm not exactly the same guy you knew from the old days huh?"
"Not entirely, but some things don't change."
"Not like you Ridge. I was really surprised to find out you had really settled down to a wife and kids, what is it three now?"
"Three wonderful kids Mike, you should try it sometime."
"Oh I don't think the rugrat set is quite my style yet. Although I don't think I'd shy away from a commitment anymore." He answered. "But I'm sure you aren't here to discuss my life are you?"
"Well as a matter of fact, I am." Ridge answered. "I came here on Brooke's behalf."
"Ah, Brooke. Now that is a woman."
"I hear you two went for a little sail today."
"Among other things."
"It seems Brooke has misplaced something very dear to her and I'd like to bring it back to her."
"You must be referring to this." Michael said as he took her ring out of his pocket and held it up to his eye. "Nice stone. No occlusions that I can see. Is this what you are looking for?"
"Give it here Mike." Ridge held out his hand.
"Not so fast buddy, I think I may have to hold onto this until the lady comes for it herself."
"She asked me to get it Michael. When did you find it?"
"After I dropped her off at her car I came back to clean the boat and I found it on the deck. Lucky for her huh? It could have gone overboard." He put it back in his pocket.
"Come on Mike, don't do this. You don't want to cause her any problems."
"I don't consider myself a problem Ridge. This is my guarantee that I get to see her again."
"Leave her alone Michael. She's out of your league."
"She's not your wife anymore Ridge, though why you let her get away I'll never know. She is a tiger in the sack."
Ridge made a move to punch him but Michael quickly sidestepped him. "I'm still too fast for you Forrester." He laughed. "You know you aren't the first Forrester to try to get me to give her up."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your Dad called me earlier, told me to now how did he put it? Oh yes, keep my f"ing hands off her. Now I was really surprised to hear that from him but then again he was married to her too wasn't he?"
" I'm serious Michael, I want you to leave her alone. We both want you to leave her alone."
"No can do Ridge."
"This is not something I'm willing to negotiate Michael."
"You two have something going?"
"Yes, she is someone that I love very dearly and I will not let you hurt her."
"I have no intentions of hurting her friend, in fact what I do to her makes her feel pleasure, not pain."
"Look Mike, just give me the ring and let's be done with this."
"Ridge, seriously, I really like the woman. I can see us having a future together. It's been a long time since Adrienne you know."
"Brooke is engaged to be married Mike. Why don't you lay off."
"Would you?"
"I'd respect her wishes."
"Oh I did that, all day today. Every single wish she had. In fact she was begging for more."
"Okay you had your fun, can't you leave it at that?"
Michael turned very serious. He looked at Ridge and shook his head. "After all this time you still don't believe me do you? We've known each other forever Ridge but you still believe the things they said about me. Ridge I didn't rape that woman. You know me, you know I don't have to resort to that. Is that why you didn't tell Brooke that you knew me?"
"Mike I don't know what to believe? I almost didn't call you but I wanted Brooke to have the best and you are the best."
"Ridge they dropped those charges, why can't you?"
"They dropped them because her father didn't want her to have to go through a trial. Michael she was only seventeen years old!"
"She told me she was twenty three. She had the ID to back it up. I never would have done the surgery on a minor without permission and I never would have slept with her."
"She was your patient!"
"She started it! She came on to me! I didn't know she was a kid and I didn't do anything to her that she hadn't done before. Don't tell me you never had sex with someone you shouldn't have."
"She accused you of rape."
"She wanted me to marry her!"
"She had bruises!"
"They weren't from me! They weren't there when we were together!"
"You're damn lucky you still have a license."
"You know all the charges were dropped Ridge."
"You know what you were doing Michael."
"What does any of this have to do with Brooke?"
"I want you to stay away from her!"
"Not until she's married."
"You may have ruined that for her!"
"Then she's fair game, unless you plan to marry her yourself!"
"I would to keep her away from you. Now give me that ring! Now!"
"Here you go." He took in out of his pocket and handed it to Ridge. "Call her Ridge, her name is Nancy Stevens, no it's Anderson now. She will tell you that I never raped her. Call her! She's in the book."
"I don't have to do that if you stay away from Brooke."
"Well that my friend is something I don't plan on doing."


"This is delicious Taylor." Brooke said as she took a bite of the Chicken Marsala that Taylor had prepared. "Isn't it good Connor."
"Yeah Brooke, it's great." He said. He was very disappointed that Brooke hadn't come clean with him yet and he way having a hard time hiding it. Everyone at the table was experiencing their own misery. But Brooke's constant staring at the phone expanded it.
I guess she's hoping he calls her. Connor thought. Maybe I should just confront her myself, no it has to be her doing. If not how can I ever know if she has faith in our love.
Suddenly the phone rang and Brooke jumped from her chair to answer it. Unfortunately for her Connor beat her to it and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" He said.
"Connor?"
"Where the hell are you? You leave me this cryptic message and then just take off!"
"Look, I'll explain everything later. Just please put Taylor on the phone."
"Taylor" Connor announced. "It's Bryan."
"Bryan." She said as her heart leaped into her throat. She ran to the phone and grabbed the receiver form Connor.
"Bryan! Oh Bryan! Where are you?"
"I'm in Chicago baby. I'm sorry I had to leave like that. I just had to talk to you."
"Oh Bryan, please come back. I miss you so much."
"I miss you too. How are the babies?"
"They're fine, Bryan please come home. Please don't make me beg you. I love you."
"I love you too baby, I really do. But I think you need time to make sure I'm what you really want."
"You are Bryan."
"It hasn't even been a day." He chuckled. "I think you need more time than that to make this decision."
"I made the decision when I left Ridge and I made the other decision when I asked you to move into the beach house with me."
"Baby I need more than that."
"What more do you need? Just tell me."
"I need you to say that you love me and want to marry me and that the second that you can you will, with no regrets."
"I do love you."
"But you aren't ready to marry me yet, I know that. And I also know that part of you isn't ready to give up Ridge. I'm not mad at you for that, I'm not. I understand how you feel and I can accept it. I'm really doing this for you. What I want you to do is to go to Ridge, spend time with him, explore your feelings and do whatever you have to do with him and then if you can really say you'd rather be with me I'll come right back. No month, no week, the very first plane."
"I don't have to do that. I know what I want and what I want is you."
"Yes you do. I can't wake up one morning and find you wishing that you had given him one more chance. It will kill me to lose you but your happiness is more important to me then my own right now. Please baby, do this, do this while I'm strong enough to let you."
"Bryan please, I love you."
"I know you do baby, I know you do. Now you just do as I ask. I'll call you in a week and we can talk again."
"A week? No Bryan, that's way too long. How can I reach you? What if I need you?"
"You can't baby, it's better this way."
"No it isn't." She cried.
"Okay, I'll call you in two days, how's that?"
"A little better."
"I love you Taylor."
"I love you Bryan."
"Be strong for me baby."
"I'll try."
"Wipe those tears. I promise, I'll be home soon." He said and he hung up the phone. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this Stephanie. I love her way too much. A month is too long. I don't think I'm going to be able to last a week. I said I'd try, God help me I don't think I can." He said.

 

Changes Part 24

 "What did he say to you?" Brooke asked Taylor.

"He wants me to explore my feelings for Ridge. He wants me to make sure that it’s Bryan I really want. Brooke I do want Bryan but he won’t listen to me."

"He has a valid point Taylor. Sometimes we get way too impulsive and do things we later regret."

"Brooke, Bryan is not an impulse. I love him, I’ve loved him for years."

"But you haven’t fully resolved your feelings for Ridge." Connor added.

"Well it’s a little late for that isn’t it?" Taylor angrily said.

"Why?" Brooke asked.

"Tell her Connor."

"Ridge and Jonathan and I are headed for the islands tomorrow to finalize the divorce."

"Finalize it?" Brooke questioned.

"Yes, Ridge asked Jonathan to find somewhere where he could be free immediately."

At this Taylor felt the tears streaming down her face. "So you see Brooke, there is no need to explore my feelings for Ridge now is there?"

"Why would he do this? He was begging you to give him another chance."

"I guess he got tired of hearing no."

"Well then you have to stop him."

"No, I’m not going to do that. For some reason he changed his mind and he wants out. I won’t stand in his way."

"Well then you must be able to understand how Bryan feels Taylor." Connor said as he took her hand. "He doesn’t want to feel like second place."

"Bryan doesn’t even know about this, I didn’t even know about this. Bryan is just being, being Bryan. He is such a kind, wonderful man. He doesn’t even want to see Ridge hurt. I doubt if Ridge would care how Bryan feels." Taylor sighed.

"Why don’t you call Ridge or go over and see him?" Connor suggested.

"No!" Brooke shouted. "I mean she shouldn’t have to go begging to him."

"I don’t understand you Brooke." Connor said. "First you act like she should stay with Ridge and now you act like it would be the worst thing in the world. You are acting very strangely tonight. Is there something you aren’t telling me?" He asked, giving her one more opportunity to come clean about Michael.

"No, I guess I overreacted."

"Yeah." Connor said with a sigh of disappointment. He got up and walked into the living room.

"What is with you Brooke?" Taylor whispered.

"This whole thing with Michael has me so nervous." She said as she picked up a small throw pillow and nervously started twisting it.

"But why don’t you want me to call Ridge?"

"He isn’t home."

"How do you know that?"

"He went to Michael’s to find my ring." Brooke whispered. "He’s going to call me back when he gets home. I’m not trying to keep you from him, I’m just trying to save my own butt."

"Oh Brooke don’t you know how much lies complicate your life?" Taylor said remembering her promise to Connor.

"Sometimes they’re necessary." Brooke sadly said. "Connor can never find out what happened with Michael it would ruin everything."

Connor walked back into the room and put his arm around Brooke’s shoulder. "I’m sorry honey, I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I guess I’m still miffed that you never called me to tell me you were home."

"I should have. You’re right. I just wanted to be in control for a change and Connor you have a way of taking over."

"Only because I love you. Or is that a bad thing now too?"

"Please don’t be mad at me." She said sincerely. "I love you Connor, I just don’t know what I’m saying sometimes." She leaned over to kiss him but he didn’t respond to her. "Oh great. You don’t even want me to touch you now."

"I’m tired Brooke. It’s been a long day."

"Yeah right." She threw down the pillow and walked to a chair by the window and sat down facing outside. She quietly started to cry.

"Connor go to her." Taylor whispered.

"I can’t. I want to but I can’t. Every time I look at her I picture her with her legs wrapped around that guy."

"You have to do something Connor. Confront her, make her admit it and then be done with it but you can’t keep it between you."

"No!" His voice was getting louder. "It has to be her. She has to come to me!"

"You men are all so stubborn." Taylor replied angrily. "Look at her. She’s hurting as much as you are."

"So what do you want me to do? Take her to bed? Ask her to do a comparison?"

Suddenly Brooke got up and walked out slamming the door.

"Where the hell is she going?" Connor shouted.

"Give her some space. She doesn’t have her keys, she’s probably just taking a walk."

Outside Brooke ran to Ridge who was hiding behind the trashcans. "Did you find it?" she asked.

"I have it." He said as he handed it to her. She quickly stuffed it in her pocket.

"Thank you so much Ridge." She said with a hug.

"You can thank me by never seeing Michael again Brooke. He is so wrong for you."

"I ruined everything."

"Why? Does Davis know?"

"No but he’s mad anyway. I think he suspects something and he’s mad that I didn’t call him when I got out." She hugged him tighter. "Oh Ridge I should have. Why did I let myself get into this situation?"

"You’re not the first woman to fall for Mike’s charms Logan and you won’t be the last. Just believe me when I tell you that he’s no good for you."

"You know him don’t you? I mean not as a doctor."

"I did. We were friends once. Logan he has some things in his past that I’m just not sure about. I don’t want to see you get caught up in them. It’s not that I like to see you with Davis but at least I know what he’s all about."

"You’re confusing me."

"I’m sorry but I have a lot on my mind tonight."

"Like a plane ride tomorrow?"

"You know?"

"So does Taylor."

"How does she feel about it?"

"Why don’t you ask her? Come in and talk to her."

"It’s too late for talking Brooke. Please, don’t tell her you saw me."

"She knows that you went to get my ring."

"Then tell her I left it out here and took off. Please Logan, I can’t see her now. If I do I won’t be able to go through with tomorrow."

"Why are you so determined to go through with it?"

"Not tonight. I’ll tell you about it when I get back."

"Ridge?"

"Yeah Logan."

"Do you ever think about us?"

"More than you know. Why?"

"I don’t know. I just wonder how different my life would have been it we had stayed together."

"I wonder about that too Logan."

"No matter how I feel about our past, that’s what it is the past. I wouldn’t trade it for anything but now I really want you and Taylor to make it work Ridge."

"I know you do, but it just can’t happen." He said sadly.

"I’m sorry Ridge, I really am."

"I know Logan, I know." He pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly. "Please be there for me when I get back. You have no idea how much I’m going to need you."

"I promise." She said. "I better get back inside."

She turned to go.

"Brooke." Ridge called to her.

"I’m sorry that I hurt you." Brooke walked back to him and took his hand.

"I know you are, we’re way past that Ridge."

"Make it work with Connor Brooke, you love him."

"I’m going to try my hardest. Sometimes I wonder if it’s you I’m still looking for. Maybe I still compare everyone to you. Don’t listen to me, I’m just being melancholy. " She gave his hand a tight squeeze and gave him a smile and walked back to the door and went back inside.

"Where did you go?" Connor asked.

"Outside. I just wanted to be alone." She walked over to the table where her purse was and started to straighten the mess into piles. She threw the condoms it the waste paper basket along with some tissues and gum wrappers. Quickly she reached into her pocket and then put her hand inside her purse.

"It’s here!" She said with false glee. "It was here all along!" She pulled the ring out and put it back on her finger. "No! Wait!" She took it off and walked over to Connor and handed it to him. "You decide Connor. Do you want to put it back on my finger or are you going to stay mad at me forever?"

Taylor stared at Connor who just kept his eyes glued on the ring.

"Connor?" Brooke said with a tremble. "I probably don’t deserve to have it back but I love you and I really want it back. Connor?"

"Why Brooke?"

"Why do I want it back?"

"No, why don’t you deserve it?"

She looked away, she turned and looked at Taylor and then she looked Connor straight in the eye.

"Because I cheated on you. I slept with Michael Copeland." She said as the tears rolled down her eyes. Brooke was totally unprepared for the reaction she got from Connor. She expected him to shout or to cry or to jump up and walk out but she didn’t expect him to pick her up and take her in his arms and kiss her deeply, which was what he did.

"I love you Brooke." He said through his tears after he had put her down. "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes Connor, I do love you."

"Then why did you do it Brooke? Why?"

"I could lie and say that it was totally impulsive, but it wasn’t. I could say that he took advantage of me, but he didn’t. I don’t exactly know why I did it. I wish I hadn’t. But at the time it was what I wanted to do."

"Will it happen again?"

"I don’t know. I don’t want it to but I just don’t know."

"You aren’t sure?"

"I’m not sure of anything anymore Connor. Except that I love you."

"I’m glad you told me at least. I hoped that you would."

"You knew? How?"

"It wasn’t hard to figure out Brooke. You two were sending off some heavy vibes."

"I was attracted to him and I went for it, I know I shouldn’t have, I just had to for some reason. Connor I’m so sorry, I never wanted to hurt you. You know I love you. I want my future to be with you." She looked at him with remorse and with pleading eyes. "Are you going to give me back my ring?"

"No."

"No?" she said through tears.

"You weren’t ready for it. My timing was all wrong. I shouldn’t have proposed to you in the hospital like that."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"No. But we aren’t ready for marriage yet. Well, you aren’t."

"But I love you."

"And I love you, but we are going to start over and take it slowly this time. If you need to see other men I’ll have to learn to live with that. I pushed you into something too soon after Thorne. You needed time to be just Brooke, not Brooke and Connor."

"Connor, I want to be your wife."

"Then you will be, when the time is right."

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

"I can’t do that Brooke. Too much has happened today. And frankly I can’t share a bed with you right after you’ve been with him."

"Okay." She sobbed. "Are you leaving me?"

"No. Only for tonight. I need some time to think about this too."

"I’m sorry."

"Are you sorry for what you did, or for getting caught?"

"I’m sorry for" she stopped. "I’m sorry for hurting you."

"I’m going to go now Brooke. I’ll call you when I get home tomorrow. Maybe we can go out."

"I love you."

"I love you too honey. Let me have some time to get over this. Okay?"

"Okay." She said with a sob. "Will you kiss me goodnight?"

"You bet." He said. He took her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "I love you Brooke." He turned to Taylor. "Take care of her tonight okay?"

"I will." Taylor answered through her own tears as Connor walked out.

"I blew it." Brooke cried.

"No Brooke, I think you might have just saved it." Taylor answered as she took her friend in her arms. "You did the right thing and I’m so proud of you."

"I feel so awful."

"I know, but it will get better." She said encouragingly. "I know how hard it was for you but you really did the right thing. But now I have to ask you a question, something that has nothing to do with you or Connor or Michael."

"What?"

"Did you see Ridge? Did he bring the ring back?"

"I saw him outside through the window and he motioned to me where he was leaving it. By the time I got out there he was gone. Why don’t you call him? Or better yet why don’t you go home and see him. Taylor you can stop this thing."

"Brooke, I know you’re protecting him. He didn’t want to see me did he?"

"He really did, but he was afraid to. He really loves you Taylor."

"If I go to him it won’t change anything. I’ll probably make the same mistake with him that you did with Michael and where will that get me? I’m the one who asked for the divorce in the first place Brooke. He’s only following through."

"But he doesn’t want to."

