Chapter 6

 

 

Nick made the turn and smiled as he saw the waterfall.  “Well, what do you know? She did it again.” He walked to the water’s edge, following her footprints. “Looks like you had yourself some fun Princess.” He smiled.  He took off his shoes and waded into the water.  He was surprised at how cool it was and when he leaned over and took a sip he was more than happy.  Nick then filled up his bottle and got out. After he put his shoes back on he decided to follow her tracks, they could both come back once he found her. 

He heard the sound of her sobs before he saw her but when he did spy her he found her on her knees crying into her hands.

“Princess? Brooke what’s wrong?” He asked.

“Nick! Oh Nick.” She jumped to her feet and ran to him, throwing her arms around him.  “It’s it wonderful? There are people, we’re saved Nick, we’re saved.”
“People? Honey are you hallucinating?  I don’t see any people.  Where are these people?” He asked.  He had to wonder if there was something in the water. 

“I, I didn’t exactly see the people but look Nick, look, a house.” She said as she pointed to an old, run down shelter. 

“Hmmm.  Let’s go take a look at it shall we?” He said.  He took her hand in his and led her to the brick building.  He let out a sigh and looked at her.  “I hate to burst your bubble, and maybe this will lead to something, but Brooke, this is an old army bunker circa World War II.  I’m pretty much a history buff and I know what I’m talking about. Did you go inside?”

“No, no I just saw it. But if the army is here Nick then there has to be people.” She protested.

“We had places all over back then Brooke.  They were guarding any way that the enemy could get to the mainland.” He explained.  “I would imagine that one, maybe two men were assigned here, their job being sort of national security.  But we don’t need these anymore, we have radar and satellites and all kinds of high power surveillance.  My guess is that no one has been here since the late forties at the latest.”

“You just love to ruin things!” She shouted.

“Don’t you think I want to get off of here as much as you do Brooke?” He grabbed her and turned her to face him.  “I am not trying to ruin anything but I’m not going to feed your fantasies either.”

“I’m so stupid.” She said.  “I just thought.”

“You know what Princess? I might have thought that at first too.  But let’s look on the bright side, maybe there’s something inside that we can use, and even if there isn’t it sure will be a damn good shelter.  You did it again, you found us water and shelter.”

“I didn’t do anything.” She frowned.  “I just wandered in the wrong direction.”

“No Brooke, it seems that I was the one going in the wrong direction.” He told her.  “So shall we check out our soon to be new home?”

“Sure.” She said without enthusiasm.

“Come on.” He laughed.  “Things are looking up, you just have to have some faith.” He took her hand again and they walked together to the structure.  It was in better shape than Nick had hoped.  He felt the walls from the outside.  “Strong, they’re gonna hold up.”

“Great.” She sighed.

“It is great.  And listen Brooke, we really are pretty close to the beach, you kind of came in a circle so if we can live here we have the waterfall around the bend as well as the beach a few yards away.  And call me crazy but I swear I smell citrus.”

“That’s what drew me here.” She told him.  “Would they have planted trees?” She asked.

“I doubt it, but maybe the people before them did.  Most of the islands around here were populated at one time or another.  I can see why they didn’t stay here, the coast was way too rough, boats would have had a really hard time docking.  But that also made it perfect for the army.  They could catch the enemy off guard.”

“Where’s the door?” She asked him.

“Probably around here.” He said. 

“Nick,” She grabbed his arm.  “Before we go any further I just want to say I’m sorry.  I was acting childishly.  We really do need to stick together.”

“I wasn’t any better Princess.  I accept your apology if you’ll accept mine.”

“Yes.” She said. “And Nick?”

“I know.” He said as he took off the shirt and handed it to her.  “I saw your bites.  After we check this out I’ll cut you some fresh aloe.”

“Thank you.” She told him.

 

 

“Hello.” Taylor said as she picked up the phone.

“Hey Doc, it’s me.”
“I hope you’re calling from the plane Ridge.”

“You know I’m not.  I can’t leave until I find her.”

“And if you never do? Then I’ll never see you again?” She asked.  “You know Ridge, I don’t even care about myself, but your children have been asking what happened to their Daddy and I’ve really run out of explanations.”

“You could tell them the truth.” He told her.

“Oh yeah, your Daddy is off chasing his girlfriend.”

“She is not my girlfriend.  Taylor why are you taking an attitude with me.  You agreed you were worried too.”

“And I was all for you hiring a team of detectives.  I am not in favor of you traipsing all over the Caribbean playing Hardy Boys!” She shouted.

“That’s not fair.”

“This is not the first time you’ve done this.  It’s pathetic.  You know what she’s up to.  She tried to tear us apart and she’s doing it again, hell, she’s already done it hasn’t she?”

“Brooke isn’t responsible for our problems Taylor.  You and I are.”

“I am not in the mood to talk about that now.  I just want you to come home, you have responsibilities to our family, to your family, to Forrester, to me! Damn it Ridge! If you want to divorce me and marry Brooke just say it!”

“I never said anything of the sort.  Taylor when I get home we will talk, we will try and fix this.  I love you and I love our kids.  Please just try and understand that I have to do this.”

“And you just try and understand that I might not be here when you finally decide to come home!” She said slamming down the phone.

“Shit!” Ridge shouted out, drawing the attention of the other patrons in the small restaurant. 

 

“Hi baby.” Eric said to his youngest daughter.  Bridget was pale and tired looking. She had deep circles under her eyes.

“Hi Dad.” She said.  “Did Ridge call?”

“Not yet, but he will soon.”

“Do you think he’ll ever find her?” She asked as she brought her hand to her mouth and started to gnaw on a fingernail.

“I know he will.  You’re mother is going to be fine Bridget, Ridge will find her and bring her home.”

“I’m so scared.” She said.  She ran to him and threw her arms around him.  He smoothed her long strawberry blonde hair and kissed her forehead. 

“I know you are, I know you are.” He looked into her eyes.  “Your mother is a fighter.”

“That’s what Deacon keeps telling me, he says that she always lands on her feet but I just don’t know.” She whispered.

“For once I agree with Deacon.” Stephanie said as she joined them. She walked to them and took Bridget from Eric’s embrace and hugged her herself.  “I was just telling your brother almost the same thing.”

“Is Rick here?” Bridget asked.

“No, he’s at home with little Eric.” Stephanie explained.

“Why can’t they find her? Why doesn’t anyone know what happened to her? Stephanie, why didn’t she get on that plane?” Bridget asked.

“I wish I had an answer for you honey, I really do.”

 

 

“It’s so dark.” Brooke said as she held tightly onto Nick’s hand.

“Yeah, but that’s good, that means that it’s solid, it’s secure.  It will keep the rain and elements out.”

“Are you always so positive?” She complained.

“No.” He laughed.  “You sure know that I’m not.”

“I wish we had a flashlight.” Brooke told him.

“Shit, if we’re going to wish how about a Cessna?” He suggested.

“You got that right.” She told him.  “We should have brought a torch.”

“We didn’t think we’d find this.” He said.  “Now you just stand there, I have an idea.” He let go of her hand and she whimpered. “Calm down Princess, I’m not leaving you.”

She frowned at her own weakness but did as he requested.  Suddenly there was a beam of light, illuminating the room.

“What did you do?” She asked.

“They boarded it up.  I had a feeling. I pulled off some of the wood.” He said.  He slowly let his eyes adjust to the room.  “Well now, what have we here?” He said.  He walked to a small cot and punched it.  It was canvas and it seemed to have survived time and the elements very well without mildewing. It made no sense to him but he wasn’t going to air his suspicions to Brooke just yet.  “We have somewhere to sleep.”

“It’s kind of small.” She said.

“We’ll squish together.  Hell Brooke, it’s better than sleeping on sand and towels isn’t it?”

“Why is it still here Nick?” She asked him, voicing his own unasked question. 

“Don’t know.” He said.  “Whoa! Whoa! Eureka Brooke!” He said holding up a kerosene lamp.  He shook it and heard the sound of the liquid. 

“It could just be water.” She said.

“Ahhh, don’t be such a pessimist.” He laughed.  “Now if only.” He said as he opened the drawer in a small desk.  “Did anyone order matches?” He asked holding them up to her.

“Oh Nick! Try it! See if it works.”

She crossed her fingers as he tried to light the matches.  The first few were old and wouldn’t catch but finally one lit.  The lamp came to life, illuminating the room.

“You did it!” She said happily.  “Nick look at all this stuff!”

There were shelves filled with all sorts of supplies. There were utensils, old worn blankets, tin cans without or with only partial labels, there were extra cans of kerosene and there were books, maps and all kinds of papers.

“It’s getting late Brooke, I think we should go to the beach and get the things we brought and bring them back here.  In the morning we can go back to our original camp and get the rest of our gear.” He told her.

“Maybe they’re still here.” She said hopefully.

“Okay Brooke, I promised no more lies, I promised we’d share.” He led her to the cot and sat her down.  “I don’t want to scare you.”

“How can I be scared.  If they’re gone then they’re gone.  But I just wondered if there was a chance.” She started.

“They haven’t been here in years Brooke.” He said.  “But someone else has.”

“Huh? Who? How? Why?” She asked.  “How do you know this?”

“Because of this.” He said. He handed her a small aviation map.  It was not yellowed and when she saw the date at the bottom she let out a gasp

“1998.” She said.  “Nick someone had a recent map. Someone might live here.”

Then he put a small plastic baggie into her hand. It had a residue of white powder.  “And this.” He said.

“Coke?” She asked.

“I imagine so, that or something else.  Brooke, this may very well be a place being used for some illegal drug running and if it is then we may be in more trouble than if we were in the middle of a bunch of cannibals.”

“Oh God Nick, but 1998? Maybe they’re gone too.” She said.

“Honey I hope so, these are people we do not want to find us.”

 

“Eric?” Stephanie questioned when she returned to her husband’s office. He looked frazzled.  “What is it? Is it Brooke?”

“Ridge hasn’t had any luck at all.” He said. “He’s getting so discouraged.  I said that maybe he should just come home.” He said sadly.

“No!” She protested to his shock.

“You support his being there? You didn’t before.”
“Those kids are a wreck.  Ridge is their lifeline, if he gives up they will too and I can’t have that.  I’ll handle Taylor.  I’ll make her understand that he’s doing this for them and that he loves her and his children.”

“This isn’t about Ridge and Taylor.” He said solemnly.

“No, it isn’t.” She agreed.  “But I don’t want to have Taylor upset either.”

“Neither do I dear.” Eric agreed.  “But our first concern has to be Brooke, and I have to admit I am damn worried.”

“So am I Eric.  I think it’s time that you and I at least faced the inevitable and prepare ourselves to support the children.”

“Inevitable?” He asked her.  “You don’t really think?”

“That she may be dead? Yes Eric, that is definitely a possibility.”

 

 

“Maybe we should just go back to the beach.” Brooke said to Nick.

“I was thinking that too but the more I think about it the more I’m convinced that they are long gone.”

“And they left their drugs?” She questioned.

“This is only a tiny bit Brooke, and it was stuck in the corner on the shelf.  Maybe they had to leave quickly.  Look at it this way, there are no footprints, no evidence of a plane or a boat.  We haven’t seen a fire or heard voices.  I really doubt they could have snuck in without us knowing about it.  I think we’re safe.”

“It doesn’t mean they won’t come back.” She argued.

“True, but maybe we can find a few more clues.” He suggested.

“So now you’re not Magellan but Nancy Drew?” She laughed.

“Nancy Drew! I take exception to that.” He laughed with her.  “Can’t I at least be a boy?”

“Sorry, I read girls books. How about Inspector Clouseau?” She suggested.

“Much better.” He smiled.  “Even if he was a bumbler, he usually was on top of things.”