"But we would be right back where we started and Morgan would still be pregnant."

"Morgan!" Brooke growled. Thinking about Morgan made her tears go away and made her mad. "Don’t get me started on Morgan. You wouldn’t believe the things that bitch said to me. She had the nerve to throw my miscarriages in my face. And then she actually tried to tell me that Ridge is going to marry her. What a piece of work."

"Marry her? Do you really think he would?" Taylor was clearly dismayed at the thought.

"Why would he marry her Taylor? He hates her. It’s you he loves."

"Do you think he would marry her for the baby?"

"No way. She was just trying to get to me. She told me that she had what I always wanted, Ridge. And this was after I reminded her that I fired her."

"When did all this happen?"

"Before I left with Michael. Oh I had a day all right. Oh my God! I forgot to tell you the most important thing! When I went to Forrester I went into my office and Taylor it started to come back to me!"

"The shooting?"

"Yes! And I did remember one very important thing."

"What? What did you remember Brooke."

"That I saw the person who shot me, in was dark and it was from the back. I don’t know who it was but I know who it wasn’t and it wasn’t Thorne."

"Are you sure that isn’t wishful thinking?"

"No, because the person I saw was a woman."

"A woman! Who could it be?"

"I can only think of two people and you are not going to like it."

"Don’t say Stephanie Brooke. She would never do that."

"Thorne is protecting someone, someone he cares about so much that he was willing to leave me bleeding on the floor and that someone can only be Stephanie or Macy."

"Oh my God Brooke. Are you sure it was a woman?"

"I’m positive."

"Oh God Brooke this is terrible."

 

"Hi honey. I didn’t know you were coming over tonight." Stephanie said after she gave a kiss to her favorite son.

"I have something I wanted to tell you Mother."

"All right. Shall I get your father?"

"We’ve talked about it already. I just wanted to be the one to tell you."

"This sounds serious. What is it?"

"I decided to do as Dad asked."

"What did he ask?"

"You know what he asked Mother. I’m going to marry Morgan. I already told her."

"Well then you can just march right over there and tell her you changed your mind."

"No Mother, I’m not going to do that. Dad’s right. I have to give my child my name, it’s important to me."

"More important than Taylor? No Ridge! I will not let you do this. I’ve worked too hard to get that man away from her, to give you a chance to get her back."

"Mother, I appreciate that, although you were wrong to do what you did. It’s too late for Taylor and me. She’s moved on and I have to do the same. That’s why I need to tell you this."

"What? What more do you have to tell me? What could be worse? No don’t answer that. You think you and Taylor can’t make it but I know you will. In fact I bet by the time you go to court for this divorce thing you two will be back together! You mark my words Ridge, that’s all you need. Just a little time."

"There isn’t any more time Mother. The divorce will be final tomorrow."

"That’s preposterous. It’s impossible Ridge."

"No it isn’t. Connor, Jonathan and I are flying to the islands tomorrow. I can get a quick, legal divorce there. Then after it’s over Morgan and I will fly back down and be married."

"No! You can’t do that! Ridge no! I won’t let you!"

"This isn’t your decision Mother, it’s mine and it has been made. By this time tomorrow I will be a divorced man and then in a few days from now Morgan will be my wife." He walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek and with a sad look walked out.

"You think this is the end Ridge but it isn’t. I will use any means that there are to stop you from marrying that woman. I would sell my soul to the devil before I see you as her husband. And I think I have just the thing to do it!"

The next morning Taylor awoke with a start. What’s wrong? She wondered. Oh yes, today is the day. Today my marriage will be over. She felt the tears run down her cheeks. "It’s not too late to stop him!" She said aloud. "You have to do something Taylor!" She reached for the phone and dialed their home.

"Hello," Said Ridge’s voice.

"Oh Ridge I’m glad I got you! We have to talk."

"You have reached Taylor and Ridge, we aren’t in right now but please leave us a message and we’ll get back to you! Bye now!" His voice continued.

"I’m too late. Why did I wait so long?" She put down the phone and covered her eyes and cried.

 

"I’m getting used to this Megan!" Brooke shouted to her from her office. "No more bogeymen for me." She chuckled.

"I’m glad Brooke but I still don’t think you should be working so soon." Megan said as she walked in.

"I need to get my mind off my problems Megan and work seemed the best way to do it."

"I’m really sorry it didn’t work out for you and Connor."

"I haven’t given up. I know he still loves me but maybe he’s right. Maybe it was too fast. I sure did like being with Michael. Maybe I should play the field a little while before I settle down."

"You have to tell me more about this Michael Brooke. He sounds intriguing."

"Oh he is and Megan, wow is he great in bed!" She giggled.

"Are you going to see him again?"

"Ridge doesn’t want me to but I think I will anyway. I was awake all night thinking about it. We really were great together. I had fun Megan, fun! Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I just had fun? It seems like every relationship that I ever had there were strings attached. With Michael it was so free. We laughed all day. That is when we weren’t making love. And I have to tell you it was good, it was real good."

"Then I guess you aren’t all heartbroken about Connor."

"Oh I want to see him too. We have something special. I just don’t think I want to be married right now after all." She laughed.

"I’m glad to see you so happy Brooke."

"You’re right, that’s exactly what I am! I’m happy!" She almost sang.

"That’s nice to hear." Said Stephanie as she walked past Megan into Brooke’s office and sat down.

"I don’t remember inviting you in Stephanie." Brooke told her.

"You didn’t, but I need your help so I came to bury the hatchet."

"Yeah, in my back." Brooke sarcastically replied.

"Close the door on your way out Megan." Stephanie said.

"This is my office Stephanie." Brooke told her.

"Get off you high horse Brooke, we have work to do." Stephanie got up and escorted a confused Megan out and shut the door.

"Now let’s get down to business, shall we?"
"Alright, let’s start with you apologizing to me."

"For what Brooke?"

"Oh you can pick that, you have so many things to apologize for." She said with a laugh. "Come on Stephanie, I’m waiting."

"I don’t have time for this."

"Then I don’t have time for you." Brooke chuckled. "Now let’s see, how can I help you. I know, you can start with the ridiculous notion that I tried to sabotage your car. I hear that I did this at the same time I was lying in a pool of blood with a bullet it me. Wow I am good! I don’t know how I managed that one."

"Alright Brooke, I’m sorry, I was mistaken, it wasn’t you."

"You were mistaken? Give me a break, you knew perfectly well it wasn’t me. You just didn’t want to give up your golden opportunity to lay the blame on me for something else you pathetic old biddy!"

"Brooke I said I was sorry, I know it wasn’t you. We have to talk, this is very important."

"Important? Like my marriage to Ridge was? That was so important that you did everything in your power to end it. Or is it important like the way you seem to stroke out every time my name is mentioned? Is it that important? Or maybe it’s as important as you trying to alienate me from everyone in this family. Is that it?"

"Stop it Brooke! I told you that I need your help and I meant it!"

"Oh this is just too good to pass up Stephanie we could go on for hours and hours." Brooke laughed. "Next how about you apologize for destroying what Thorne and I had. Or better yet, let’s go back to Ridge and work our way up to Thorne shall we."

"Brooke we don’t have time for this! This isn’t about you and me! It’s about Ridge!"

"Ridge." Brooke said as all joking stopped. "You want my help with something about Ridge?"

"I see I have your attention now." Stephanie said as she pulled her chair closer to Brook’s desk. "Are you ready to listen now?"

Taylor held the phone in her hand but couldn’t decide it she was going to make the call. "Come on Taylor, call him and leave him a message. Tell him that you miss him and you aren’t sure this divorce is a good idea. He might just check his messages. Or am I doing this because Bryan deserted me too? Oh I wish James were around, I know he would be able to help me. He always had a way to make me see things for the way they were." She put the phone in its cradle and it immediately rang. "It’s Ridge, it just has to be."

"Hello," She said.

"Taylor, this is Connor."

"Brooke isn’t home Connor, she went to the office."

"I’m not calling for her. I’m calling for you. How are you?"

"Okay I guess. Where are you Connor?"

"I’m at the airport waiting for Ridge and Jonathan."

"You haven’t left yet!" She said with excitement.

"No, there’s a lot of smog so the flight was delayed. We are due to leave in about thirty minutes."

"And Ridge isn’t there yet? Do you think he changed his mind?"

"I don’t think so Taylor, he’s been calling the airport every ten minutes waiting to get clearance."

"Oh, I just thought maybe."

"Do you want me to stop this Taylor? I can do that you know."

"No Connor, it’s what Ridge wants now. I guess I was just hoping he would call so we could say goodbye."

"It doesn’t have to be goodbye Taylor."

"Yes it does. I can’t change my mind about Morgan, I just hoped that our marriage meant a little more to him than this."

"They just called for first boarding. Are you sure you want me to do this Taylor?"

"What about Ridge and Jonathan?"

"I see them now, they just got on the plane. I’m sorry Taylor."

"Yeah, me too."

"I wish Bryan hadn’t left like he did, you could sure use his support now Taylor."

"I wish he were here too."

"Last chance Taylor, do you want me to stop this?"

"Call me when it’s all over." She said. She gently put the phone down and started to softly weep. "You are so stupid Taylor! Why didn’t you just swallow your pride and say yes?" She asked herself.

"You want me to do WHAT???" Brooke asked Stephanie.

"You heard me Brooke. It’s not like it isn’t something you’ve already done millions of times. Now just listen to the rest of the plan."

Changes Part 25

"That is just insane Stephanie and I won’t do it!" Brooke adamantly told her. "Taylor and Ridge are my friends, I love them both, how can you suggest I betray them this way?"
"It never stopped you in the past."
"That was then, I’ve changed, we’ve all changed. I cherish what I have with both of them and I refuse to jeopardize it."
"All I’m asking you to do is keep Ridge’s attention away from Morgan while I work on getting Taylor to change her mind."
"You want to be my pimp? Is that it? And where would this leave Ridge. For your information Stephanie we are both still vulnerable to each other. How would you like it if we decided we liked the idea of being together? Huh Stephanie? What then?"
"Ridge would never want to stay with you! You’ve never been more than a plaything to him."
"Oh that’s really earning you points. Why don’t you insult me some more?"
"Brooke if you really care about him you will do this!"
"It won’t work Stephanie. Even if he did sleep with me, and I’m not saying I would do it, but even if he did he would still marry Morgan. My God if he won’t change his mind for Taylor why would he change it for me?"
"I don’t want him to stay with you Brooke, I want you to keep him occupied. Make him forget about Morgan for awhile. Give Taylor a chance to realize how much she loves him."
"While I sleep with her husband? No Stephanie! It’s a stupid plan, in fact it’s even more stupid than the Venice plan!"
"That plan worked!"
"It took a long time for us to get past that. Now you want me to lie to Ridge?"
"It won’t be a lie Brooke. You know as well as I do that you want him back in your bed!"
"That isn’t true."
"Alright then, will you at least let Morgan think that you and Ridge have something going?"
Brooke thought about that. "I wouldn’t mind doing that Stephanie, I hate that woman but I can’t think of any way I could convince her. She knows that Ridge loves Taylor and yet he chose to end his marriage for her baby’s sake."
"We can set up a situation, a compromising situation. You and Ridge together, you could be wearing one of those ridiculous teddies that you wear all the time."
"I don’t walk around in teddies."
"You used to!"
"You are making me very mad Stephanie! Besides, it would be sending Ridge the wrong message and I won’t do that. You can’t imagine all the things he’s done to help me lately Stephanie. He’s proven himself to be the best friend I ever had and I love him for it."
"There has to be a way Brooke. Morgan is afraid of you. She knows your power over my sons."
"I have no power over them. And Morgan is definitely not afraid of me. I fired her and she has the nerve to keep showing up. She claims Ridge wants her here and maybe he does. Maybe he wants to keep an eye on her. I just haven’t had the time to ask him."
"Brooke I’m desperate."
"You must be to suggest this."
"Please Brooke, I’m begging you."
"Stephanie it won’t work. But if you can think of something else I’m willing to listen."
"You know you could entice him."
"And how would that make me any better than Morgan?"
"You can explain to him later why you did it. I will explain it. I will even tell him it way my idea."
"It won’t work. He’ll just think I’m desperate because of Connor."
"What about Connor?"
"We broke off our engagement."
"Why?"
"It’s really none of your business."
"Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all."
"Oh I see. If I was with Connor you would trust me with your son but since I’m not anymore." She just left the rest unsaid.
"You can’t blame me for that."
"No I suppose I can’t." Brooke admitted. "But things are different now."
"You’ll always be the same Brooke, the same little girl from the Valley trying to live where she doesn’t belong."
"This is the end of this conversation Stephanie, I think you better leave."
"Wait! I have another idea!"

"Oh Daddy I think I made a terrible mistake." Taylor cried on the phone to her father. "I know what he did was wrong and I know it’s something I will never be able to forget, but Daddy I still love him."
"Oh sweetheart. I wish I could say something that would help. You know how much I liked him."
"What will I do? How can I stay in L. A. with Ridge living here as her husband if he marries her?"
"You did it before honey, you did it when he married Brooke."
"I don’t think I’m that strong anymore. We didn’t have children then. Every time I look at them I’m reminded of Ridge."
"I can say it will get easier but you have to learn that for yourself."
"I’m so confused. I’m not even sure if I even want to continue our marriage, I just didn’t want it to end so soon. It’s all my fault."
"No Taylor, nothing was your fault. Ridge did everything himself."
"But I was the one who insisted on a divorce. If I hadn’t given him the papers he wouldn’t be away divorcing me right now. And that makes me mad too Dad! He’s divorcing me! I should be the one divorcing him!"
"You’re divorcing each other honey."
"It all seems so final."
"Divorce is an end Taylor, but it can also be a beginning."
"Dad can we come and stay with you for awhile?"
"I’d love to have you honey but I’m going to be out of town for a few weeks. I’ll try and cancel if you want."
"No it’s okay Dad, besides I think Brooke will need me after she has her next surgery."
"You two are really getting to be good friends aren’t you?"
"I wish we had stayed friends when we first tried. Then Morgan would never have gotten involved in our family."
"I love you honey. You call me any time you need me."
"Thanks Daddy." She said and she put the phone down.

"I’m not sure I’m ready for another of your plans Stephanie." Brooke told her.
"No this one will work!" Suddenly the phone rang.
"Hold that thought Stephanie," Brooke said as she picked up the phone. "Brooke Logan."
"Hi Logan."
"Ridge! Where are you?"
"I’m back on the plane. It’s all over."
"Oh Ridge!"
"I can’t believe any of this happened Logan. How the hell did I let this happen?"
"I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for both of you."
"How’s Taylor?"
"She was pretty upset when I left this morning. I tried to get her to call you."
"I know but she couldn’t do it right?"
"This has been really hard on her."
"Well it’s all over now. She can go on and forget about me."
"Forget you? She’ll never forget you Ridge."
"It would be better if she does Logan."
"Believe me, no one ever forgets you."
"Oh Logan I love her so much."
"Then you can try and work it out. Talk to her Ridge, romance her."
"It’s too late for any of that now."
"It’s never too late."
"Now I’ve hurt her just like I hurt you. Why do I do this to the women that I love? Why?"
"You can still get her back Ridge, I know you can."
"No Brooke. I’m going to marry Morgan, I’m going to give that child my name."
"Ridge you don’t have to marry her to give the child your name. You just put it on the birth certificate and claim your rights to your child. Things don’t have to be the way you think."
"Brooke I’m a Forrester. My name means a lot in this place. It would be a sham to do it that way."
"The name Forrester is important to Taylor too. It’s her name and you’re taking it away from her."
"Why would she even want it anymore? You don’t use it anymore do you?"
"That’s totally different Ridge and you know it. I was proud to be a Forrester."
"Look I better go. I just needed a friend. Can I see you later?"
"Of course, just come by."
"No, I can’t go to your house, Taylor will be there and I can’t face her. You come over to my house Logan."
"Alright, when will you be home?"
"I’m not sure. Why don’t you wait at Forrester and we can go have some dinner or something. I really need to be with someone tonight."
"Okay Ridge. I’ll wait here for you."
"Thanks Logan. Wait! What about Connor?"
"He broke our engagement Ridge but we can talk about that later. Just remember that I love you very much okay?"
"I love you too honey."
Brooke rested the phone back in the cradle.
"He’s done it hasn’t he?" Stephanie asked.
"I’m surprised you weren’t grabbing the phone away from me."
"You actually handled yourself quite well Brooke, I was impressed."
"Thanks Stephanie, I think?"
"I think we should talk about my idea at another time Brooke." Stephanie said as she stood up and walked to the office door and opened it. "You seem do be trying to do the right thing. Please try and convince him that he belongs with Taylor."
"I’ll do my best Stephanie." Brooke answered as Stephanie walked out.