Brooke smiled at him but soon her face fell.  “Nick, I’m really scared.”

“I’ll protect you with my life.” He said.  And he truly meant it.  Brooke walked to him and put her arms around him.  She rested her head on his chest and took a deep breath.  His hands stroked her back and held her close to him.  He looked down at her as her eyes met his.  Desire filled him again and he just didn’t want to even try to control it.  He lowered his mouth to hers and she sighed as her lips opened to his.  The kiss was long and hard and sensuous and when it ended Brooke looked at him with frightened eyes. 

“I don’t know what I’m doing Nick.  I can’t seem to think anymore.”

“Then don’t think Brooke.” He said, taking her lips once more.  When he reached down and lifted her into his arms she was as light as a feather.  He carried her to the cot and laid her down.  She moaned in protest as he let her go.  “Don’t worry Princess, I’m not going anywhere.” He opened the buttons of his shirt, baring her breasts once more. Her nipples hardened into tiny pebbles.  She looked terrified as he lowered his mouth to her chest, taking one perfect bead into his mouth.  Brooke arched herself against him.  She wanted more than he was giving her, so much more.

“Nick no, please stop.” She begged him.

“Stop?” He asked.  “You don’t want that. Do you?”

“Please Nick.” She pushed him away and sat up.  He watched as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.  “I don’t even know if I like you.  I don’t know why I let you do these things to me.  I can’t Nick, I just can’t.”

“Fine.” He threw up his hands in disgust.  “But don’t you dare blame it all on me, you wanted it as much as I did.  I’ll go get our shit, you do whatever the hell you need to do.” He said angrily as he stormed out.

 

 

Carla Darvers was annoyed.  Nick had promised to return in time for the Governor’s Ball and he was still gone.  She had looked forward to this event each year and now she wouldn’t be able to attend.  Of course she could go alone but it wasn’t fit to go unescorted.  She picked up his itinerary for the fourth time that day and went over it point by point.  He should have been home almost a week ago.  She frowned and threw the papers down on the table.  “Why on earth did you agree to go to that Third World Country Nicholas?” She said aloud.  “You knew that things run so slowly down there and you knew how important this was to me.”  She picked up her day planner and started to make notes.  Everything was scheduled in her world, absolutely everything. She planned her day from breakfast to her sleeping pill.  Even the weekly Saturday sex that she shared with Nick was charted.  Sex was not important to Carla, in fact it wasn’t even something she enjoyed.  It was a chore, an obligation, but Nick wanted it and if she wanted to be Mrs. Parker she would continue to do her best to keep his attentions. Once a week, every Saturday, missionary position after she made sure to lubricate herself.  It wasn’t torture, but it wasn’t anything she looked forward to.  But she did it for Nick.  She and Nick were so well suited.  They were both serious people, people who’s jobs and positions in society were the most important things in the world.  Little by little they were improving their stations and together nothing would stop them.  “Nothing.” She told herself as she swallowed her pill.  A baby would not only hinder their plans but it was something Carla never wanted.  As a child she had no use for baby dolls and playing house.  She was always more interested in the most demanding and difficult board games, games that promised a future of wealth and success.  Sometimes Carla felt she should have been born a man, her ambitions suited one more, but she also reviled in being a woman and the power it brought her.  Her simple favors, as distasteful as she found them could bring a man like Nicolas Parker to his knees and she lived for that power.  Nicholas Parker would pay dearly for his late return, she thought with a grin as she looked at the perfect diamond on her finger.

 

 

Brooke spent the time straightening up the shelter. In fact by the time Nick came back it almost looked homey.  He walked in and deposited their supplies on a table.  “Nice.” He said.

“Better than nice if I do say so myself.” She smiled.

“You’re right.” He agreed.  “I have a fire started outside.  I tried to catch a fish but um, maybe you could give it a try?” He said sheepishly.

Brooke looked at him and laughed.  “So I’m good for something after all.”

“Brooke I’m sorry, I was out of line before. Friends?”

“Friends.” She said sweetly.  She walked up to him and took his hand in hers.  “You took me by surprise, or I took myself by surprise.  I didn’t expect those feelings and they scared me.  So I’m sorry too.  I never meant to be a tease.”

“We keep rubbing each other the wrong way don’t we?” He asked.

“I’ll try harder.” She said. “I don’t want to keep fighting.”

“Me either Princess.” He said.  “So you go get us a fish and I’ll see what else I can find.”

“Okay.” She agreed.

 

 

Brooke headed to the beach with her spear and a bottle of water.  Nick decided to check around some more.  Brooke had done a wonderful job cleaning. He might actually be comfortable here. Then he looked at the tiny cot.  “Damn, how am I going to be able to sleep there with you?  I suppose I’d better make something else to sleep on, I can’t seem to get you out from under my skin Princess.”  He chucked as he looked down at his arousal.  “You seem to be a permanent part of my anatomy these days.” He told it.  “But that has to stop.”

 

 

Brooke was having a harder time catching a fish than before.  They were plentiful but her concentration seemed to have left her.  She kept touching her lips, remembering the feel of Nick’s full mouth on hers, his erection straining against her.  “I have to be careful.  I can’t let that keep happening.” She said aloud.  “Too many risks, far too many.”

 

 

Nick bent down and touched the stones that made the pathway.  “Man made.” He said.  “But old.  This was the army, not the drug runners.” He was happy that this was the case.  The least they found of the drug runners the better.  He followed the path wondering where it led and what he’d find at it’s end.  It was then that he noticed the smell of citrus growing stronger.  He turned the bend and let out a shout. “Princess! Holy Shit Princess! We got fruit!”

 

 

Brooke was just about to spear her second fish when she heard the shouting and laughing.  She almost lost her balance and the fish darted away.  “Damn it Magellan! You cost us dinner!” She yelled at him.

“I brought us dinner Princess!” He said happily.

Brooke ducked as the small missile zoomed over her head.  Then came another and she did lose her balance, falling into the water.  “What are you doing?” She screamed at him.  “Oh my God! Oranges!” She gasped as she saw the object bobbing in the water.

“Oranges and lemons! There are fruit trees Princess! Fruit trees!” He said.  Laughing loudly he walked into the water to her and scooped her into his arms.  “Fruit.” He said.  “Real live fruit.” He repeated, and then his mouth covered hers in another deep and sexy kiss.

 

 

“Is Taylor there?” Ridge asked his father and mother.

“No son, she wouldn’t come.” Eric explained. 

“I tried Ridge but she’s very angry.” Stephanie added. 

“I suppose you are too.” He said.  “But I really wanted to talk to everyone together. That’s why I asked to set up the conference call.”

“I decided it was better not to have Rick and Bridget here Ridge, they’re both having a very hard time.” Eric told him.

“Aren’t we all?” Ridge asked.  “But I guess this is going to have to do it for now.”

“So where do we stand Ridge?” Eric asked him.

“I’ve chartered a boat.”

“A boat?” Stephanie asked him.  “Certainly the planes can cover more area.”

“They can but they can’t get close enough.  If there’s anything, anything at all maybe I can find her.  I keep thinking that something must have happened like in Barbados, maybe she lost her memory.  I know how hard things were for her when she left.”

“She was delusional Ridge, as always.” Stephanie scoffed. 

“And maybe it was all my fault Mother.” He told her.  “If I hadn’t chased after her to Paris then maybe things would have been different.”

“You were only doing what a good friend would son.” Eric defended him.

“No, I went far over the line.  I can’t get into the how’s and why’s right now, it’s not important.  The only thing that matters is finding her, finding her and bringing her home.”

“When are you leaving son?” Eric asked.

“In the morning.  We’re loading the boat tonight and we’ll be sleeping on it. We’re going to be gone as long as it takes.  I will find her, I swear I will.” Ridge vowed.

 

 

“Nick, Nick wait.” Brooke said as she gently touched his face.  “We’re doing it again, I can’t, I really can’t.”

“Here we go again.” He sighed.  But he didn’t release his hold on her.  “Princess you really do get to me.”

“And you to me too.” She laughed.  “But we have to be realistic.  This is all just like some kind of weird fantasy.  I bet in the real world we wouldn’t even give each other a second glance.”

“Uh huh, I think I remember some lady giving my crotch a second and maybe a third glance on the plane.”

“Oh and those eyes.” She added.  “Those wonderful eyes.” Her mouth moved back to his and then her arms snaked around his back.  “I’m lost.” She whispered.  “I can’t fight anymore.”

“Who’s fighting?” He asked.

“Nick wait.” She stopped again.  “We have to talk about this.”

“We spend way too much time talking.”

“Ummm.” She moaned renewing the kiss.  “No, no wait.” She laughed.

“What now?”
“Dinner, I really need to eat.” She giggled.

“Dinner? Dinner?” He laughed.  “I kiss you and all you can think about is food?”

“Please.” She smiled at him. “My stomach is growling.”

“Let’s make dinner.” He kissed her once more and let her down.  They waded out of the water, collected the fish she had caught and headed back to their new campsite.

 

 

Ridge looked over the maps as the men supplied the boat.  “There are more places than these right?” He asked the captain.

“Many more Mr. Forrester.  Many uninhabited islands, many unfit for life but some that just are off the beaten track.”

“If she rented a boat or a plane and had trouble she could have ended up there.” He suggested.

“It’s true, but unless you have at least a small idea where to head it will be like a needle in a haystack.”

“We have to find that needle.” Ridge told him.  “We just have to.”

 

 

The woman opened the door and let the two men in.  “I told you, I haven’t seen or heard from him.”

“His plane never came back.” The first man said.  “Where was he going?”

“He told me Jamaica.  But he could have gone somewhere else.  He’d always take people if the money was good.” She frowned.  “He left me with three kids and no money so if you find that no good son of a bitch you bring him back here!  Don’t you go kill him!”

“He had our shit.  He better come back with it or with the money.” The second man told her.  “Do you know where he goes when he wants to hide out?”

“He takes his whore with him.  Ask her, not me.”

“You know who she means?” The first man asked.

“Yeah, I know who she is. We’ll go there next.”

 

 

“Brooke that was fantastic.” Nick said as he licked his fingers. 

“Lemon made all the difference didn’t it?” She asked.  “I can’t believe we have this fruit.”

“There could be more Brooke, it looks like someone planted it. But for now I’m satisfied.” 

“So Nick, are you going to keep your word?” She asked.

“What’s that?”

“You were going to tell me about Carla.”

“Do I have to?” He asked.

“Fair is fair.” She smiled.  “I’ve told you about my wild past, all my husbands, you can tell me about one little fiancée.”

“But you and I were getting along so well.”
“We still will, at least this way I can understand you.  Come on Nick, please?”

“Okay, you win.” He said.  “But we compromise.”

“How so?” She asked. “I thought my part of the deal was telling you my story.”

“Come here.” He said as he held out his arm. Brooke got up and walked around the fire to him and sat next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder.  “Nice.” He said. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

“Not exactly a good start.” Brooke teased.

“Why?” He asked her.

“Um, you’re supposed to be telling me about the woman you’re going to marry, not be kissing me.”

“Oh.” He laughed.  Then he kissed her once more. “I can’t seem to resist your lips.”

“Well try.” She said.  “I want to hear your story.”

“Okay.” He laughed again.  “I met Carla on my first day of my senior year of college.”

“College sweethearts? Why aren’t you married yet?” She asked.

“Are you going to let me tell the story or are you going to keep asking questions.”

“Both.” She said. She reached behind him for an orange and started to peel it.

“We started seeing each other, but pretty much just as friends. We went to study groups together.  I ended up dating her roommate.”

“So it wasn’t love at first sight?” She asked.

“We all can’t be as lucky as you and Ridge.” He told her.