Taylor was about to go upstairs and check on the girls when then phone rang.
"Hello." She said
"It’s me." Connor replied. "It’s all over Taylor."
"Oh my God!" She started to cry. "I can’t talk Connor."
"I know sweetie, I just wanted you to know from me before you heard it from someone else. We’re on the way home right now. I’ll bring your copy of the papers by tonight."
"Not tonight please Connor, I can’t bear to see them tonight."
"Taylor I could have stopped it if you had just told me."
"I was wrong Connor, I was so wrong. Please don’t let Ridge know how upset I am."
"Oh course not honey. I’ll see you tomorrow then okay?"
"Alright." She said. She hung up the phone and buried her head in her hands and started sobbing when the phone rang again.
"H h h hello?" She said through her tears.
"Hello Ms. Logan?" A woman’s voice asked.
"No she’s not home may I help you?"
"Who am I speaking to?" She said with authority.
"This is Taylor, who is this?"
"Taylor Forrester? Wonderful! This is Amanda Pierce from "Eye on Fashion" I’m calling to see if you can confirm a rumor for me. Is it true that you and Ridge Forrester are in the process of a quickie divorce?"
"I don’t believe you people!" Taylor shouted as she slammed down the phone, which once more rang.
"Leave me alone!" She shouted into the receiver.
"Baby what’s wrong?"
"Bryan?"
"Yeah baby it’s me."
"Oh Bryan, please come home. Please come home right now."
"What’s going on sweetheart?"
"Reporters, they found out that Ridge and I are divorced. I don’t know how, I just found out five minutes ago."
"Divorced?" He said with a gulp. "You are already divorced?"
"Ridge wanted it done fast Bryan. It’s all over. He divorced me." She sobbed.
"Oh my poor sweet baby. I’m on the next plane baby. I’ll be there in a couple of hours. Hang in there Taylor I’m coming back to you. I love you baby, I know you’re hurting right now and you probably don’t want to hear it but I love you."
"I do want to hear it Bryan. Please hurry back. I need you so badly."
"The very first plane Taylor."
"But what about your case."
"There is no case honey, I just wanted to give you some time. I’m on my way now baby."
They hung up and Taylor started crying again. "Oh Bryan please hurry back only you can help ease this pain."


"I called Taylor." Connor told Ridge. He had gone up to first class to see Ridge who had been sitting alone. Because of their haste in making the plans the three men had to take seats apart from each other. Ridge had jumped at the one seat available in first class while Connor and Jonathan were sitting back in coach.
"How was she?"
"Pretty upset, but she’s strong Ridge, she’ll get past this."
"I wonder if I ever will."
"You did alright after Brooke."
"You think so? If I did it was only because of Taylor. But you have no right to talk to me about the way I treated Brooke. Davis, how could you do that to her? You broke off the engagement because of one little mistake."
"Maybe that’s what it is to you but to me it’s a sign that she wasn’t ready. Don’t you worry about our relationship, Brooke and I are still together, we’re just slowing it down a bit. You’d do best to concern yourself with Taylor and Morgan."
"Brooke means the world to me Davis. I won’t stand by and watch you hurt her."
"Look, I came back here as a favor. I don’t need to listen to your crap. You made your own bed Forrester, I don’t know why I even give a damn." He walked away and headed back for his seat.


Little by little everyone left Forrester and Brooke found herself alone in the building. After remembering what she had she was frightened. What if she comes back to finish the job? She thought. "Who can it be?" She asked herself. "Stephanie was very civil to me today, for Stephanie that is. Even I find it hard to believe she would shoot me." She wondered aloud. "It must have been Macy. She must be drinking again. Maybe she doesn’t even remember doing it. Maybe I should talk to Thorne, make sure he looks out for her." Suddenly she heard footsteps approaching her office. "Who’s there?" She cried out in panic.
"It’s me Logan." Ridge said as he entered her office.
"Oh Ridge!" She jumped from her desk and ran to him. She threw her arms around him. "Ridge I am so sorry. What can I do? What can I say?"
He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. "Just be a friend Logan. I really need a friend."
"She hugged him and then let him go. "You look terrible Ridge."
"I feel worse."
"Why don’t we go out and have something to eat? Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"Well you need to eat."
"I can’t face people tonight Brooke."
"Okay then let’s go to your house and I’ll cook something for us."
"You’d do that for me?"
"Oh Ridge, I’d do anything for you." She picked up her purse and took out her keys. "I’ll follow you so I have my own car."
"Let’s go." He replied. He took her hand, gave her a quick kiss and hand in hand they walked out. They were both so caught up in the emotions that neither of them noticed that Morgan was watching them.

"You didn’t eat a thing." Brooke chastised Ridge.
"Yes I did, I just don’t have much of an appetite." He took a big gulp of his Martini.
"That’s the forth one Ridge."
"Are you counting? It’s my sixth and I think you’re right up there with me anyway." He said with a laugh.
"Nope!" Brooke giggled. "This is my fifth!"
"Well then I guess you’ll just have to catch up." He downed the rest of his drink and poured another. "I can’t believe my Mother really asked you to do that Brooke."
"Me either. I guess I was the lesser of two evils."
"You are not an evil at all." He said as he took another gulp. "She just wants me with Taylor."
"So do I." Brooke finished her drink and poured herself another. "I think I’m really getting drunk Ridge."
"I know you are Logan." He chuckled. "Hey Brooke! Why don’t you show me that teddy!"
"You want to see it? Wow, I guess your mother was right. I can entice you." She burst into laughter. She unbuttoned her blouse and took it off only to look down and see she was wearing a lacy, white bra. "Oh no! I forgot to but my teddy on."
"I like your bra Brooke, it’s nice." He said as he took in the sight.
"Not as nice as my teddy!" She said as she started to dance around. She suddenly lost her balance and landed in a ball on the floor. "How did I get here?"
"Up you go Logan!" Ridge said as he lifted her up and sat her next to him on the couch. "I think I’m going to cut you off."
"No, no, no, no, no!" She said in a sing song voice. "Tonight we are drinking to being losers in the game of love."
"You? A loser?" Ridge laughed.
"I lost you! I lost Connor! I lost Thorne!"
"You could have any one of us if you wanted."
"I know I could have you tonight because you," She pointed right into his face. "You, are drunk!"
"You make me smile Logan, I didn’t think I could smile tonight."
"Don’t you go getting serious on me Ridge!" She got up and brought the pitcher over to the coffee table and sat down again. She leaned against Ridge and closed her eyes.
"Are you going to fall asleep on me?"
"Maybe." She said as she cuddled up to him.
"Why don’t you stay with me tonight Brooke."
"We can’t do that. We can’t do that to Taylor."
"We don’t have to do anything Brooke. Just stay." He pulled her to him. "Stay."
"Ridge, I’m not a plaything."
"Where did that come from?"
"Stephanie!" She said with a giggle.
"I never though of you as a plaything Logan." He poured them each another drink. "Never." They picked up their drinks and gulped them down. "You will always be special to me Logan."
"You will always be special to me too Ridge." She smiled at him. "Let’s have one more." She poured move liquor into their glasses. "I think I need to make another pitcher!" She got up and stumbled to the bar and filled the pitcher once more. Carefully she made her way back to the couch. "Take this before I drop it." She told Ridge as she handed him her precious cargo. "I make a really good martini don’t I Ridge?"
"The best Logan."
She plopped down next to him and picked up the pitcher and took a gulp right from it. "Who needs glasses?"
"That’s gross Logan!" Ridge laughed.
"We’ve shared spit before Forrester!" She said with a laugh. "Here’s to old what’s his name!" She said as she took another gulp.
"Who is what’s his name?" Ridge laughed.
"I don’t remember. Oh yeah, Connor. He sure let me go fast huh?"
"Oh Logan, he told me he still loves you. You two need to slow it down a bit, that’s all."
"So do you and Morgan! You don’t want her!"
"You’re right about that Logan. I don’t want her at all. I want Taylor."
"What about me Ridge? Do you want me?" She asked him with a touch of sadness.
He turned to her and unclasped the front closure on her bra. He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. Suddenly they both burst out laughing. "This isn’t going to work is it Logan?"
"I don’t think so Ridge." She smiled at him and kissed him tenderly. "We had our time, this would only cheapen it."
"I love you Brooke Logan." He told her.
"I love you Ridge Forrester." She answered. "I think I better go home now." She said as she fastened her bra.
"You can’t drive! You are wasted!"
"Well I can’t stay. If I do well do something we both would regret."
"Then let me drive you home."
"You?" Brooke burst out laughing. "You’re drunker than I am!"
"Okay then I’ll call Connor and ask him to pick you up."
"No!" Brooke said in a panic. "He would never understand Ridge. Let’s call Michael!"
"I don’t think that’s such a good idea Brooke."
"Oh I think it’s a wonderful idea." She said with a sly grin.
"He’s dangerous."
"I like that in a man." She answered. "Come on Ridge, you got me all worked up. I need to find a way to release it!" She purred at him.
"I must be really drunk." He said as he picked up the phone to dial Michael.



"You are being so nice to me Bryan." Taylor said. Bryan had arrived several hours before. He had greeted her with flowers and a soft kiss. He had then made dinner for her and the children and drawn her a bath. He had brought several comedies on VHS and had made popcorn. Although he ached for her he knew that she needed time to grieve her marriage and he had limited his touches to soft kisses and handholding.
"I love you so much Taylor. I want to do anything I can to take away your pain."
"You’ve been wonderful Bryan, but I think I want to go to bed now."
"Do you want me to stay? I mean here, on the couch."
"Bryan, I’m not ready for us to pick up where we were but the last thing I want is you on the couch. Why don’t you go home tonight and come back in the morning for breakfast?"
"Will you be alright alone?"
"I’m not alone, Bridget is in her room. I don’t know where Brooke is. Maybe she’s with Connor."
"I’ll stay till she gets back if you want."
"Maybe she isn’t coming home tonight. You go Bryan. I’ll be okay now, thanks to you."
"Okay baby." He got up. She stood and walked him to the door.
"I love you Bryan, thank you for being so understanding." She kissed him tenderly. "I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight Taylor, I love you." He told her and he left. Taylor started to straighten up when the phone rang.
"Who is it now?" She said. She picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Your husband is sleeping with your best friend." A strange metallic voice said.
"Who is this?"
"If you go home right now you will catch them!" The voice said and then there was silence.
"Who are you?" Taylor cried into the phone. "This isn’t funny." She put the phone down and started to pace. "Brooke, you wouldn’t, you couldn’t." She said. She grabbed her purse. "Bridget!" She called out. "I’m going out for a few minutes!" She grabbed her keys and ran out. Taylor jumped into her car and headed for her home, the home that until today she and Ridge had shared. "You wouldn’t do this to me. No, neither one of you would be so low to do this to me." She looked at the clock on the dashboard. It read 2 a.m.. "Brooke is with Connor and Ridge is alone. Why am I listening to this person?" She almost turned around but she was almost there and she couldn’t stop herself. She turned the corner onto her block. "This is stupid, I should trust them." She said, but she continued. She pulled into her driveway and was in shock when she saw Brooke’s car parked next to Ridge’s. There was no light coming from the house except for a soft light from her bedroom. "No! I trusted you! I let myself be your friend! How could you betray me like this? How?"

Michael walked into the bedroom. His nude body draped in the moonlight.
"Come to me." Brooke told him, as she lay naked on his bed. "I need you to make love to me like you’ve never done before."

Changes Part 26


"You stupid fool Taylor! All this time you trusted her and she was just using you! Using you!" She shouted as she headed back to Brooke’s house. "Why Ridge? Why would you betray me with my friend? Morgan wasn’t bad enough? Stephanie was right all along." She looked down at the speedometer and saw she was doing 70 MPH. "No! I won’t let your deception do this to me!" She slowed down to a safe 50. "I’m going to get my kids and get the hell away from you! That’s what I’m going to do! You two faced lying slut!" She shouted as the tears raced down her cheeks. She pulled into Brooke’s driveway and put the car in park. With the engine still running and the door wide open she ran into the house and up the stairs to her children. She began throwing clothing into a suitcase and slamming drawers. A sleepy Bridget waked in awakened by the noise.
"What’s wrong Taylor?"
"What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Why don’t you ask that whore you call a mother!" She screamed through her tears. "That is if you can get her out of my husbands bed!"
"What are you talking about Taylor? Mom isn’t with Ridge. She and Connor are getting married."
"Oh she fooled you too. No she isn’t marrying Connor, she just used him, like she used me! Stephanie and your father were right all along! The only man she’ll ever want is Ridge and she sure didn’t waste any time in going for him this time! No not Brooke, I don’t even have the damn divorce papers in my hand and she’s already in bed with him!"
"Taylor mom wouldn’t do that."
"Yes she would and she did! I trusted her, I cared about her." She closed the suitcase and picked up Thomas. "Okay baby Mommy is going to get you out of here right now." She turned to Bridget. "Watch the girls while I put him in the car."
"You’re leaving? Taylor it’s the middle of the night."
"I won’t stay one more second under this roof." She carried Thomas to the car and put him in his car seat and went back up for the girls.
"You should follow your brother’s example and get the hell away from her too before she corrupts you!" She told a sobbing Bridget.
"Why would mom do that?" Bridget cried.
"Your mother will never change, I thought she had. I really valued her friendship but it was all a lie. All she’s ever wanted was Ridge."
"I’m sorry she hurt you Taylor but she’s my mom."
"I know you love her honey." Taylor said as she struggled to pick up the two babies and the suitcase. "But I will never trust her again."
"Let me help you." Bridget said as she took the suitcase from Taylor.
"Thanks Bridget. For your sake I won’t say anything more about Brooke." They went down the stairs and out to the car. Taylor got the girls settled in their car seats and put the suitcase in the trunk. She put her arms around Bridget and hugged her. "Thank you for all you’ve done to help me honey. I’m sorry it had to be this way."
"Me too Taylor." Bridget answered.
Taylor got into the car and drove off.
"Oh Mom why did you do that? Taylor has been such a good friend. And what about Connor?" Bridget asked aloud as she went in and locked the door.

"Okay now calm down Taylor. You have to figure out where to go. You can’t go home, that’s obvious. You can’t go to the beach house cause Morgan is still there. Dad went out of town. I guess I can go to Stephanie, no I can’t deal with her yet. She was so right and I can’t deal with that right now. Think Taylor, think!" she said as she drove further and further from Brooke’s. "I could go to Bryan but that wouldn’t be fair, not with the feelings I have for Ridge. I know, there’s one person who will understand completely. I’ll go there."

"What the hell is going on! Wait a minute I’ll be right there!" Connor shouted. He had been awakened from a sound sleep by the sound of the doorbell followed by pounding on his door. "This better be important!" He said as he opened the door to a sobbing Taylor who stood holding two babies with her small son at her side. "Taylor! What’s wrong? Why are you here? What are you doing out at this hour?"
"Can we come in?"
"Of course." He said as he lifted up Thomas and escorted them inside. "What’s wrong Taylor?"
"It’s Brooke." She sobbed.
"Brooke! Oh my God! What happened to her?" He asked in a panicked voice.
"Nothing happened to her." She cried as she put the girls down and lay them on his couch. "It’s what she did."
"What did she do Taylor? Tell me!"
"She betrayed me! She betrayed both of us Connor! Right now, at this very moment she’s in my bed! With my husband!"
Connor felt like he had been shot. He was instantly nauseous and felt like he was losing his balance. "No, not Ridge. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t."
"She did. Now you see why I can’t stay there anymore. I’m sorry Connor but I had no where else to turn."
"I should have seen it. The way he always defends her, the way her eyes light up when his name is mentioned. I thought that doctor was the problem but she just used him too. She used him as a substitute for Ridge. She swore to me she was over him."
"She lied to us both Connor. She planned on coming on to him all along."
"They both lied Taylor, this divorce wasn’t about Morgan, it was about Brooke. She makes me sick."
"Can we stay here Connor? I don’t know where else to go?"
"Sure Taylor. Let’s get the kids settled in and we can talk."
"I’m too upset and too tired to talk tonight. Can we talk in the morning?"
"Sure honey." He said. They carried the children upstairs and got them to bed. Connor showed Taylor to his guestroom and then he went back into his own room for a long, sleepless night.

"What a glorious night!" Brooke said as she stretched and yawned. "What are you doing?" She asked Michael. He was sitting in a chair by with window with a pad on his lap. He looked at her and smiled. He stood up and to her amusement he was still totally naked.
"My sleeping beauty awakens." He grinned. "How’s your head?"
"I feel wonderful! I know I was really drunk but I feel great. What were you doing Michael?" She asked him again.
"I was sketching you."
"You were? Why?"
"Because you are lovely." He said. "Do you want to see it?"
"Yes, please." She sat up and pulled the sheet to cover her bare breasts. Michael immediately pulled it back down.
"Don’t cover yourself Brooke. Your body is a delight. See!" He held up his pad and showed her the nude he had drawn.
"It’s fantastic. Michael I didn’t know you were an artist."
"There’s a lot you don’t know about me."
"Do I really look that pretty to you?"
"Even more so." He said as he swooped her up into his arms. "We are going to go outside and make love in my garden."
"Michael, people will see us."
"No they won’t. There isn’t another house around for acres. Besides I can’t wait to lay you down in the middle of the flowers and have you right there."
"Oh yes!" She said as she pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him. "Hurry Michael, hurry."

Later Brooke lay in the flowers as she let Michael sketch her again. They had made love several times and Brooke was happy as a clam. She picked a flower and threw it at him.
"Come on Michael, don’t you need another break yet?"
"Do you have anything in mind?"
"You know I do." She got up and took his pad and looked at it. "I like this. Will you paint me too?"
"Sure. I first like to get some ideas in charcoal. Would you like me to do you in oils or watercolors?"
"I think watercolors are so romantic."
"Watercolors it is then."
She put the pad on the ground and got on his lap. She wrapped her legs around his waist. "I want you again. I want you right now."
"You sure are a demanding woman."
"Oh yeah?" She reached down between his legs. "It sure doesn’t feel like you mind."
"You ever do it in a sauna?"
"Well," she blushed. "Actually yes, I have."
"Okay then I have another idea." He started to pick her up.
"No, she wound her legs tighter around him. Save it for later. I want you right now." She said as she lowered herself onto him. "I never did it on a chair in a garden." She moaned. "Oh yes Michael, just like that." She screamed in passion.

The man put down the newspaper and looked at the woman standing in front of him.
"Thank you for showing me that. I’m glad she’s all right now. But I still wonder who could have done this to her. She doesn’t deserve this."
"Don’t worry about that. I didn’t want to get you upset. I just wanted you to be able to rest easy knowing she was going to be all right. I wish you hadn’t heard about the shooting in the first place."
"When I get home nobody will hide anything from me again."
"When you get home."
"That day will come."
"Yes, I think it will." She said.

"Are we going to get dressed at all today?" Brooke teased Michael. She was lying on a lounge chair beside his pool.
"What’s the point? I’d only have to keep taking it off you. I plan to make love to you until you can’t stand up."
"Oh goody!" She smiled. "I’m going in for a swim." She said and she got up and did an elegant swan dive into the crystal clear blue water. "This is great! Why don’t you join me."
"Why not! We haven’t done it in the water yet!" He jumped in doing a cannonball splashing her all over. He swam up to her and used his fingers to examine every inch of her.
"Oh God Michael you got me all wet!"
"You were already in the water."
"I know." She said with a sly smile as their bodies joined once more.

"I have corn flakes." Connor told Taylor. "Will he eat them?"
"No mommy!" Thomas shouted. "Fro flakes!"
"He wants frosted flakes Connor." She answered. "Baby you are just going to have to try these. Mommy will put sugar on them and they’ll taste just the same."
"I don’t know how you do it Taylor, three little children."
"It used to be easy. I had Ridge to help." She turned her face away to hide the tears.
"Why didn’t you ask me to stop the divorce Taylor?"
"Pride I guess. I wanted him to be the one. I guess I didn’t think that he would be running back to Brooke."
"They deserve each other." Connor growled. "They’re nothing but two rabbits in heat."
"But he was my rabbit."
"No like mommy!" Thomas said as he spit the cereal out.
"Thomas! Behave yourself." She scolded as she wiped up the mess.
"Don’t worry about it Taylor he’s just a baby." Connor assured her.
"I’m sorry, I’m just so upset."
"I know."
"I have to go back to Brooke’s to get the rest of my stuff. Will you go with me?"
"I’m not sure I’m up to facing her right now." She said but seeing the look on her face he added. "But for you I will."
"Thanks Connor. First I want to see Stephanie then I’ll go over there."
"Are you going to confront them?"
"Eventually, after I compose myself a little more." Thomas took his spoon and flung in against the wall. "Thomas! Stop that! I’m sorry Connor. He knows something is wrong."
"Don’t worry about it honey. Let me see if I have anything else he might eat." He said as he opened the refrigerator. I have bananas. Would you like a banana buddy?" He asked Thomas.
"Nana!" He gleefully answered.
"Is it okay Taylor?"
"Sure." She answered.
Connor got one out, peeled it, cut it into pieces and put it in a bowl for him. "I guess I need to do some grocery shopping."
"Oh we won’t impose on you any more. I’m sure I can figure out somewhere else to stay."
"You’re staying here Taylor. That’s what friends are for. Right buddy?" he said to Thomas who was stuffing pieces of banana into his little mouth.

"Ummm. You sure are a good kisser." Brooke said to Michael. They were lying together on the lounge chair with their legs entwined with each other’s. "Not to mention the other things you’re good at."
"I’m glad you changed your mind about us. After the sail I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again."
"Why doesn’t Ridge want me to see you?"
"It’s a long sad story, sad and boring. I think he’s jealous."
"No." She said dreamily. "He loves me and I love him but that part of our life is over."
"Good!" He punctuated it with a kiss. "Now where do you think we should try next?"
"I have to go to the office. I really need to put in an appearance today, besides I want to see how Ridge is doing."
"He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself."
"But you don’t understand Michael, he got a divorce yesterday."
"You’re kidding? The way he was talking the other day."
"He still loves her and she loves him. It’s very complicated."
"Where does that leave you?"
"I’m friends with both of them. I want to see if there isn’t someway to get them back together."
"So you and Ridge aren’t"
"No. Not anymore. Not that we weren’t tempted. Michael it would have spoiled our whole relationship and neither of us wanted to do that. I am so happy with Taylor as a friend. It’s like she’s my sister. I really love her."
"Will I get to see any of that woman on woman stuff?" He teased.
"Shut up!" She said.
"Let’s just spend the rest of the day together just lying around naked huh?"
"I am so tempted but I have to get home, get dressed and get to the office."
"Come back tonight, spend the night with me again."
"Alright." She agreed. "Are you gong to feed me too?"
"What would you like?"
"Ummm, this." She said as she reached down with her hand to caress him.
"You have that, I meant to eat."
"So did I." She said with a kiss that started on his lips and ended up in the area in question. She then pulled back and got up.
"Hey! That isn’t fair."
"Think of it as a preview, a preview of coming attractions."
"Coming attractions?" He said with a grin.
"Ummm." She took his mouth again. "What do you want to eat?"
He pulled her to him and lowered his mouth to her breast. "Some of this and some of that."
"Ummm, I think I might have a little more time." She purred. "Enjoy your snack."


"Hi Stephanie." Taylor said as she entered her office.
"Hi honey. It’s good to see you. What brings you here?"
"You heard about yesterday didn’t you?"
"I know honey." She got up and put her arms around her. "I still have faith in you. I still think somehow you two will get it together."
"Not after last night."
"Last night? What happened last night?"
"Ridge and Brooke, she spent the night with him. In my bed Stephanie." She started crying and Stephanie held her tighter.
"Oh I’m sorry honey, it’s all my fault."
"Your fault? How can it be your fault Stephanie?"
"Come on sit down honey." She led her to the couch and the two women sat. "Can I get you some coffee?"
"No Stephanie, you can tell me why you think it’s your fault."
"Because I told her to seduce him."
"You what! I thought you were my friend Stephanie!"
"I am your friend Taylor, that’s why I did it. I didn’t think she would actually do it. Good for her."
"Good for her? I can’t believe this! I’m out of here!" Taylor started to stand but Stephanie pulled her back down.
"I did it for you Taylor!"
"You have two minutes to explain this or I’m out of here!" Taylor said angrily.
"You don’t want him to marry Morgan do you?"
"Of course not! I don’t want him to marry Brooke either!"
"He’s not going to marry Brooke. I asked her to seduce him to keep him away from Morgan."
"That doesn’t make any sense Stephanie."
"Of course it does. You and Ridge aren’t ready to admit to each other how wrong you were. If it went on too long he would marry her. I thought if Brooke could distract him it would give you more time to get back together."
"Distract him? You mean screw him!"
"Yes, I suppose I do."
"She was supposed to be my friend, I can’t believe she would go along with this."
"She told me she wouldn’t. I guess she changed her mind."
"No Stephanie, she made up her mind. She made up her mind to get him back."
"I don’t think so Taylor."
"Then she’s giving herself away like a whore."
"Well that’s what she is Taylor. You know that."
"But what about Ridge, you know he cares about her."
"Only for sex. She’ll keep him occupied, away from Morgan."
"This is wrong. You both are cruel! You and Brooke! I thought you both were my friends."
"I am, she’s not. She only cares about herself, that’s why you have to decide once and for all if you want my son."
"Not after this, never after this. Morgan was a mistake, a terrible mistake. I may have been able to forgive him once, but not with Brooke. He loved her, maybe he still does."
"He never loved her, not like he loves you."
"I’m getting out of here!" Taylor jumped up and ran from the office right into Ridge’s arms.
"Doc!"
"Let go of me Ridge! I hate you! I hate all of you!" She pulled away from him and slapped him across the face. "You pig! How could you do this to me?" She said and she ran off.
"Doc! Doc wait! What are you talking about? Doc!"


Michael dropped Brooke at Ridge’s house where she retrieved her car. She was happy to see that his car was gone and that he wasn’t at home all alone. She went from there back to her own house where she pulled her car into the garage and went inside.
"Taylor? Are you home?" She called out. "I guess she went out. That’s too bad, I really want to make sure she’s okay." As she started upstairs she heard a car pull up. She peeked out the window and saw Connor and Taylor approaching the door.
"On no, Connor. What will I tell him. I hope he wasn’t looking for me last night."
The door opened and they walked in.
"Taylor! Connor! Hi!" Brooke greeted them.
"I just came to get the rest of my things." Taylor said as she walked past Brooke and up the stairs.
"How could you do it Brooke?" Connor said to her in disgust.
"Connor I." She started.
"Save your excuses for someone who cares."
"Connor, I was drunk. I couldn’t drive home and Michael let me stay at his place."
"Michael? You f*cked him too?"
"What?" Brooke asked. "What do you mean?"
"I’ve had all I can take of you Brooke, it’s bad enough what you did to me but Taylor? She has been so supportive of you. You really screwed up royally this time Brooke."
"I don’t know what you are talking about. You told me we needed time. You even told me to see other men."
"I didn’t mean Ridge!" He spat at her.
"Ridge is my friend! I won’t let you or anyone else tell me not to see him."
"You mean f*ck him don’t you?"
"Connor!"
"I’m glad I got away from you before it was too late." He told her. "Now if you’ll excuse me my friend needs some help."
"I don’t understand!"
"Try thinking with your head and not between your legs!" He shouted at her and stormed up the stairs.
"Stephanie what did you do?" Brooke shouted. "Taylor, Connor you have to listen to me." She ran up the stairs after them.
"I don’t want to hear a single thing you have to say Brooke. You betrayed me. And I don’t care if it was Stephanie’s idea! You went along with it!"
"No Taylor! I didn’t go along with it."
"I saw your car Brooke! I know you spend the night with Ridge!"
"No Taylor, I swear I didn’t."
"Just shut up Brooke!" Connor demanded.
"No, this isn’t fair. You have to listen to me."
"What Brooke? What kind of lies have you come up with this time?" Taylor asked.
"Yes! Yes I was with Ridge. We had dinner together. He was so sad Taylor, he was heartbroken."
"So you took him to bed?"
"No! I didn’t take him to bed. How can you believe I would do that after everything that’s happened?" Brooke said as the tears streamed down her face. "Please hear me out. We had dinner and we got drunk, very drunk. I thought about what Stephanie asked, I even told Ridge about it. We didn’t do anything. I wanted to go home but I was too drunk to drive and he was too drunk to drive me. We called Michael and asked him to bring me home."
"You didn’t come home Brooke." Taylor said.
"No, I didn’t. Michael took me back to his place and I spent the night there." She turned to Connor. "I’m sorry Connor, I didn’t want it to happen but it did. I know it’s no excuse but I’m very confused about all of this. I don’t know why I’m so attracted to him but I am. I know I don’t deserve your love anymore but I did not sleep with Ridge! We both love Taylor way too much to ever do that!"
"You didn’t sleep with Ridge?" Taylor asked.
"I could never betray you that way." She cried and then she looked at Connor’s sad face. "I wish I could say that I didn’t betray you Connor, but I did."
"Why did you go to Ridge’s? Did Stephanie tell you to?"
"No. I got a phone call. Someone said that you and Ridge were in bed and if I wanted to catch you I should go right over." Taylor slowly said. "Someone was setting us up."
"Someone who knew I left Forrester with Ridge." Brooke answered.
"Someone who wants to keep you all apart." Connor added.
"Morgan!" All three said at the same time.
"Oh Brooke I’m sorry!" Taylor said as she embraced her friend. "I said some awful things about out. Things that weren’t true."
"It’s okay Taylor as long as you believe me now." Brooke cried.
"I do, I should have known I could trust you. Oh Brooke I said things to Bridget."
"I’ll talk to her. I’ll explain things to her."
"Are we friends again?" Taylor asked.
"We never stopped." Brooke answered. She looked at Connor. "I know you can’t forgive me Connor and I’m sorry. You’re right, I screwed up big time."
"I don’t know if I can get past this Brooke." He answered honestly. "I love you but I can’t share you."
"It was wrong for me to be with Michael, but it was wrong for me to commit to you before I was ready."
"Will you stop seeing him."
"I can’t."
"I see."
"No, you don’t. I don’t understand so how can you? Can we at least be friends?"
"Can I make you forget him?"
"I wish you could."
"Are you in love with him?"
"No Connor, I just have fun being with him. Everything with us is so serious."
"Love is serious."
"Love should be fun too."
"I don’t know what else to say Brooke?"
"Neither do I."
He turned to Taylor. "Are you coming back with me or are you going to stay here?"
"I think I should stay here. I’ll call Katherine and ask her to take my car and bring the kids back."
"Alright." He walked up to Taylor and kissed her on the cheek. "Take care Taylor." He turned to Brooke. "Goodbye Brooke." He said and he walked out.
"I’ve lost him for good this time." Brooke said to Taylor.
"I think you did. I’m sorry Brooke. If I had had faith in you he would never have known."
"It’s not your fault it’s my own." She sat down and started to cry. "I really like Michael Taylor, but I didn’t want to lose Connor and I couldn’t lie to him."
"I know." Taylor answered. "Oh my God! Ridge!"
"What about Ridge?"
"I saw him at Forrester, I slapped him and accused him. He must hate me."
"He loves you Taylor. That’s what last night was all about. Did Stephanie tell you why she wanted me to seduce him?"
"So he wouldn’t marry Morgan, but he won’t marry her, he hates her."
"But he told me he is going to marry her."
"When?"
"Soon. He wants to give the child his name. I tried telling him he didn’t have to marry her to do that but he wants to do the honorable thing."
"Then Stephanie was right."
"What?"
"She was right to try and stop him. She shouldn’t have used you like that but he can’t marry her. Divorcing me is one thing but committing to her is another."
"You can stop him."
"How?"
"By telling him you want him back."
"You’re right Brooke! I have to stop him and I have to do it now! Oh no! My car is at Connors."
"I’ll drive you. Is he at Forrester?"
"Let’s call Megan and find out."
Brooke picked up the phone and hit the speed dial for her office.
"Megan, its Brooke. Is Ridge still in? We have to talk to him right away. What? No please tell me that isn’t true. When did they leave? Okay then we still have time to catch them." She hung up the phone. "We have to get right to the airport Taylor. We have to get there right away! Ridge and Morgan are taking to company jet for Santa Domingo. They’re leaving right now!"

 

Changes Part 27

"Can’t you drive any faster?" Taylor asked Brooke.

"I’m going 80 Taylor, If I go any faster I could kill us both." She answered but she pushed her foot harder on the accelerator and watched as the speedometer climber to 90 and then 100. "Don’t worry we’ll get there on time."

"He can’t marry her Brooke, even if our marriage is over. I can’t let him make this mistake."

"Your marriage doesn’t have to be over Taylor. Not if you stop him and tell him how you feel."

"Watch out Brooke!" Taylor shouted as she saw that they were getting to close to the car ahead of them.

"Come on! Move it!" Screamed Brooke as she blasted her horn. "He’s barely doing 60. I have to pass him!"

"How? You’re already in the fast lane. All the other cars are going much slower than us."

"Watch me!" Brooke replied as she pulled the car onto the grassy divider and passed the slower car. She then pulled back onto the highway in front of him.

"Wow! I’m glad you’re driving, I never could have done that."

"I’ve never done anything like that before either." Brooke answered. "But then I never was in this much of a rush. Except once maybe." She thought about the time she had raced to the church to try and stop Ridge and Taylor’s first marriage. "Have you decided what you’re going to tell him?"

"No. I just want to stop this lunacy Brooke. She’ll ruin his life."

"We won’t let her." Brooke answered. "You know Taylor, this is very romantic. Now you two can get married again. And this time I can come as your guest. Unless maybe you’d let me stand up for you."

"Brooke, I don’t think we’re going to get married again. I just have to stop him."

"I don’t understand Taylor. I thought you loved him."

"I do, but Brooke nothing really has changed. And then there’s Bryan."

"You really love him too don’t you?"

"He came home last night. He called and I told him what happened and he came home. He was so wonderful Brooke. He made us dinner, he fixed me a bath. We watched movies and ate popcorn and held hands. He never once tried to make me do anything I wasn’t ready for."

"Then can I ask you something?"

"I know, why the rush to stop Ridge right?"

"No, I understand that but Taylor, what can you offer Ridge to make him change his mind?"

The man lay quietly on his bed. He looked at the tray on the table but had no appetite for the food. He had lost so much weight that he was barely recognizable even to himself. They told him there was little they could do but he decided he had to try. "I have to get stronger. If I can do that then I can go home. Home." He said with a sigh.

"What is going on here?" Eric asked Megan. "Everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

"Oh Mr. Forrester, It’s terrible. Ridge and Morgan took the company jet to go get married. Brooke and Taylor are trying to stop them but I don’t know if they are going to make it on time. And Stephanie is livid. She’s been screaming at everyone. She tried to get the pilot and forbid him from taking off but he doesn’t answer."

"She can’t stop them Megan, none of them can. It’s too late for that now."

 

"We’re almost there Taylor." Brooke said when she spotted the airport exit just ahead. "We’re gonna make it."

"Oh no Brooke! The traffic is totally stopped!" Taylor cried.

"Then we have one last option." She pulled the car over to the side of the road and cut off the engine. "Come on Taylor! Let’s go!"

"Are we going to walk?"

"No!" Brooke answered. "We’re going to run!"

The two women got out of the car and began running towards the airport. The catcalls or the horn honking from the other cars did not deter them. At one point Taylor lost her balance but Brooke pulled her back up and pulled her along. Huffing and puffing the two out of breath women finally made it to the airport.

"Where do they keep the jet?" Taylor asked, confused by the large building.

"This way!" Brooke said as she took her hand and pulled her down the crowded isle. "Hurry Taylor, hurry!"

They turned the corner and were just feet away from the Forrester site when the door opened and two men in coveralls walked in.

"The jet!" Brooke cried out. "The Forrester jet. You have to stop it!" She shouted to them.

"Please" Taylor added. "You have to make them turn back."