“No, I guess not.” She sighed.  “Ridge, I wonder if he even knows that I’m missing.”

“I’m sure he does but do you want to hear this or not?”

“Keep talking Magellan.” She said. She popped a piece of orange into her mouth. “Oh God, that is so good.” She then broke off another piece and put it in his mouth.

“It is.” He agreed.

“So you met her in college but you weren’t a couple. How did that happen?” Brooke asked.

“We went our separate ways.  Never gave each other another thought and then one day I ran into her at a conference.” He told her.  “She is a beautiful woman Brooke, you’d stop and stare at her.”

“What does she look like?” Brooke asked.

“Brunette, beautiful brown eyes, tall and thin.  She could have been a model.”

“Not every woman wants that. I imagine her education shows she was a smart woman.” Brooke said as she handed him more of the succulent orange.

“She is not just beautiful but she’s brilliant. She was also in banking, at a rival bank.”
“Rival bank?” Brooke giggled. “Are there really rivalries?”

“You’d be surprised.” He told her.  “Lots of competition when money is involved.  Carla was a rising star too.  Anyway we recognized each other and decided to sit together and catch up. One thing led to another and we realized we had friends in common as well as our jobs.  We started dating and it got serious when we both saw how we wanted the same things out of life.  Carla convinced me to leave my job and come to her company, I did and the rest is history.”

“Not so romantic.” Brooke frowned.  “I mean aren’t you going to tell me about when you decided you couldn’t live without her or whatever.”

“Not everyone falls head over heels like you do Brooke, we’re happy, we’re comfortable, we fit.” He explained.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you lose your breath when she kisses you?”

Nick looked away.  He didn’t want to answer her question. In fact if she had asked it yesterday he would have laughed at her foolishness, but their last kiss, it had left him breathless, wanting more, so much more.  He wasn’t going to tell her that.  She’d laugh at him or tease him. Besides, he was going to marry Carla.  Whatever foolishness he had started with Brooke was going to come to an end right now.  He sighed and turned back to her. “No, not exactly Brooke, but her kisses are wonderful. Nothing lacking in them at all.”

“Good.” She said.  “I’d never want you to settle for less.” She smiled and then yawned.  “Maybe we should go inside, I’m getting sleepy.”

“Sounds good to me Brooke.” He answered.

“No, I think I’ll take a quick swim in the waterfall first. It was so refreshing.”

“Don’t stay too long Brooke, the sun is going down and well.”

“I’m a big girl Nick, I won’t lose my way.” She got up and kissed him on the cheek.  “But thanks for worrying.”

Nick watched her as she walked away.  Her hips moving seductively. “God how I want you Princess.” He said softly.

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

The water felt as good as she remembered it.  Brooke lay on her back floating, enjoying the sensations.  She wondered how she could feel so good, so at peace when the entire situation was so horrible.  With childlike joy she splashed and played, the water flying all around her.

“You look like you’re having fun.” Nick’s voice said, bringing her out of her revelry.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on people.” She chided him.

“People, the only people here are us Princess and to be perfectly honest I was getting lonely.”
“Join me, the water feels wonderful.” She said in a dreamlike voice. 

“I can think of other things that would feel wonderful too.” Nick muttered under his breath as he watched her breasts glowing in the moonlight.  “Don’t mind if I do.” He told her.  “But I have to warn you, fair is fair.”

“How so?” She asked as she stood up.  She flung her wet hair back with a laugh.

“I’m not getting my clothes wet either.” He said as he started to undress.

“Oh.” She said with a gulp. Her eyes were glued to his hard body and when he removed his pants she felt a warm desired between her legs. “Um, maybe I should give you some privacy.” She told him.

“I just said I was lonely, what fun would that be?” He made his way into the water. He stood about three feet from her, his eyes not leaving hers.  “Am I making you nervous?” He asked.

“No, well yes. Oh damn it Nick this is hard.”

“Yes, yes it is.” He said looking down.  Brooke’s eyes followed his and she gasped.

“We’re strangers.” She protested as he moved closer.

“No we aren’t, not anymore.”

“We hate each other.” She said stepping back.

“No we don’t.” He took another step towards her. Brooke stood firm but she was shaking.

“We, we can’t do this Nick. You’re engaged.”

“To a woman I may never see again.  It’s just us Brooke, why fight it?”

“Because, because.” She stuttered, unable to give him a reason. She stepped closer to him and let his arms envelop her.  “Nick it’s wrong.” She murmured. But when his lips found hers she opened her mouth to his, taking and giving.  He lifted her into his arms, bringing her even closer. Brooke ran her fingers through his wet hair, moaning aloud, kissing and stroking him.

“Princess.” He gasped as her hand reached under the water to stroke his length.  “Oh Princess yes.”

She shocked herself with her aggressiveness. She teased him as her hands explored his length and cupped his balls.  “Nick, oh my God Nick.” She looked up into his eyes.  “What am I doing? What are we doing?” She shivered as he lowered his head to her breasts. He teased one hard nipple and then the other. “Ohhhhhhhh.” She moaned.  He knew how much she wanted him but that didn’t even come close to how much he wanted her.

She felt him lift her out of the water.  Wordlessly he carried her around the bend to the shelter.  He gently lowered her to the cot and then got on top of her.  Her hands once more found his arousal and she gently stroked his length. 

“That’s so nice Princess.” He said.  “It feels so good.”

“Nick wait!” She let go and jumped up. 

“Oh Brooke no, not again.” He was so disappointed and frustrated too.  “Please not now, you already made me so crazy, don’t do this now.”

“We have no protection.” She said sadly.  “Nick I will not take the chance of getting pregnant on this Godforsaken island.”  She sat up and looked at his face.  “I know, I know Nick, it’s not fair and I’m sorry.”

“Why Brooke? Why are you such a tease?” He asked with a trace of anger.

“I’m not.” She protested.  Nick looked at his throbbing member and Brooke’s eyes followed his. “I’m not.” She repeated. What happened next shocked Nick beyond anything he had ever experienced before.