"I’m sorry ladies, they took off about ten minutes ago." The man answered.

"No!" Taylor cried. "Oh Brooke, we’re too late." She said as she fell to the floor in a defeated ball.

"There must be something we can do!" Brooke said to the man. "Can’t you radio them and tell them to turn around."

"Lady, I’m a mechanic. You’d have to go to the radio controller for that."

"Come on Taylor, let’s go!" Brooke said as she tried to pull her up from the floor.

"No Brooke. It’s too late. I tried but it’s too late." She said through her tears. "He’s hers now."

"Taylor we can’t give up."

"I just did Brooke." Taylor answered as she slowly got to her feet. "Let’s go home."

 

"I was supposed to meet Taylor for breakfast and no ones home Connor. I’m getting worried." Bryan announced as he walked into his partner’s office.

"Ah, the prodigal child returns." Connor said without lifting his head from the brief he was reading.

"I know you’re mad at me Connor but I had to leave. I had to do it for Taylor."

"Well my friend." Connor said as he looked up at Bryan. "It appears that the lovely Mrs. Forrester is no longer interested in you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"She’s decided that she wants her husband back." He threw down the pen he had been using to write notes with. "So I guess we’re both in the same boat buddy."

"She didn’t say that last night Connor. I was with her. I know she was confused but she told me she loved me."

"Yeah Brooke said the same thing to me, fresh out of her lovers bed. Women!"

"Taylor and Brooke are not the same Connor."

"Are you insulting the woman I love?"

"No Connor, I just meant that Taylor would have told me if she had decided to go back to Ridge. That’s why I left. To give her time."

"Oh and it took, what two days? Face the facts Bryan. No woman can resist a Forrester, especially Ridge Forrester." He said bitterly. "I don’t care what she and Taylor believe. Brooke still has it bad for Ridge."

"Connor do you know where Taylor is?"

"Well she moved in with me last night."

"She what?"

"And then she moved out and back to Brooke’s this morning. I guess the lady has a hard time making her mind up about anything."

"Where is she now?"

"I took off her tracking collar." Connor sarcastically answered.

"She’s not at Brooke’s."

"Did you try my place? Her nanny and the kids were still there this morning. Maybe they are deciding whose life to mess with next."

"What’s your problem man? Taylor never did anything to you."

"You’re right Bryan, I’m sorry." He rubbed his eyes. "I’m just so disappointed in both of them."

"Do you have feelings for my woman Connor?" Bryan asked his eyes widening in anger.

"You know what Bry? Maybe I do."

Brooke led a weak and sobbing Taylor back into her house and helped her down onto the couch. "We could try to find the courthouse where they’re getting married. We could call and talk to Ridge."

"Forget it Brooke, it’s over."

"Taylor, you love him."

"I can’t do this anymore Brooke."

"How can you just give up?"

"Well, maybe I’m not as strong as you Brooke! And maybe, unlike you I know when it’s time to give up."
Brooke winced at the words her friend had thrown at her.

"You fought hard for him Brooke but where did it get you? Where did it get either of us? I was never secure in my marriage, not for one stinking day! You were always there Brooke. Not physically but mentally. I never felt I truly had him to myself."

"Taylor I’m sorry if I caused you pain."

"I’m not blaming you honey." Taylor said as she hugged her. "Ridge never made me feel like I was the only one. Maybe I was wrong but."

"You were wrong Taylor. He didn’t want me anymore. I wanted him but he didn’t want me. But that’s all over."
"But now it’s Morgan."

"He never loved her."

"That’s what makes this so much worse. I could live with Caroline’s ghost and I could live with his feeling for you. No maybe I couldn’t." She started to cry again.

"Ridge is a hard man to love Taylor."

"Too hard."

"But isn’t he worth it?"

"What difference does it make anymore Brooke. Right now he is exchanging vows with that woman."

"What are you going to do?"

"I’m going to get all her crap out of my house and I’m going to burn anything that she ever touched and then I’m going to move back in there. And if he still wants me I am going to ask Bryan to live there with me."

"Are you going to marry him?"

"I don’t think I ever want to be that dependent on a man again. Not for anything."

"Can you really do this?"

"I have to."

"Why not wait, I’m sure that as soon as the baby is born he’ll leave her. He only wants the child to have his name."

"You know what Brooke. I may just take a page from your book, find myself a couple of sexy lovers. Screw around and have fun and not let anyone hurt me again."

"It’s not that much fun Taylor. I wouldn’t recommend what I’m doing. I hurt Connor badly and I love him."

"Connor is a good man Brooke."

"Yes he is."

"Someone else is going to grab him up Brooke."

"I suppose they will."

"You really aren’t willing to give up Michael for him?"

"I can’t."

"Why not?"

"I don’t know Taylor. I know he cost me the man I love but I still want him so bad it hurts."

"He’s cute Brooke but come on."

"It’s not the way he looks, it’s something about him. All he has to do is touch me and I need him."

"Sex isn’t everything."

"No, I know it isn’t but I just can’t, no I won’t, I won’t give him up."

 

"Eric why didn’t you stop him? You know what he was doing when he took the plane." Stephanie shouted at her husband.

"He’s doing the right thing Stephanie."

"No he isn’t! He loves Taylor."

"They made their decisions and they have to live with them. God knows we often regret the choices we make." He said as he looked at her with distaste.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You think I wouldn’t find out Stephanie? Your son told me what you did. How you tried to convince Brooke to use her body to stop him. Of all the low disgusting things Stephanie."

"You know it would have been no big deal for her. She wants Ridge, she always has."

"Hasn’t Brooke been through enough lately? Hasn’t she proven to you that her intentions are good? My God Stephanie Taylor is living at her house! If that doesn’t tell you something I don’t know what will."

"I needed her to distract him Eric. She’s a cheap floozy and you know it."

"I will not listen to one more word from you about the mother of my children. I was wrong to listen to you before. I loved you and wanted to protect you but you are so bitter Stephanie. What Ridge did to Taylor with Morgan has nothing to do with Brooke! Not one single thing!"

"You are letting her come between us again Eric!"

"No Stephanie, the only thing coming between us is your bitterness." He said to her. "I’ll see you later, I’m going to go see our other son, You remember him don’t you Stephanie? The one who really needs your support?" He stormed away from her.

 

Brooke picked up the phone on the first ring and quietly answered.

"Hello." She whispered.

"Brooke? It’s Bryan. Is Taylor there?"

"She’s asleep Bryan. She’s been crying for hours and I just got her to fall asleep."

"I know the divorce was hard on her."

"It’s worse then that Bryan. Ridge and Morgan are getting married today."

"What? How is that possible?"

"I don’t really know. It seems that Jonathan and Connor found some place where Ridge could get divorced and then get married again right away."

"That can’t be legal Brooke."

"Not here, but in the country where they went it is."

"But the marriage can’t be legal here Brooke. Are they going to stay there?"

"I don’t think so. Are you serious Bryan? This marriage won’t be real?"

"I’m not a divorce lawyer Brooke, I can’t say for sure but it sounds awfully fishy to me."

"Connor and Jonathan seem convinced."

"Well they would know better than me I guess. I’m a corporate lawyer Brooke. I haven’t done much reading on this subject."

"Well maybe you ought to Bryan. Maybe you can find a loophole that can help Taylor."

"I’ll look into it Brooke but I really need to know that Taylor is alright."

"She’s doing as well as she can Bryan. I know she loves you but the end of her life with Ridge is very hard on her."

"I won’t push her Brooke. I swear I’ll be as slow as she needs. I really love her Brooke. I never would have left if I didn’t."

"Why did you leave Bryan?"

"When I took Stephanie to the hospital she begged me to back off to give Taylor and Ridge one last chance to fix their marriage."

"Stephanie! I should have known."

"But she was right Brooke. I love Taylor but I couldn’t be the one that got in the way. She needed to make the decision without me around."

"You know she tried to stop the divorce, and the wedding."

"No. I didn’t know that." He said sadly.

"But all along Bryan she kept insisting that she loved you and that she was stopping it for Ridge, to keep Morgan away from him. I don’t think she’s any closer to knowing how she really feels then she was before you left."

"Would you mind if I came over and waited for her to get up?"

"I was hoping she’d sleep through the night but you’re more than welcome to come. You can use Rick’s old room."

"Thanks Brooke. I’ll see you in a while."

"Sit down Morgan. The pilot is getting ready to take off." Ridge told his wife.

"I’m just so excited!" She said as she looked at the plain gold band on her finger. "I’m Mrs. Ridge Forrester! I love you so much Ridge!" She sat down next to him and kissed him. He didn’t return the kiss but he also didn’t push her away.

"I’ll get you a nicer ring when we get home. That was all they had."

"The ring is fine Ridge. All I ever really wanted was you."

"Well you got that now didn’t you." He said as he lay his head back on the seat.

"Where are we going to stay tonight?"

"You will never stay at Taylor and my home Morgan. We’ll go to a hotel for tonight. I’ll find us a place tomorrow."

"Why don’t we take a honeymoon?" She suggested.

"I told you before Morgan, that isn’t what this marriage is about."

"Ridge, I can make you love me."

"I will never love you Morgan. I love Taylor and I always will."
"Then why did you sleep with Brooke last night?"

"What? Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"I saw you two at Forrester. I followed you to your house. I saw her dancing around in her underwear and I saw you kiss her. You took her bra off Ridge, you had your hands all over her boobs!"

"Brooke and I didn’t sleep together Morgan. I can’t believe you followed us."

"It doesn’t matter any more. You’re mine now." She smiled as she took his hand and placed it on her breast. He pulled it away as if it was fire.

"Ridge, you promised that we would be married, you promised you would give our child your name."

"I did marry you Morgan! What more do you want from me?"

"We have to consummate the marriage Ridge. It won’t be legal until we do."

"Oh God!" He put his head in his hands. "What have I gotten myself into?"

Brooke picked up the phone and suddenly remembered that she didn’t know Michael’s number. "My God Brooke." She told herself. "You spent the entire day in his bed and you still don’t even know his phone number! I guess I’ll have to call his service. No this will be embarrassing." She dialed his office number.

"Doctor’s service." The woman’s voice answered.

"Yes, this is Brooke Logan, it is imperative that I get in touch with Michael tonight."

"Michael?"

"Doctor Copeland."

"And what is the reason of your emergency?"

 

I’m horny Brooke thought. "My stitches are starting to break and I’m very frightened." She lied.

"Where can the Doctor reach you?"

"At my home. He has my number."

"Alright Miss Logan, I’ll pass this message on to him."

"Thank you." She said. She put down the phone and started to pace. "Come on Michael call me. I really want to be with you tonight but I can’t leave Taylor."

A few minutes later the phone rang.

"Michael?" She said.

"No Logan, it’s me."
"Ridge! Where are you? You didn’t do it did you?"

"She’s my wife."

"Oh Ridge."

"I know Logan. Is Taylor there? I need to tell her this myself. I thought I’d come over."

"You’re home?"

"We’re in the limo. I thought I’d have them drop Morgan at the hotel and then I’d come by to talk to Taylor."

"She already knows Ridge."

"I need her to understand…get your hands off me Morgan! I’m sorry Brooke, hold on." He put the phone down but Brooke could hear them argue. "I’m back honey."

"How could you marry her Ridge?"

"You know why Brooke. Well, what about it?"
"Not tonight Ridge. She took a sleeping pill and I really think she needs to rest."

"This is killing her isn’t it?"

"It really is Ridge." Brooke found herself sobbing. "I can’t believe you did this?"

"I had to Brooke. Morgan stop it!" Brooke heard the sound of a wet kiss and it didn’t sound one sided to her. She was very mad at her friend because of this.

"Look Ridge!" She said angrily. "Why don’t you take your bride home and have your little honeymoon and leave Taylor alone!"

"Logan, you know I didn’t want this!"

"Then you shouldn’t have done it." She slammed the phone down and softly wept. She wept for Ridge, she wept for Taylor and she wept for the fact that she had she hadn’t been able to stop it.

She wiped her eyes and got up and started to pace again when the doorbell rang. She ran and flung the door open.

"Bryan." She said through her tears.

"What’s wrong Brooke?"

"Ridge called. They’re married, they’re married and they’re home. He wants to see Taylor."

"You told him no I hope."

"Of course I did. She can’t deal with this tonight."

"I need to see her."

"Don’t wake her up Bryan, please let her rest."

He walked upstairs to Taylor’s room and gently opened the door. Taylor was sitting up holding the phone in her lap crying.

"He married her Bryan." She cried.

"Oh baby." Bryan walked over to the bed and gently took her into his arms. "I’m so sorry baby." He said as he stroked her hair. He took the phone from her hands and put in on the nightstand. "You listened to his call didn’t you?"

"Yes. The phone woke me up."

"I never wanted to see you so sad Taylor."

"Bryan, please come to bed with me. I need you to make love to me, I need you to take this aching from my heart."

"You don’t really want that Taylor. I want you to think of me when we’re together, not Ridge."

"Please Bryan, just for tonight." She pulled him to her and started kissing him frantically.

"Slow down baby, slow down." He said as he pulled away. "I’m yours. You know I’m yours." He pulled his sweater over his head and stood up and unzipped his jeans and removed them.

"The shorts too Bryan, take them off." She begged.

He stepped out of them and was embarrassed by his arousal.

"You want me Bryan, thank God you want me." She said reaching for him.

"I’ll always want you Taylor." He got on the bed again and pulled her close to him and kissed her softly.

"No Bryan! I want it hard! I want it hard and fast!" She said as she tore her nightgown off her body. "Just take me Bryan, no kisses, no waiting! Just take me." She demanded as she tried to pull him onto her.

"This isn’t the way it should be Taylor, I love you."

"If you love me then f*ck me Bryan! Right now!"

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately. Taylor flung her arms wildly at him trying to get him to stop but her would have no part of it. He just held her tighter and tighter and his kisses became softer and less demanding.

"No!" She shouted. "Please Bryan! Do it to me like he did it to her! I have to know what it feels like!"

He sat up in the bed and pulled her into his arms and softly placed butterfly kisses all over her face. She clawed at him like a wild woman but he refused to give in. She punched him and tried to pull herself out of his arms but he would have none of it. Suddenly he felt her body relax and her mouth joined his in a tender kiss.

"Love me Bryan?" She softly cried. "Will you love me?"

"Till the day I die." He said as he tenderly made her his.

"Brooke what happened?" Michael’s panicked voice asked as she said hello.

"I’m sorry Michael, I didn’t mean to scare you."

"Are you alright? Is there a problem with your stitches?"

"The only problem is I don’t know your phone number."

"My phone number?" He asked as the relief flooded his body.

"I know I was supposed to come over but Taylor had a really bad day and I can’t leave her."

"Then I’ll come to you."

"We won’t have the freedom here like at your place Michael. I have a daughter who lives here and she thinks I’m still engaged to Connor."

"You aren’t?" He questioned.

"You didn’t even notice I wasn’t wearing my ring?"

"Brooke your finger is the last place I was looking. Was it my fault?"

"No, it was mine."

"We can be discreet."

"Not here, not till I can talk to Bridget. I’ve already put her through hell with my dysfunctional love life."

"I really need you Brooke."

"Me too Michael, my God just hearing your voice has me all worked up."

"Are you wet baby?"

"Michael!" She said with embarrassment.

"Are you?"

"Yes." She shyly answered.

"Good, I’m on my way."

"No Michael, I’m serious."

"How about we just go out for a little while and you can get back for Taylor and your daughter?"

"I can’t."

"Brooke, think of the things we did this morning."

"I am." She said as she fidgeted in the chair.

"Think of all the places I want to put my tongue."

"Michael!"

"Oh Brooke, I can almost taste you now."

"I can’t!"

"Yes you can. I’ll pick you up. We can go check into a motel for an hour and I’ll bring you right home."

"I can’t!"

"Ummm, my fingers are gliding down Brooke, getting lower and lower."

"Oh God!" She said as she crossed her legs in frustration. "One hour and that’s it!"

"Put on that sundress Brooke, but don’t put on any underwear. We can start in the car."

"Oh God Michael yes, please hurry." She licked her lips and hung up the phone. She ran upstairs to change.

 

"For awhile I though he was going to be alright." The woman told the man who sat down next to her. She poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "Now I just don’t know. He looks so gaunt."

"I still think he may. His will is very strong." He took a sip of the rich brew.
"I wish he hadn’t have found out about that shooting."

"It did him no harm. It couldn’t be helped." He said as the soft sound of the mariachi band whispered through the window.

"You’ve done all you could."

"Go see if he’s eaten anything."

"He hasn’t. I already looked."

"Did we get the check yet?" He asked her. His face showed deep concern.

"No, but under the circumstances I’m sure it’s alright."

"We need that money." He told her as he shook his head.

"We’ll get it." She answered.

 

Changes Part 28 

Brooke opened the door before Michael had time to ring the bell. With a soft laugh she flung herself into his arms and kissed him deeply and intensely.

"I feel exactly the same." He said as he returned her passion. "Are you sure we just can’t stay here?"

"Bad idea." She said as she momentarily took her mouth from his. "Bridget is upstairs." She panted as she once more captured his mouth. He lifted her right leg with his hand and let his fingers explore his way up.

"You did as I asked." He whispered as his fingers dove deep into her.

"Not here!" She begged as she pushed herself even closer to him.

"Come on." He slowly released her and led her out to his car. Once inside he pulled her into his embrace.

"No Michael, we’re still in my driveway." She cried as she continued to kiss him passionately.

"We aren’t going to get very far this way." He answered, but he was unable to tear his lips or hands from her.

"Please, I don’t want her to see us." Brooke begged. He reluctantly let her go and started the car. "Find the closest place Michael, I don’t care what it is."