 

 

“What are you doing here at this hour?” Taylor frowned at her mother in law.

“Are you going to ask me in?” Stephanie said.

“Come on in.  I wasn’t sleeping anyway.” Taylor sighed and stood aside for the older woman.

“Ridge was disappointed.”

“Oh poor, poor Ridge.” Taylor said sarcastically.  “Imagine that, I disappointed him.”

“Honey he wanted you there.”

“And I want him here!” Taylor said, stomping her foot.

“I know you do.”

“It’s always Brooke, always.” Taylor pouted.

“Yes it is.” Stephanie admitted.

“Then how can you defend him?  You know her tricks and you know how he lets her get away with them!”

“I don’t think this is a trick Taylor, I think Brooke is in terrible trouble.” Stephanie said in a serious voice.

“You do?”

“I think she may be dead Taylor.  Look, I know how much you and the children need Ridge and I respect that, I want him with you, but right now my heart is with Bridget and Rick.”

“They’re adults Stephanie!”

“Does that really make a difference at a time like this?” She asked her.  “When your father had his heart attack did it matter that you were an adult, married with children? No, of course not, you went to him, you sat at his side where you belonged.  Bridget and Rick can’t do that and they are terrified.”

“They have Eric.” Taylor reminded her.

“Yes, and me too.  But Ridge is the one giving them hope.  Honey, they need that hope.”

“So you support Ridge doing this?” Taylor asked her.

“Yes, yes I do.  I don’t support his methods.  He should have discussed it with you, planned it with you, but yes, I support his doing this.  No one else can seem to make things happen like he can.  And honey, on the one chance that she is still alive, he may be the only one who can find her and bring her home.”

“You don’t think it’s a game? A trick?” Taylor asked her.

“At first I did.  But she loves those children and she would never put them through this, not even for Ridge.”

“Maybe you don’t know her as well as I do Stephanie.” She said.

“I know her better than you do Taylor.  I know she still wants your husband, and believe me, I won’t let that happen.  But she is in some kind of trouble and I want Ridge to find her.  We can deal with the rest later.”

“There may not be a later.” Taylor said angrily.

“There is always a later honey.  You and Ridge have weathered worse storms than this and you will both come out stronger.”

“I’m filing for divorce.” She told Stephanie.

“No you aren’t.” Stephanie laughed.  “You may feel like you want to, but you won’t.”

“I found something.” She said.  “Come here.” Taylor led her to the china cabinet. She opened the door and took out a baby blue envelope with the letters RF engraved on it.

“Ridge?” Stephanie asked.

“Yes Ridge.  Open it, read it.” Taylor handed it to her.

“He wrote you a letter?” Stephanie asked.  She looked at the outside, it was addressed simply ‘My Love’. 

“Read it.” Taylor said.

“Honey I don’t think I should read a personal letter from Ridge to you.”

“Read it!” Taylor screamed.

 

 

Brooke shimmied back up into Nick’s arms and kissed him.  He tasted himself on her and it made him aroused again.  Brooke was a woman like no other and true to her word.  She hadn’t been a tease, she had followed through with the most sensual experience he had ever had in his life.   “I told you I wasn’t a tease.” She said with a smirk.

“Oh my God Princess, never before in my life.” His eyes went to her mouth, that wonderfully talented mouth, the things her mouth had just done to his body amazed him. On top of that she hadn’t even pulled away, she had taken him and not stopped until he had climaxed.  She wasn’t even complaining.  He looked back at her face, her eyes.  She was smiling and grinning like the cat that had swallowed the canary, and it was no canary she had just swallowed.

“It was that good huh?” She giggled.

“No, I mean yes, I mean, I meant that literally.  No one ever did that for me before.”

“Never?” She gasped.  She was stunned.  She was far from a wild sexual partner but she knew how to please a man and that was one of the basics.  “Come on Nick, you’re engaged.” She said.

“Carla won’t, I mean she doesn’t, I mean, shit Brooke, this is embarrassing.”

“Not half as embarrassing as it is to me.  You must think I’m some kind of slut.”

“No, God no Brooke. But I well, you, you blew me away.  How can I show you how much that I.” Brooke smiled slyly at him and to her shock he blushed. 

“Don’t tell me you never did that either.” She laughed sweetly.

“Carla didn’t like it and well, I haven’t been with a lot of women and.” He flushed again.

“Well now is a perfect time to learn.” She purred.  “That is if you want to.”

“Oh I want to Princess, I want to.” He kissed her hard and then moved down the cot. Brooke’s eyes glazed over as he began to show her how quick a learner he was.

“Not too fast Nick, make it last, make me crazy, make me, Oh God you are a liar! You’ve done this before!” She moaned. 

“No baby, never.”  He said.

“God Nick, right there, oh shit there, there, don’t stop, don’t you dare stop!”

“Not in a million years.” He promised as he lapped at her, tasting her womanhood, relishing in every second of it. 

“Less talking Nick, please less talking.” She purred.

 

 

Stephanie sat down and took her reading glasses out of her purse.  She pulled the letter out of the envelope and started to read.  “Oh Taylor, Taylor where did this come from? It must be old.”

“Old? Keep reading Stephanie.  Then tell me how old it is.” She told her as she sat next to her.  “You read that and then tell me why I shouldn’t file for divorce.”

Stephanie put it down and turned to her daughter in law.  “He didn’t send it, he changed his mind.  He was out of his mind when he wrote it.”

“Then why did he keep it? Why?” Taylor insisted. “You read it, answer me Stephanie.  Why do I even care anymore?” She picked up the letter and read aloud.  “My darling Brooke,  How I wish I hadn’t hurt you.  How I wish things could be different.  I love you, I will never deny that.  I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone the way I love you, but sometimes that isn’t what’s most important.” She looked up at Stephanie.  “Not important huh?” She wiped away a tear and continued.  “When I left our marriage it was the hardest and most painful thing that I ever had to do.  No one ever has or ever will make me as happy as you Logan, no one.  But as I tried so hard to explain I had a son who needed me more than you did. He needed me and I had to give up my happiness for him.  I never wanted to take yours away and I hoped for you to find happiness.  Taylor is a good woman.” She threw the letter down. “A good woman! That’s what I am to him?”

“Honey he was apologizing to Brooke, he lied to make her feel better. You know he loves you. He has never been happier than with you and your family.”

She frowned and picked it up again.  “Obviously you didn’t finish the letter.” She resumed reading it.  “Taylor gives me a good home, a pleasant and happy home, and yet I still yearn for you.  When you told me that you still loved me, after all this time I didn’t quite know how to digest it.  And again I made mistakes. I let my love for you come to the surface again and that was wrong.  I still have the same responsibilities that I had when I left you.  Nothing has changed.  Nothing at all.  Not a day goes by that I don’t miss you, wish you were in the bed next to me, loving me, being mine, but you aren’t Brooke.  I came so close to throwing away my family this time.  I was ready to follow you to the ends of the earth.  Sometimes I wish I had been strong enough, but I wasn’t.  My children’s faces haunted me, they haunted me as your sad face will haunt me for the rest of my life.  Brooke, I know this is no consolation, but I can no longer live with you believing that I didn’t care, that I didn’t love you.  In my heart I am yours and you are mine.  Maybe there is another lifetime somehow, somewhere.  I pray that there is and that we will find each other.  I’m so sorry Brooke.  I love you always.  Ridge.” She looked up at Stephanie with tear stained eyes.  “I’m second choice, I’m an obligation.  I am not staying with him.  If he finds her now, I know he will never let her go and I have far too much pride to beg him.” 

 

 

Nick was a quick learner and he was in awe of Brooke’s passion. She let loose like no one he had ever known.  She was a very vocal lover, something he wasn’t used to at all. Her screams scared him at first but then he realized they were screams of ecstasy. He quickly aquatinted himself with her body.  Her pleasure points were immediately familiar to him.  He learned when to start, when to stop and just how he could bring her over the edge.  When she climaxed he felt her body shudder and then finally relax.  He soothed her and then took her into his arms, kissing her breasts, her neck and then finally her lips.  He had never felt such a rush.  It was more, something he couldn’t or wouldn’t define.  But this beautiful woman in his arms had brought him more joy than he had ever felt in his life.  He wondered how he would ever be able to say goodbye to her.

 

 

“Ridge obviously changed his mind.” Stephanie told Taylor.  “He didn’t give Brooke the letter, he didn’t go to her and he never wanted you to see it.”

“But he kept the letter.  He kept it and I did see it.  Do you really think I deserve to play second best to Brooke?  I’ve given Ridge everything Stephanie.  I’ve given him my heart and my soul, I’ve given him three beautiful children.  I’ve forgiven him Morgan and Brooke and I’ve even supported his need to stay in Brooke’s life.  Where has that gotten me?”

“You’re his wife.”

“Oh, so I won the prize? I’m the big winner? Then why do I feel like such a loser?” Taylor asked.  “You know he didn’t even tell me his new cell phone number?”

“That was an oversight.”

“Stop making excuses for him!” Taylor yelled.

“He loves you honey.”

“He has a strange way of showing it.” She pouted. She got up, took the letter, put it back in the envelope and put it away again. Then she returned to Stephanie.  “So now you know.  Do you still feel the same way?”

“About Brooke? Yes.  Nothing’s changed.  But as for my son, well I am furious with him.  But I am also sure that he’s completely forgotten this letter.  That time was hard on everyone.  He did come back to you and he told you how very much he loved you.”

“He lied.” Taylor stated.

“You don’t really believe that Taylor.”
“I don’t know what I believe.” She honestly replied.  “But I do know that Ridge is running around after Brooke again and that is something I just can’t deal with anymore.”

 

 

“Nick?” Brooke said softly as her finger traced his lips.

“Ummm?”
“You were wonderful.” She smiled.

“We were wonderful.” He said.  “I never imagined.”

“Do you think I’m a slut?” She asked him.

“Why on Earth do you keep saying that?”

“Just answer me, be honest, I can take it.”

“No honey, you’re not a slut.  You are a wonderfully sexy woman.” He said, planting another kiss on her lips.  “Who is it that called you a slut Brooke?”

“Who didn’t?” She laughed. She held up her hands and counted off with her fingers.  “Macy, she was Thorne’s wife. Taylor, Ridge’s wife, Stephanie, Eric’s wife and Ridge and Thorne’s mother.”

“So.” He laughed.  “Your romantic rivals have called you a slut. What a shock.”

“Others have too. Sally.” She said.

“Who is Sally?” He asked.

“Macy’s mother.”

“Uh huh, another shocker.  Who else?”

“Thorne.” She said sadly.

“The bastard.” Nick said angrily.  “He was your husband, why would he say that?”
“Oh Nick, it doesn’t matter, others have said it or they’ve thought it.  Maybe I am a slut.  I can’t help it that I enjoy sex.  I only make love to men that I am serious about.  I’ve never slept with someone I didn’t really care for.” She looked at him and gasped.  “Well, until now.”

“Thanks Princess, that makes me feel real good inside.”

“Oh Nick, I didn’t mean it like that.  I don’t even know you. I’m really attracted to you and we’re in such a weird situation.  I could care for you.  But we’re worlds apart.  When we leave here we’ll never see each other again. But if things were different.” She stopped at that point and stared out at the wall.

Nick felt sick.  Sick at the thought of leaving the island and never seeing Brooke again.  In the short time that they had spent together he had become closer to her than he had ever been to anyone in his life.  ‘Anyone?’ He thought.  ‘Why can’t I even picture Carla?’

“You’re lost in thought.” Brooke said softly.  “Is it my fault?”