He quickly pulled the car onto the street and started to drive. They looked at each other and started to laugh.

"I have never felt this way about anyone before." He confessed. "I don’t know what it is but I can’t get enough of you."

"It’s like you cast a spell on me." She agreed. "I’ve thrown everything out for you and I don’t even care. God help me I don’t care." She pulled herself closer to him and started kissing his neck. She moaned in pleasure when she felt his fingers dive beneath her dress and once more claim their prize. "Find some place to pull over Michael, I can’t wait any longer." She cried with a shudder.

"I told you we were going to start in the car." He laughed as he probed deeper.

"There!" She shouted. "Pull behind that Billboard!" She said as she pointed to the sign ironically advertising safe sex.

"Are you serious?"

"I’ve never been more serious in my life! Do it!" She demanded. He carefully pulled the car behind the sign and no sooner stopped the engine when she climbed onto his lap and kissed him with even more passion than he thought possible. "We need more room. Pull the seat back!" She said as she attempted to pull his zipper down. "You better not be wearing underwear either Mister!"

"I’m not." He said between kisses as he reached under his seat to the button that lowered it. "Get on top of me Brooke." He told her. She pushed the front of her dress to her waist and complied. "Oh God Brooke, you are so good." He told her as once more their bodies joined.

Taylor got up and walked into the bathroom and took a sip of cool water. She then splashed some more on her face before returning to the bed where Bryan was waiting.

"I’m sorry for the way I acted before Bryan. I never meant to cheapen what we have."

"It’s okay baby." He told her as he held the blankets out and let her slip back into his warm embrace. "I understand what you’re feeling."

She lay her head gently next to his. "I tried to stop him Bryan. You have to know this. I can’t let this come between us. I have to be honest with you."

"I know baby."

"I would have promised him anything to stop him. I would have done anything to stop him."

"I know baby."

"But it’s over now."

"Shhh." He told her. "Try not to think of that Taylor."

"He was my whole life." She started to cry again. "I believed in us. I thought we would be together forever."

"Do you want me to leave Taylor? Is it too soon for you?"

"I don’t want you to go anywhere Bryan." She reached over and held his hand tightly. "I just want to feel safe, safe and loved."

"You are safe. And I swear no one could ever love you more than I do."

"I need your help tomorrow."

"Anything."

"I want that woman’s thing out of my house. I want to go home."

"The beach house?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Okay baby, we’ll take care of it. Anything else?"

"I want you to move in there with me."

"Taylor there is nothing in the world I want more but I don’t think you’re ready for that. It’s too soon."

"It’s what I want Bryan."

"We’ll talk about it tomorrow." He said as he pulled her into his arms. "For tonight let’s just sleep." He kissed her gently. "We can make all the important decisions tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." She said as she pulled herself closer to him and closed her eyes. "I love you Bryan." She whispered as she found herself falling asleep.

 

"Wow!" Brooke said as she pulled herself back into the passenger seat. "Wow." She repeated.

"Is that all you can say?" He laughed.

"Never before Michael, never before in my life." She wiped she sweat covered brow with her arm. "I didn’t think it was possible for it to be so good."

"Want to go to that motel now?" He asked.

"Nothing could follow that." She said as she took a deep breath.

"Then let’s go somewhere for a drink and talk." He suggested.

"Talk?"

"Yeah, you know two people open their mouths without sticking each others tongue into it." He teased. "I really want to know you better."

"You know me better than anyone ever did." She said as she slowly ran her fingers across his bare chest.

"I know you sexually, that’s true but Brooke I really want to know you."

"I want to know you too Michael. I think a drink would be a great idea." She straightened her dress and ran her fingers through her hair. "Do I look alright?" She asked.

"You look like a woman who has just been well f*cked." He chuckled.

"That’s because I am. But do I look alright to be seen in public?"

"Come here." He pulled her closer and kissed her. "There is no one who could ever look better. Wait!" He stuck his finger in his mouth and brought it to her face and wiped a spot from under her eye. "That’s better. You had a little eye makeup."

"I was sure I sweat it all off." She laughed.

"We sure did work up a good one didn’t we?" He said in a sexy voice. "Do you think you can keep your hands off me long enough to have a drink?"

"I doubt it but let’s try, shall we?" She lay her head against his chest and he started the car and took off.

 

"Why won’t you come to bed Ridge?" Morgan pleaded. She was sitting on the large king sized hotel bed in a sexy, see-through red nightgown.

"How many times do I have to tell you Morgan. What happened between us happened that one time and it will never happen again."

"I’m going to change your mind Ridge." She said in a child like singsong voice.

"Go to sleep Morgan."

"I won’t bite Ridge. You don’t have to sleep on the couch."

"Yes I do. I would have gotten us separate rooms, or at least a room with two beds if the clerk hadn’t recognized me."

"How would that look huh Ridge? The great Ridge Forrester spending his wedding night in separate rooms." She laughed. "I’ll make you forget her Ridge. You know we were good together."

"Morgan!" He got up and took her by the shoulders and shook her. "Get this through your head. I will never forget Taylor! Never! And you will never take her place and someday I will get her back!"

He pushed her back onto the pillows and got up and walked back to the couch.

"I’m serious about what I said Ridge. You WILL consummate this marriage! If you don’t I’ll make sure everyone knows it!" She hissed at him.

"Don’t threaten me Morgan!"

"Please Ridge." She said is a softer tone of voice. "All I ever wanted to do was love you."

"I can’t give you my love Morgan, Taylor already owns it." He got up and sat on the bed next to her. "Let’s be civil about this Morgan. There’s no reason to make it harder than it already is."

"Sleep with me Ridge. You don’t have to make love to me just sleep next to me."

"I don’t want you to get any expectations Morgan."

"I won’t. Just lie down next to me. It’s a big bed. We don’t even have to touch."

"Alright Morgan, just go to sleep okay?" He asked as he lay down beside her.

"I’ll dream about you Ridge, I’ll dream of the day when you realize how much I really love you and how I’d do anything to be with you. Anything." She said as an evil look came over her face.

Michael held out the chair for Brooke as she sat down. They had found a quiet, romantic open-air bar on the ocean. Brooke took a deep breath of the clean salty air.

"This is great." She said with a smile. "How did you find this place?"

"I used to go here years ago. I’d almost forgotten about it." He looked at her face that was bathed in soft candlelight. "God you are beautiful."

"Oh Michael." She blushed. "Not anymore, at least not till all these bandages come off." She touched the side of her face.

"Bandages? I don’t see bandages when I look at you. I see a sexy, vibrant woman. A beautiful woman."

"You sure are good on the ego."

"I’m not handing you a line Brooke. In my business I see the most beautiful women in the world and all of them are trying so hard to look better. Not you, you are perfect the way you are. I wouldn’t change a single thing about you."

"What made you go into plastic surgery? There are so many choices in medicine. Why did you choose this one?"

"The money."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. I didn’t come from much Brooke. I worked hard to get through medical school. I’m ambitious and I’m not ashamed of it."

"Well you shouldn’t be. You made your choice and you became the best."

"I am the best. I don’t mean to brag but I am. And I am wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. I have everything I could ever want. At least I thought I did."

"And now?"

"Now I realize that there is so much more." He took her hand and looked lovingly into her eyes. "The time we’ve spent together has made me realize how much I have been missing. I haven’t had a real relationship since my divorce."

"How long were you married?"

"Five years."

"Why did it end?"

"I don’t really want to get into that right now. It’s a long story and now is not the time."

"Does the reason have anything to do with why Ridge doesn’t want me with you."

"Yes."

"Will you ever tell me?"

"Someday, not yet. I want you to judge me for myself, not for who I used to be."
"Alright." She smiled at him. "That’s fair."

"What can I get you guys?" Asked the pretty blonde waitress. Brooke and Michael had been so engrossed with each other they hadn’t even seen her walk up.

"Brooke?" Michael asked.

"A glass of Merlot please."

"Make that two." Michael added.

"I can getcha a bottle if you like." She waitress suggested.

"Thank you but no. We won’t be staying that long." Michael explained.

"Anything else? Some munchies?"

"Are you hungry Brooke?" Michael asked.

"As a matter of fact I am."

"Get us a platter of whatever you have. Mix it up." Michael told the waitress.

"That’ll cost ya extra."

"Not a problem." Michael answered.

"I’ll be right back with your wine." She told them before she moved on to the next table.

"Where were we?" Brooke asked.

"About to change the subject."

"Oh yes. Well then tell me, how has a great guy like you managed to stay unattached?"

"I like playing the field. How did you and Connor get together?"

"We aren’t together any more."

"But how did it start?"

"We go way back. We got together again when Taylor needed a lawyer. I called Connor and the rest is, well just like our relationship it’s history."

"Regrets?"

"Yes. I love him."

"Regrets about us?"

"Not so far." She laughed.

"You’ve been married to both Ridge and his father haven’t you?"

"Yes, and I was in love with Ridge’s brother too. I’m sure you know that."

"I wasn’t judging."

"Why not? Everyone else does."

"We all have our reasons for what we do in life. Anyone else important in yours?"

"I was married, well it turned out it wasn’t legal but I was married to a wonderful man, Grant Chambers. It was a mistake though. I only married him to make Ridge jealous. I ended up hurting Grant and I will always regret that." She felt tears coming to her eyes.

"What happened to him?"

"He fell in love with another woman and they were very happy. Then he got very sick."

"He died?"

"Yes." She whispered.

"I’m sorry Brooke, you have a lot of tragedy in your life too don’t you?"

"Grant made me laugh. He was a kind man. I miss him."

"What happened to the other woman?"

"She married him."
"Were they married when he died?"

"Can we not talk about Grant?"

"Sure, tell me about you and Thorne."

"Thorne and I were close, very close. I always could depend on him when things didn’t work out with Ridge. One day we fell in love. We never meant for it to happen, it just did."

"And he shot you?"

"No, it wasn’t Thorne."

"But he confessed."

"He’s lying. He’s covering up for someone but it wasn’t him."
"How could he do that to you?"

"I don’t know."
"Have you talked to him?"
"No, why?"
"It could help."

"Every time I think I’m ready to confront him I chicken out." She said with a shudder.

"Are you cold?"

"No, I just get frightened when I think about it. I know it wasn’t Thorne but the police aren’t doing anything to find out who it really was. I never know if someone is stalking me."

"Then you and your daughter should come and stay with me."

Brooke laughed. "Oh that would go over good with Bridget. She’s at that age you know? Nothing I can do is right and she resents anyone that I’m with that isn’t her father. Or Ridge." She softly added.

"He still gets to you doesn’t he?"

"I love him dearly but Michael I am so mad at him I could kill him!"

"For what he did to his wife?"

"Don’t get me wrong Michael. I’m really over him but it makes me so mad that he was willing to toss me away for Taylor and now he just tossed her away too. It makes me feel so cheap."

"He let you down."

"Big time. I finally got to a place where I really accepted his love for Taylor. I was even happy for him, I really was. I just don’t know how he could be so stupid as to let that tramp get him into her bed."

"By that tramp you mean his who? Taylor?"
"No! Taylor is my friend and even when we weren’t friends I never felt that way about her. I mean Morgan, Morgan Dewitt, or should I say Forrester?"

"Whoa! This is going way too fast for me. I thought Ridge just split up with Taylor?"

"He did and now he went and married Morgan."

"Boy," He said with a laugh. "That guy moves even faster than I do."

"Oh he doesn’t love her, he hates her. He married her because she’s pregnant."

"Well if he hates he so much how did she end up getting pregnant?"

"It’s too complicated. Ask him."

"You’re right, I want to talk about you anyway."

"Here ya go!" The waitress said as she put down the wine and a large platter of finger food. "We got Chicken Fingers, some shrimp, hot peppers, tata skins and rings. Is that okay?"

"It’s fine, thanks." Michael answered dismissing her.

"To us!" Michael said as he lifted his wineglass to Brooke’s.

"To more nights like this." She added as she clinked her’s to his. "I could get used to this."

"Say Brooke, we’ve been here for quite awhile now and neither one of us has thought about sex."

"Speak for yourself." She purred at him.

"Yeah, me too."

"But I really am enjoying this. It’s nice." She smiled at him.

"You know what I’m thinking?" He asked.

"No what?"

"I’m thinking I really want to kiss you."

"Then do it!" She told him. He got up from his chair and took her mouth tenderly.

"Ummm. I like the way you do that." She whispered.

"Yeah, I like doing it." He answered.

"Do me a favor honey?" Taylor asked Bryan as she handed him the large box. "Wait till the locksmith is done and then take these boxes down to Forrester."

They had been at Taylor’s beach house all morning packing all of Morgan’s belongings into moving boxes. Taylor had hired a locksmith to change all the locks, which would prevent Morgan from ever entering again.

"Where are you going?" He asked as he made room for the latest box in the small truck he had rented.

"I want to go home and grab some more clothes. I want to be there and gone before Ridge and Morgan have a chance to move in."

"You really think he’d bring her there?"

"I don’t know where else they’d go."

"How are you doing baby?" He asked.

"Better than I thought I would be." She looked back inside the house. "I’m glad I told Katherine to keep the kids at Connors today. After I get my things I’m coming back here to clean and then we can get out of Brooke’s hair."

"I don’t think she really minds."

"She needs her privacy as much as we need ours." She said as she gave him a kiss.

"Are you really going to burn that stuff?" He glanced at a pile of furniture and bedding that Taylor had heaped near the beach.

"I don’t want a shred of her anywhere near me."

"Are you sure you have all her stuff out?"

"I think so, you can go check it again after I go okay?"

"Okay baby." She kissed him and got in her car and headed towards her and Ridge’s home. She turned on the radio and tried to hum along but found her heart wasn’t really in it.

"This is going to take time." She told herself. "Don’t try to push yourself too hard."

She took a deep breath and decided to concentrate on Bryan. He had been so wonderful today. Again he hadn’t pushed and had been loving and understanding. She hoped she wasn’t a disappointment to him. Soon she found herself pulling into her driveway. This is the last time I’ll ever be here. Someone else will have to pack the rest of my things. It’s too hard. She thought. She slipped her key into the lock and walked inside. She was flooded with happy memories of her life with Ridge. She made no attempt to stop the tears as she walked up to her bedroom one final time. Everything looks exactly the same. She thought. So normal. It’s almost as if nothing had ever happened to us. She put her purse on the bed and opened her dresser drawer and started pulling things out.

"Taylor?"

The sound of Ridge’s voice made her jump.

"Oh Taylor." He softly said.

"Hello Ridge, I’m sorry I didn’t think you would be here? I’ll leave." She turned to walk out but her caught her hand and pulled her back.

"Can I ever explain how sorry I am?"

"It’s over Ridge. There is nothing else to say."

"Oh Doc, please."

"Please don’t call me that anymore. It hurts too much." She sobbed.

"Oh Doc don’t cry." He pulled her into his arms and held onto her tightly.

"Please Ridge, I can’t do this." She begged but she held onto him like a lifeline.

"I love you so much."

"Ridge, this isn’t doing either one of us any good." She looked into his eyes. He brought his fingertip to her eyes and wiped her tears.

"I tried to stop you Ridge, I tried but I was too late." She sobbed.

"Doc!" He pulled her closer to him as the tears fell from his eyes. "If only I had known."

"Fate was against us." She said as she touched her finger to his lips and traced their shape. "Just know that I tried."

"Taylor I love you, I love only you."

"I know Ridge." She answered with a tender kiss. "Please just let me get some things and then I’ll leave so you can, you can bring her here."

"Oh Doc." He kissed her forehead. "I would never bring her to our home."

"Then where will you go? You can’t go to the beach house. I’m going back there Ridge."

"I don’t want her in your home Taylor." He cried. "Oh God, what have I done?"

"You did what you felt you had to do Ridge, and I have to accept that and move on."

"No Doc. I don’t want a life without you." He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply and passionately. Taylor found her arms holding him closer and sharing the embrace.

"This moment, this moment right now is all we have left Ridge." She said softly. She dropped her arms from his and stepped away from him. "All we will ever have again is now."

"Please don’t walk away from me now. I need to hold you."

"I’m not walking away." She said as she reached down and started unbuttoning her blouse. "I’m giving us one last memory." She said as she let the blouse fall to the floor. Ridge gazed with love and admiration at her beautiful bare breasts. "Do you want this Ridge?" She asked. "Do you want one last time to show each other our love?"

"Oh Doc." He said as he lifted her in his arms and carried her to their bed. "This could never be enough to last me the rest of my life."

"It has to be." She whispered as she reached his lips and touched them. "Love me one last time Ridge." She cried as she pulled his mouth to hers.

Tenderly they made love. They both knew that this moment was the most important one they had ever shared and neither of them wanted it to end. First Taylor had attempted to leave and Ridge had pulled her back into his embrace and then when Ridge finally kissed her and said goodbye it was Taylor who refused their parting. The moments became hours and the one time had turned to four when reluctantly they gave each other a final tender kiss and Ridge had silently left the house. Taylor had just lied in the bed for over an hour before she finally got up and put her clothes back on. When she walked out of the house and locked the door she knew she was not just locking her home but locking a final chapter of her life. She had gotten into her car and driven to the beach where she and Brooke had talked so long yet such a short time ago. She sat in warm sand until the sun had set. She then dried her eyes and drove back to the beach house where her future lie.

 

"He asked for a razor today. I think that’s a good sign." She told the man.

"It could be, it could very well be." He agreed. "Maria told me he ate his lunch. Not everything but more than usual."

"Oh Pedro, I want so much to be right." She said.

"We need that check Consuelo. Without it my work will have to stop."

"I’ll call her, I’ll find out what went wrong." She answered.

 

Changes Part 29

Thorne had just stepped out of the shower when he heard his doorbell ringing. He grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around his waist and went to the door. With a quick peek he saw that it was his father so he happily opened the door.

"Hey Dad, what brings you here?"

"Hello son, I thought you and I could have a talk. Can I come in?"

"Sure" Thorne answered as he glanced behind Eric.

"No son, she’s not here. I’m alone." Eric told him. "I came by yesterday but you weren’t here."

"I went for a drive up the coast. I’m trying to appreciate the things I’m gonna miss after."

"I don’t like to hear you talk that way."

"I have to face facts."

"Thorne I spoke to Jonathan Young and he told me about your meeting with the D. A." Eric scratched his head. "I don’t understand why you won’t cooperate son."

"I’m doing the best I can Dad."
"But Thorne you didn’t shoot Brooke."

"Yes Dad, I did." He insisted.

"Even Brooke says it wasn’t you."

"Then she was mistaken. She probably feels bad for me but she’s wrong. I know what I did."

"Why won’t you let us help you?"

"You can’t help me Dad, I know you’re trying but there is really nothing you can do."

"Then tell me this. Why did you do it?"

"I don’t know Dad." Thorne looked at the ground. "I love her Dad, I love her so damn much. I got drunk and I was so mad at her. First for Ridge and then for Connor. I just snapped. I’d take it back if I could. I’d do anything to get her to forgive me, for her to give us one more chance."

"Thorne I can’t believe that no matter how mad you were that you would ever hurt Brooke."

"Me either, but I did."

"Alright then what did you fight about? Why did she break it off with you?"
"Because of you. Because of you and Mom and Mace. She was so damn tired of fighting you all. I wasn’t. I would have fought you all for the rest of my life to be with her. She wouldn’t do it anymore. But most of all I blame Ridge."

"Why Ridge? He is certainly not involved with Brooke now."

"Why Ridge? Because he poisoned her for me. She was so afraid I’d walk out on her like her did and when she told him that he told her I would!"

"You don’t know that."

"Oh don’t I? Do you think she would have run to Connor so fast?"

"She and Connor broke up son."

"Well that just proves my point. She is trying so hard to get someone to accept her for who she is that she keeps running away."

"Brooke seems to be doing alright Thorne, it’s you I’m worried about."

"We were gonna get married Dad, I was gonna be the one who finally treated her right."

"Then tell me again, why did you shoot her?"

"Cause I’m a sick bastard."

"Thorne, that’s not true."

"I love her Dad."

"Then tell the truth and fight for her!"

"You don’t want that. None of you want us together. You just want to use her so I go free and I won’t let you!"

"That’s ridiculous! We were wrong to interfere with you two."

"You’re way too late on that one Dad."

"What if I talk to her for you? What if I tell her I want you two together?"

"She’d see right through you like I do."

"What can I do to get through to you?" Eric shouted.

"I did it Dad! Get that though your head! I did it!"

"Hi Patti, its Brooke, is Connor in?" Brooke asked his secretary.

"He’s in Brooke but he may be on the phone, let me check." She put Brooke on hold.

"Brooke!" Connors voice sounded happy. "Hi! What’s up?"

"I’m sorry to bother you Connor but I was looking for Taylor. She’s moving back to the beach house but she wasn’t there. I called her father and he hasn’t talked to her today either."

"The kids are still at my house Brooke so she may be there. I gave her a key. The last I heard she and Bryan were going back to the beach for a bonfire."

"A bonfire?" She questioned.

"I’m as confused as you are." He said with a chuckle.

"Okay, I’ll check there again. I’m sorry to disturb you."

"Brooke, you didn’t disturb me, in fact I was going to call you."

"You were?"

"Don’t act so surprised. You didn’t think I’d stay mad forever did you?"

"You aren’t mad anymore?"

"Not if you have dinner with me tonight."

"Yes!" She quickly answered.

"Sounds like you miss me too."

"Oh Connor I really do. I’m sorry for the way we left things."

"So am I. What do you say we start over?"

"I’d really like that."

"Good. I’ll pick you up at seven."

"Pick me up at Forrester, I have a lot of work to catch up on."

"You aren’t overdoing it are you?"

"I’m trying not to but with Thorne out its really hard."

"He hasn’t bothered you has he?"

"I haven’t seen him or talked to him since the night at Mannequins."

"Except for when he shot you."

"Connor why is Ridge the only one who believes me? It wasn’t Thorne!"

"You don’t want it to be Thorne so in your mind it wasn’t Thorne."

"Oh so now you’re a psychiatrist?"

"It’s common sense Brooke."

"Not to me. I know it was a woman."

"Okay, even if it was a woman his footprints were there too so he is involved."

"He didn’t shoot me!" She insisted.

"I don’t want to fight with you honey."

"I like that."

"You like what?"

"I like that you called me honey again."

"Brooke, no matter how mad I was I didn’t stop loving you."

"Oh Connor."

"You get back to work and we can have a long talk tonight. Maybe we can straighten everything out and get back on track."

"Alright. I’ll see you at seven."

"I love you Brooke."

"I love you too Connor." She hung up the phone and smiled. He’s such a wonderful guy. She thought.

 

"Alright my lady! Light that match!" Bryan said to Taylor with a smile. He had piled up all the things she wanted to get rid of on the sand and poured gasoline over them.

"Are you sure this is safe?" She asked.

"Sure. There’s no wind and we are far away from anything else. Come on let ‘er rip!"

She took the large match and struck it against the box. Once it was fully lit she threw it on the pile. It immediately ignited.

"Yea!!" She cheered. "Now that’s what I call a bonfire."

"I can’t believe you burned your mattress."

"She slept on it."

"When is the new one coming?"

"Today. I got us a king size bed."

"We don’t need all that space. I like to get very close to you."

"You also kick."

"I do not."

"You do too. And you snore." She teased.

"And you drool." He answered back.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!" He said as her pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Oh baby, we are going to be so happy together."

"I know." She said quietly.

"I promise I won’t push you, you set the pace okay?"

"You are one wonderful fellow you know?" She said with a big grin.

He picked her up and spun her around. She laughed loudly until he put her down and gave her another kiss. "You’re going to be alright Taylor."

"I know." She answered.

 

"Logan have you seen Dad?" Ridge asked as he walked into her office leaving the door open. Brooke was writing notes on a large yellow pad. She was wearing a short tight red Racerback dress and she looked very sexy. Ridge smiled as he looked her over. "Looking good Logan!"

"I’m not talking to you." She said without looking up.

"Come on Logan, that isn’t fair."

"I’m mad at you Ridge."

"It wasn’t a surprise Brooke, you knew what I was doing."

"I never thought you’d really go through with it."

"You knew I would."

"Well I hoped."

"Brooke please don’t be mad at me."
"You broke her heart."

"She’s going to be alright Brooke."

She put down her pad and looked at him. "I’m not really mad at you Ridge, I’m disappointed."

"Do I look like a happy camper?" He asked gesturing at himself with his arms.

"Not really."

"Taylor and I were together yesterday. We made peace with this. You have to do that too Brooke. You have to do it for Taylor. She needs to move on and she won’t if you give her false hope."

"I’m not giving her false hope Ridge."

"You being mad at me won’t change things."

"Maybe I should have seduced you. At least you would have missed the plane."

"We would have taken it later Logan."

"What are you going to do now Ridge?"

"I’m going to be a father to the child."

"That’s not much of a life Ridge. Are you and Morgan going to be a real couple?"

"You mean am I going to sleep with her don’t you?"

"Yes."

"I don’t want to."

"But you will, she’ll wear you down Ridge and you will. And then the next thing you know there will be another baby and you’ll never be able to get out."

"I’ll get out. Eventually I will get out."

"But it will be too late."

"Do you think she’ll marry him?"

"Bryan?"

"No Bill Clinton, of course Bryan."

"Eventually." She answered back.

"Does she love him?"
"Not like she loves you."

"She does love him though."

"Yes, I think she does."

"God! I didn’t want that!"

"What do you want Ridge?" Her voice got louder. "Do you want her to wait years and years like I did? Do you want her to throw away every chance she has for happiness hoping, just hoping that you’ll come back to her?" She felt the tears run down her cheeks.

"Did I do that to you Logan? I’m sorry if I did. I never meant to. You know I loved you."

"Are you going to start feeding her those lines now too?" She shouted.

"I’m sorry."

"Ridge I just….oh never mind, forget it."

"What Logan?"

"Please don’t do it to her Ridge." She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "I can’t believe I still let you do this to me."

"Brooke I am so sorry for any pain that I ever caused you. I would walk barefoot over coals for you. Please believe me. It’s all my fault."

"Ridge." She got up and walked over to him. She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I’m just so upset about all this. I never wanted to see you throw your life away like this."

"It’ll get better."

"Oh honey I hope so."

"I need you as my friend." He said with a kiss.

"I am your friend."

"Oh Logan, how did I get myself into this?" She pulled him closer and kissed him again.

"You’ll get out of it, I’ll help you." She whispered. He put his head on her shoulder and held her tightly. Brooke stepped away from Ridge and gave him a sexy smile. "Alright Ridge, we can cut the pretenses now."

"What do you mean?" He asked her genuinely puzzled.

"Oh you know what I mean." She said as she pulled her dress over her head revealing skimpy red panties and an even skimpier red lace bra. "This had nothing to do with Taylor or even Morgan. Finally! Finally we have what we’ve wanted. Our chance to be together again." She wrapped her arms around him and gave him one of the most intensely sexual kisses he ever had. "We’ve waited so long for this." She said as she used her arm to push everything that was on her desk to the floor. She pulled herself up on the desk and faced him. "Oh Ridge we are going to be so wonderful together."

"Logan?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I can’t believe it took so long for a chance to dump her but now your mine again and I’ll never let you get away again." She jumped down and pulled him into an embrace and whispered. "Go with this." She took a step backwards and with her foot softly closed the door. Once the door was closed she retrieved her dress and making as much noise as possible she jumped back onto the desk.

"Oh God yes Ridge!" She shouted doing her best Meg Ryan as she slipped the dress back over her head. "Do it Ridge! Oh yes it’s so good!" She continued. Ridge made a move to speak but she jumped down and put on hand over his mouth. She brought her other hand to her mouth and mimed shhhh! "Oh yes baby, oh God that feels so good!" she said loudly biting down on her hand to stop the laughter. She motioned him to join in but he just stared at her. Knowing she needed his help with the charade she kicked him hard in the shin. He moaned loudly in pain and she chimed in. "Yes baby, I know, I know. No one can make you feel like Brooke does!"

"Logan?" he whispered.

"We have an audience." She whispered back. "Play along!"

"I have to leave." He whispered.

"You aren’t going anywhere for at least fifteen minutes." She whispered back. "Ohhhhh!" She moaned loudly. "Oh God Ridge I’ve waited so long!"

Catching on he decided to play along. "Brooke it’s you! It’s always been you! God you are so good, so tight!" She almost choked with that one. He was starting to enjoy the act. "Roll over Brooke! I want to take you that way!"

"Ohhhhh!" She moaned loudly. "You’re so big Ridge! Oh you feel so good!" They both started to laugh so she stopped him with a kiss making sure to exaggerate the loudness.

"Do you think she’s still there?" He whispered.

"I don’t know but we can’t stop. She’ll know it’s an act."

"Okay let’s really do this right." He whispered. "All I ever wanted was a way to dump Taylor, thank God for Morgan, she made it possible for us to be together again. "Oh God Brooke I love when you do that. Oh God Brooke!"

"Mmmmmm" She cried. "So good, so good." They kept it up for a while longer and finally gave it a big, dramatic ending. Brooke fell into his arms laughing. He put his hand over her mouth to stop her. "You are so bad Logan."

"She won’t want to touch you after that and if she does we’ll have to go another round."

"Where did you come up with that?"

"I saw her peeking in at us. She had this puss on her face and it made me so mad."

"Watch out Brooke. She may try to do something to pay you back."

"I’m not afraid of her." She answered. She ran her hands through her hair making sure it looked messy. Then he opened her purse and applied lipstick. She walked up to Ridge and kissed his neck and face, making sure there were lipstick stains.

"Okay Logan, I do have to work today."

"Wait! One more thing." She pulled him to her and started sucking on his neck.

"Logan!" He said with a laugh.

She was giggling but somehow managed her desired effect of a huge hickey. "I think she’ll enjoy that!"

"You are a devil." He told her. "But your heart is in the right place. We really shouldn’t have done that, I have to live with her."

"You don’t have to do anything with her that you don’t want to do." She said sternly. Then she softened her stance and gave him a hug. "She may think she got rid of Taylor easily but she never had to deal with me before." She kissed him on the nose and opened her office door. Megan was standing transfixed staring at them.

"You know we never got over each other." Brooke told her. "Come in now, we have some work to do." She turned to Ridge. "I’ll see YOU later sex machine!"

He walked out chuckling to himself. He didn’t see Morgan seething next to her office door. "I’ll kill her. I’ll rip every hair out of her head."

"Sex machine?" Megan asked as she walked in and closed Brooke’s office door. "Brooke? What are you doing?"

"Trying to help Ridge. Morgan was lurking around watching us. I decided to give her a real show. Let’s see if she tries to get her hands on him now."

"You had me fooled." She said. "But Brooke, Stephanie heard it too."

Brooke burst out laughing. "Oh let the cow think it’s real!"

"Brooke what if she has another stroke?"

"She’s as healthy as a horse. Besides it was her idea."

Suddenly the door opened and Stephanie walked in softly clapping her hands. "Bravo!"

Brooke smiled and took a mock bow.

"I saw her face Brooke. You made her very mad. In fact you made me very mad until I realized what you were doing."

"You could tell?" Brooke asked. "I thought we were convincing."

"Oh you were, but I know how he feels about Taylor and I thought about our conversation. But Brooke it’s too late. Why didn’t you do this before they were married?"

"I was trying to stop the marriage Stephanie! I didn’t have time to play games then. I just can’t stand the thought of her hands on him now. She is despicable."

"Well whatever your reasons I believe you were motivated by your feelings for both of them."

"Thank you Stephanie."

"Morgan, can you leave us for a moment. I have something I’d like to discuss with Brooke."

"Oh course Mrs. Forrester. Call me when you need me Brooke." She said as she exited.

Stephanie walked over and shut the door. "I don’t trust you Brooke. I know it was an act but it came too close to home."

"Stephanie I have enough problems dealing with Connor and Michael, I really don’t need Ridge to complicate my life."

"Alright Brooke I’ll believe you for now. But we have a much bigger problem then keeping her out of his bed, we have to get her out of his life."

"I wish we could."

"We can, with your cooperation."

"I’m listening."

"What are you doing out of bed? How did you manage to stand up?" Consuelo asked the man. He was leaning on the windowsill looking out.

"I’ve been practicing. I’ve been exercising to build the strength up in my legs. Where am I?" He asked her.

"Let me help you back into bed. You aren’t ready for this." She said ignoring his question. She held his arms and he let her lead him back to the bed.

"I asked you a question."

"All in good time. Come on get back under the covers, you’re weak and you will catch a chill."

"I’m not cold. It’s warm outside, warm and sunny. I want to sit. I’m tired of just lying down."

"Alright but let me cover you up at least." She said as she pulled the blanket over his lap.

"Why don’t I have a television? I’m bored."

"I’ll get you one. You never expressed an interest before. It was all I could do to get you to look at the newspaper."

"I’m getting batter." He stated.

"Yes, you are but you are not well yet. You have to do as you are told."

"I’m hungry." He said surprising himself.

"Good, I’ll get your supper. Would you like to see the paper?"

"Is there anything about the shooting in it?"

"I don’t think so. She is out of the hospital and doing well. The accident is old news."

"It wasn’t an accident."

"No I suppose it wasn’t."

"I’m glad she’s alright." He said with a sigh as he leaned back against the pillows. "You’re right, I’m not strong enough yet, but I will be."

She crossed herself and walked out. She walked up to Pedro. "He’s doing well today, I’m very pleased. He even managed to get up. I’m worried that he is too concerned with his past though."

"It will do him no harm. His longing for his past will help prepare him for his future." He told her. "Did you call her? Is the check coming?"

"It will be here." She promised.

Ridge picked up the phone and hit the intercom button.

"Yes Ridge?" Said Megan.

"Can you come in here a minute?" He asked.

"I’ll be right there." She said.

Megan walked into his office. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to explain about before."

"There’s no need Ridge. Brooke explained everything to me."

"I’m sorry if we embarrassed you."

"I’d put up with anything if it got rid of her."

"I see my new wife isn’t very popular around here."

"That’s an understatement. Is there anything else Ridge?"

"I wonder, did you get around to hiring those temps I asked you to? With Thorne out and Brooke just getting back into things I’m swamped. I really need those fabrics catalogued and matched with my designs for the Spring Show."

"Perfect timing Ridge. They just got here when you called me in."

"Great, bring them in here and I’ll get them right to work."

Megan walked out and returned with two women.

"Ladies, I’d like you to meet your boss, Ridge Forrester. Ridge, this is Ginger and Jean."

"Hi ladies!" He said. "It’s great to meet you. Come on in we’re going to be real busy."

Changes Part 30

Morgan was furious as she burst into her new husband’s office. "Who are these women?"
"Not that it’s any of your business Morgan but they are new Forrester employees." He turned to the temps. "Ginger, Jean this is Morgan Dewitt."
"Morgan Forrester" She corrected him.
"Yes, of course Morgan Forrester, we were just married and I still think of her as Dewitt."
"Congratulations." Said Jean.
"Thank you" Morgan beamed. "Isn’t he a doll?"
Ginger and Jean both smiled their agreement.
"Will you excuse me ladies? Mrs. Forrester seems to have a problem. Go back to Megan and she’ll get you stared on something."
"Alright Mr. Forrester." Ginger replied.
"Should we take our things Mr. Forrester?" Jean asked.
"It’s Ridge girls and no, you can leave them here. I’m sure we’ll be working together again today." He said with a smile.
The women walked out and Ridge closed the door. "You will never do that again Morgan! Do you understand me?"
"I’m your wife now Ridge and I expect to be treated with respect."
"And what did I do that wasn’t respectful?"
"I’m not your employee I’m your wife!"
"No, your Brooke’s employee."
"I don’t want you to talk to Brooke anymore." She was fuming and practically spit Brooke’s name.
"That will be very hard Morgan, she’s my boss too."
"I don’t care."
"She is also my friend. You may be my wife but it is in name only. You have no rights to tell me what to do or not to do."
"She’s a slut!"
Ridge just started to laugh.
"You think that’s funny?" Morgan demanded.
"After what you did to me where the hell do you get off calling anyone names. Get out of here Morgan."
"I’m not finished."
"I am!" He walked her to the door, gently nudged her out and shut the door.

"Okay Stephanie what is your great idea?" Brooke asked.
"The woman, the woman that you saw."
"What woman?"
"The night you were shot."
Brooke turned pale and shuddered. "What about her?" She asked.
"Tell the police it was Morgan!"
"That’s sick Stephanie!" Brooke responded. "I don’t want her around but I’m certainly not going to accuse her of trying to kill me!"
"Why not? It would help Ridge and Taylor and Thorne too."
"Because it isn’t true Stephanie. It wasn’t Morgan."
"I didn’t say it was, I said to tell the police it was."
"Oh, I get it so then when the truth comes out they can throw me in jail for perjury."
"No Brooke, it would put her in jail."
"Do you want your grandchild born in a prison?"
"It’s a price we’d have to pay."
"It’s a stupid idea Stephanie. The police know that Thorne was there, they know he knows who did it. Why would Thorne cover up for Morgan? He barely knows her. The police would know I was lying. Lt. Burke would figure I was jealous of her because of Ridge. He knows we go way back."
"I’ll lie too."
"What?"
"I’ll tell them that I saw her hanging out in the parking lot."
"Was this before or after I messed up your car? Don’t you see Stephanie you have no credibility and no matter how I feel about her I would never lie about that. Someone tried to kill me and I want to know who it was!"
"I’m sorry to hear that Brooke. I thought you really cared about Taylor and Ridge, I must have been mistaken."
"You won’t guilt me into this Stephanie. I’d never stoop to accusing an innocent woman no matter how much I hate her. I’m not like you."
"You’re a lot more like me than you care to admit. That stunt you pulled today proved it."
"You were the one who suggested it."
"Before the wedding Brooke. Why today Brooke? Maybe you really hoped he would go along with you."
"No matter what I do I can never please you Stephanie. Get out of my office! Get out now!"
"You’ll never have him Brooke."
"Now you listen here." Brooke stuck her face into Stephanie’s. "If I wanted him I would have had him, not just today either. I’ve moved on and I really don’t care if you believe me or not anymore. I’m through with caring what you think Stephanie."
The intercom buzzed, "What is it Megan?" Brooke said in a short tone of voice.
"I’m sorry Brooke, it’s a woman. She won’t say who she is but she says it is imperative she speaks to you."
"Take a message Megan."
"She won’t leave one Brooke. She is very determined."
"All right put her through." She turned to Stephanie. "Are you leaving?"
"Not yet."
Brooke listened for the call to transfer and answered. "Hello, this is Brooke Logan. Yes. Oh yes. Oh my God I can’t believe it slipped my mind. Absolutely. Today, immediately. I’m terribly sorry. This won’t cause any problems will it? All right, thank you. Goodbye." She hung up the phone.
"What was that all about?" Stephanie asked.
"It was personal." She stood up. "Well if you aren’t going to leave then I am." She walked out of her office straight into Ridges office.
"Ridge, you have to do something about your mother."
"What’s she done now?"
"Well she heard our little show."
"Shhh!" He said as he closed the door. "Morgan was just here. You don’t want her to know it was an act do you?"
"Ridge your mother wants me to accuse Morgan of shooting me!"
"Oh God. Brooke, I’ll talk to her. She had no right to ask that of you."
"I’m not going to do it Ridge! I would never stoop that low."
"I’m sorry, she’s gone too far this time."
"I agree. Ridge I’m sorry if my little show makes things hard on you. If you want I’ll apologize to Morgan."
"No Logan. I had fun with it too. But we better stop. She was really mad."
"What did she say?"
"Well she didn’t admit she was listening but she did call you a slut."
"She’s not the first Mrs. Forrester to call me that."
"Well she’ll be the last. You have my word on that."
"Ridge can I change the subject?"
"I wish you would."
"Ridge, why don’t you like Michael?"
"I do like him Brooke, I just don’t like him for you."
"Ridge," She said with a laugh. "You don’t like anyone for me."
"I only want the best for you."
"Well I think Michael is really great. He’s sexy and he’s fun. We went out the other night and we really talked Ridge. I really like him."
"Please be careful Brooke."
"Of what?"
"Everything."
"No one gives me a straight answer about this."
"I thought you and Davis were a thing anyway."
"I’m still seeing him Ridge. I don’t want to be committed to anyone right now. I don’t want to get hurt anymore. I just want to have fun."
" Then be careful." His intercom buzzed. "Excuse me a moment Logan. Yeah Megan?"
"Ridge, Jona from receiving called. She got the shipment from Milan but the Ivory Lace was missing. Thorne usually deals with that. What should I tell her?"
"Tell her Logan and I will be right there." He hung up. "Let’s go Logan, Jona got the Milan order but our lace is missing."
"Wonderful!" She answered sarcastically. "What next?"
"Let’s get down there and see if we can put this fire out."

Thorne was still angry about the argument he had with his father. He just couldn’t get through to them all. He knew what he did, he wasn’t happy about it but he wasn’t going to deny it. His thoughts once more returned to that night. The sick feeling in the pit of his stomach seeing the woman he loved lying dead on the floor. Yes, he was sure she was dead and that’s why he had left. He knew that the one time that she needed him more than ever he hadn’t been able to help her. He had let her down just like his father and his brother. No one could change that and Thorne felt he deserved whatever the law threw at him. He was grateful that Brooke still cared enough to defend him but that wasn’t enough for him. He knew he had lost her love forever and it made him ache inside.
"Where did I get the gun?" He asked himself aloud. "And where is it now?"

Morgan saw the smoke from the car before she got to the beach house. She accelerated and pulled into the driveway. She recognized Taylor’s car but had no idea who owned the BMW parked next to it. She shut down the engine and walked towards the beach where the smoke was coming from.
"Hello!" She called. "Taylor?" She walked up to the burning pile of rubbish. "What the?" She said aloud.
"Morgan. What are you doing here?" Taylor asked as she and Bryan approached her.
"I was coming here to get the rest of my things. Why are you here?"
"It’s my house Morgan."
"I brought all your things to Forrester yesterday Morgan." Bryan added. "You should have them by now."
"Oh, is that what all those boxes are in Ridge’s office?" She innocently asked.
"I’ll take you inside and you can make sure you have everything." Taylor volunteered.
"That’s okay. I have my key." Morgan said as she turned towards the house.
"I won’t fit anymore Morgan. You aren’t welcome here any longer." Taylor said stopping her. "Would you like to go in?"
"Alright." Morgan answered. "I don’t blame you for being mad, but Taylor I never meant to hurt you. All I ever wanted was a baby."
"Well you have one now." Bryan told her. "Let’s just go and get this over with shall we?"
"I don’t believe we’ve met." Morgan extended her hand to him. "I’m Morgan, Morgan Forrester."
"Bryan Jackson." He said with a short polite handshake.
Morgan turned to Taylor. "I can understand you divorcing Ridge now." She said with a smile.
"Bryan had nothing to do with it Morgan."
"Taylor, I was never competition for you. I was your friend."
"Friends don’t sleep with their friends husbands." Taylor said calmly.
"Well not most friends." Morgan agreed. "I’m surprised you’re still friends with Brooke though."
"I know it was you Morgan, that voice on the phone, but nothing happened. I believe them both."
"Maybe not that night. But you’d do best to avoid her Taylor."
"I can pick my own friends Morgan."
"Well I don’t trust her. I know Ridge and I will need some time to get our marriage to where yours was but it will happen. That is once I get rid of Brooke."
"Brooke?"
"She and Ridge were f*cking in her office today." She said casually.
"Knock it off Morgan." Bryan warned.
"Oh, I’m not saying this to hurt Taylor. I just wanted her to know what kind of a friend Brooke really is. If you don’t believe me you can ask Megan or Stephanie. They were right outside when it happened."
"I don’t believe you." Taylor told her.
"I really don’t care. She’s my problem now anyway and I intend to rid myself of her very soon."
Taylor looked at Bryan with a hurt expression on her face. He took her hand and brought it to his mouth and kissed it.
"Don’t believe her baby, she’s just trying to upset you." He whispered.
They reached the house and Taylor took the key out of her pocket and inserted it in the lock. "Let’s go Morgan."
The threesome walked inside and Morgan went straight into the bedroom.
"Where’s the bed Taylor?" She asked when she came out.
"You saw it," Bryan answered. "Out there on the beach."
"You burned the bed?"
"And just about anything you touched." Bryan added.
"You must really hate me." Morgan said sadly.
"I just want to forget I ever met you." Taylor told her. "Now please just look around and leave. Bryan and I are busy."
"Does he live here?" Morgan asked.
"Yes." Taylor answered at exactly the same time Bryan answered "No."
"Which is it?"
"Both actually" Bryan answered. "I have a condo in town but I’m staying with Taylor for now."
"Oh I see."
"Please Morgan hurry up." Taylor begged.
Morgan looked around. "I think I must have everything. I’ll let you know if anything is missing."
"You do that." Bryan told her. "I’ll walk you out to your car." He took her arm and escorted her out of the house. Once he shut the door Taylor broke down and started to cry.
"Morgan I am asking you nicely, please leave Taylor alone." He told her as she got into her car. "If you ever cared for her at all then do this."
"Alright Bryan. My life is with Ridge now anyway." She smiled at him, started her engine and drove off.
Bryan kicked a rock as he walked back to the house. When he got inside he saw Taylor gently sobbing on the new sofa.
"Oh baby." He came and sat next to her.
"She’s such a bitch." Taylor muttered. "Why would she tell me that about Ridge and Brooke?"
"You don’t believe her do you?"
"It’s not my business anymore."
"Baby she already tried to do this to you. You told me that."
"He’s so unhappy now, maybe he did turn to Brooke."
"Maybe he did. I couldn’t blame him if he did, that Morgan is crazy."
"I just don’t think Brooke would do that to me."
"Then ask her, she’s your friend Taylor, she’ll tell you the truth."
"It just hurts so much."
"Baby you have to either ask her or forget about it, you can’t let it fester."
"You’re right." She said as she picked up the phone and dialed Brooke’s office.
"Brooke Logan’s office, this is Megan."
"Hi Megan, it’s Taylor is Brooke around?"
"No Taylor, she and Ridge are in a meeting, can I help you with something?"
"She and Ridge?" Taylor said as her voice caught in her throat.
"Yeah." Megan laughed. "Taylor you should have seen those two today it was so funny."
"Funny?"
"I shouldn’t be telling you this but it was so great. Brooke and Ridge were in her office talking. Ridge was really upset and."
"He was upset?" Taylor interrupted.
"I’m sorry Taylor, maybe I overstepped here."
"No Megan, please go on."
"Okay, well he is really upset Taylor and she was trying to cheer him up. They were right in front of the door and suddenly she shouts something about finally getting rid of you so they could be together again."
"She what?" Taylor shouted.
"Wait! You have to hear the rest. She pulls her dress over her head and she’s standing there with this tiny red underwear. Ridge is just staring at her with his mouth open. She pulls him into her arms and kisses him like you would never believe."
"I don’t think I want to hear any more Megan." Taylor said through her tears.
"Yes you do! So then she pushes everything off her desk and jumps on it demands he takes her right there. Stephanie walked over about then and we just stood there transfixed. Then she kicks the door closed and my God you could hear them going at it. Well I couldn’t believe it but he was into it as much as she was. He was moaning and screaming her name and saying how good she was." She started to laugh again.
"This isn’t funny Megan." Taylor sobbed.
"But it really is. You see we didn’t know that she had seen Morgan lurking around and she decided to give her a taste of her own medicine. They weren’t doing anything Taylor. The minute she shut the door she put her dress on and she started the whole act. When they told me what they did they were laughing so hard they were crying. Oh Taylor he hates Morgan so much, we all do."
"It was an act?"
"It sure was, Stephanie caught on though. I hope Morgan never does."
"She hasn’t yet. She just came to the beach house to tell me that Brooke wasn’t my friend."
"Oh Taylor Brooke is your friend. She did it to keep Morgan away from Ridge."
"Well I doubt that will work for long."
"Don’t be mad at them."
"I’m not. In fact I can see how you would find it funny, I just find it sad."
"Taylor, I’m sorry. It was insensitive of me."
"Well at least he’s having fun with this."
"He’s not really. I’m sorry."
"Don’t worry about it Megan. Do me a favor and ask Brooke to call me at the beach house."
"You aren’t mad are you?"
"No. I just need to talk to her."
"Okay, bye Taylor." They hung up the phone and Taylor looked at Bryan.
"I guess it didn’t really happen then?" He asked her.
"No, Brooke and Ridge were just playing around with her. I know why Brooke did it. She is so mad at Morgan she wants to hurt her. But Ridge? He should be taking this more seriously, this was our life he just tossed aside for her."
"Baby I hate to stand up for him but he’s hurting too. He’s just showing it in his own way. I think you should both be happy that you have Brooke as a friend. She really cares about both of you."
"You’re right and I will not doubt her again, no matter how much Morgan tries to make me."
Bryan stood up and went to the window. "Hey baby! Our bed is here!" He told her. "The truck is pulling up right now."
"Good! Because the minute it’s set up you and I are going to try it out." She said with a smile as she got up and stood right next to him.
"Are you sure you’re ready for that?"
"Bryan I couldn’t be more ready." She answered with a kiss. "I not only need you but I want you, I want you so very much." He took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. "I love you Taylor. I can’t wait till I make you mine forever."
"I already am." She replied as she held him tighter.
The men came inside and set up the bed. Taylor and Bryan pulled out the new bedding they had purchased and together made the bed. Bryan lay the comforter on top of the clean sheets and blankets and started to place the throw pillows when Taylor stopped him.
"We’ll only have to take them off again." She smiled as she pulled down the comforter and blankets. "I was serious about trying it out." She told him. He walked over to her and stood behind her and held her to him.
"I’m going to make you forget you ever loved him Taylor. You and me, we have something so special." He kissed her neck and started unbuttoning her blouse. Gently he removed it from her and turned her around to face him. "I love you more and more as each day goes by." He lowered his head to her lips and gave her a gentle kiss. He moved his lips to her neck and she moaned in pleasure. His hands came up to gently cup her breasts. "You are so beautiful." His hands reached behind her and unclasped her bra and let it fall to the floor. He lowered his mouth to her breasts and kissed one and then the other. She reached for his tee shirt and pulled it over his head. Heat flowed between them as their bare chests
met. "God Taylor." His breath caught as he felt her hand reach down to unsnap this jeans. He couldn’t contain his moan as she reached inside and released him. Wanting to prolong the pleasure he lifted her onto the bed and kicked his jeans off. Taylor smiled to see that he had nothing on under them. Bryan then turned his attention back to her. His mouth recaptured her breasts as his hands opened and pulled down her shorts and they joined her bra on the floor. There was nothing between them but her tiny blue panties. Bryan moved his mouth back to hers as he lay on top of her. He kissed her with a passion she had never felt before from him. Her body shuddered as his fingers slowly worked their way under the elastic of her panties and moved down to find her desire. She felt herself squirm to allow him to reach deeper.
"Take them off me Bryan." She whispered. He removed his fingers and lowered his head to replace them. Gently his teeth took hold of the flimsy material and pulled them lower. Taylor pushed herself up as his tongue found its mark. She screamed in passion as fireworks erupted around her. Slowly he moved his mouth away and took her mouth once more as their bodies joined in rapture.

Brooke and Ridge had worked together and averted the problem with the promise of an overnight shipment from Milan. Ridge had gotten the temps and got back to work on the inventory and Brooke had returned to her office to make more phone calls to Europe. Suddenly she had the feeling she was being watched. She got up and walked out to Megan’s desk but she wasn’t there. She looked both ways down the hallway but didn’t see anyone. "You’re spooking yourself again Brooke." She said aloud. She went back to her desk and pulled her purse out of her drawer. She took her checkbook out and wrote out a check for a large sum of money. She sealed the check in an envelope with no return address and put the envelope in her purse. She entered the amount of money in the register of her checkbook but where the payee’s name was she only placed the notation "G". She then put the checkbook back into her purse. Again she shuddered as fear swept through her. "Is someone there?" She asked. "I have to get a gun. I need to protect myself." She whispered to no one.

The man put down his fork and looked at his plate. He had eaten much more than usual and he felt some warmth returning to his body. Things were starting to come back to him. Bits and pieces of information were flooding his brain. He still couldn’t remember where he was or how he got there but he was no longer frightened. He knew it would come back to him soon. It was all coming back to him. He thought of the woman that he loved. He smiled picturing her face and her smile. He would return to her soon. All he had to do was keep getting stronger and they would be together again. He picked up his fork and forced himself to finish his meal.

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