“I can’t seem to think of anything but you.” He smiled. “But that’s a good thing Princess, don’t doubt that.” He pulled her tighter and kissed her again. “Why can’t I stop kissing you?”
“Am I complaining?”

“For once, no.” He laughed.

 

 

It had been late when she had finally gotten home.  Eric had already gone to bed and she didn’t want to disturb him.  Not only that but she needed time to think. She had to convince Taylor that Ridge had written that letter in a moment of confusion.  Yes, he still had an attraction to Brooke but his final choice had been Taylor.  She had to make her daughter in law understand that nothing Brooke could ever do would make Ridge leave her and her children.  But Stephanie was worried.  Could this be the straw that broke the camel’s back.  If Ridge did find her alive and confused would he confuse his own sympathy for love? 

She was sitting at the breakfast table, letting her eggs get cold when Eric joined her. 
“Good morning darling.” Stephanie said with a smile. 

“Good morning.” He returned her greeting as he poured himself a cup of coffee.  “You got in late.”

“Yes, Taylor was upset.  I couldn’t leave her.”

“Did you get through to her?  Did you make her understand how important it is that Ridge continues his search?  How much Bridget and Rick are depending on him?”
“I tried, but she has her own valid points.  I was thinking perhaps we should take up the quest and let Ridge come home.” She suggested. 

“You and I?” Eric asked.  “You’d be willing to comb the Caribbean for Brooke?”

“I just think maybe Ridge needs to consider his own family.” She took a sip of her now cold coffee and frowned.  “Don’t get me wrong, I do understand why he’s doing it and I am for it.  I just hate seeing Taylor hurting so.”
“Could we be even half as effective?” Eric wondered.  “And then that would be leaving the children without anyone.  They need us Stephanie.”

“It’s a no win situation isn’t it?” She said.

“What happened?”
“Taylor found a letter that Ridge wrote.”

“To her?” Eric asked.
“No, to Brooke.”

“Oh dear.  What did it say?”

“I think he was very confused and feeling very guilty when he wrote it.  He knew that Brooke was an emotional wreck and he felt responsible.”

“But what did it say?” He asked again.

“That he did love her but he was staying with his family.” Stephanie told him.

“Alright, but isn’t that pretty much what he told her in person? At least it’s what he said to me.”

“That he loved her? Oh Eric, maybe he loves her but not like he loves Taylor.”
“I never attempt to try and understand our son’s love life Stephanie.” Eric told her. “There is no denying that Brooke and Ridge share something strong, something that just doesn’t seem to go away. But he made his choice and that was Taylor.  I believe that he wants to honor that commitment and that he loves Taylor very much.”

“But?” Stephanie asked.

“There is a passion that he feels for Brooke that matches nothing else.  And that passion has a way of rising to the top from time to time. It’s up to Ridge to control it and not let it ruin what he’s built with his wife.”

“But you aren’t sure he can are you?” Stephanie asked him.

“Brooke Logan is a hard woman for a man to forget.” He said thoughtfully.  A look of annoyance, anger and fear crossed Stephanie’s face.  “Don’t you worry Stephanie, my passion has always been with you.”

 

 

Brooke woke up and unwrapped Nick’s arms from her body.  She got up and walked to the window of the shack and looked out at the moon.  “I want to go home.” She said softly.  “I want to go home.”

 

 

“Dan, do you have a minute?” Carla Darvers said as she walked unannounced into the bank president’s office.  She was well respected and always wanted.  He looked up from his computer screen and smiled.

“For you, anything.”

“It’s Nick, I’m starting to get worried.  He was due home last week and I haven’t heard from him.  I spoke to Glynnis in travel and she wasn’t aware that he hadn’t returned.  He hasn’t checked into another hotel, his credit cards haven’t been used.  Dan, what’s going on?”

“You’ve caught me unaware Carla.  I just assumed that Nicholas was having some troubles and had extended his trip.  Perhaps he isn’t using his company card. That would explain why Glynnis doesn’t see a charge.”

“Nick wouldn’t use his personal finances to pay for business Dan.  That’s preposterous. He hasn’t called you?” She asked.

“No, but you know how slowly things happen in the islands.  The charges probably just haven’t hit yet.  And as for his not calling, I imagine he knows that he’s in the doghouse for missing the ball tonight.” Dan laughed.

“That he is.” She smiled but he could see her annoyance growing.

“You will come anyway won’t you?”

“It wouldn’t be proper Dan.” She said, declining.

“My nephew Steven is in town.  He’s out of sorts lately and Claudia was hoping to come up with something to whet his appetite for the social scene.  Could I infringe upon you to be his escort?  I know it’s last moment but Claudia and I would forever be in your debt.”

“Steven?  Is he the branch manager from the Hampton branch?” Carla asked him.

“Yes, newly divorced and in desperate need of improving his social skills.”

“And you want me to help with them?” She laughed.

“He isn’t all that bad, I’m sure he won’t embarrass you.  Please consider this.”

“I’d be happy to be his escort.  That is unless Nick, no, no I will even if Nick does come home today.  It will serve him right for not calling.”

“I’m sure he will call you dear.” Dan laughed.  “So let me call Claudia with the good news.  We’ll come by your apartment and pick you up.”

“Alright.” She agreed.  “And thank you.” She was so happy about being able to go to the ball after all that her concerns about Nick had already diminished.  When she returned to her office her calls were no longer in tracing his whereabouts but in lining up a last minute nail and hair appointment.

 

 

The smell of fish cooking awoke Nick from a very restful sleep.  He struggled into his shorts and walked outside to the fire.  Brooke was sitting there watching their meal cook, but not very intently.

“Good morning.” He said.

“Hi.” She replied.  “I thought we’d get an early start. Sorry, but I drank all the coffee.” She teased.

“You wish.” He laughed.  Then he looked at her carefully. She seemed sad, sadder than he had ever seen her.  “I’m sorry Princess.”

“No, it’s not you Nick.  I’m just really, I don’t know.” Then the tears started to fall.  “I’m sorry.” She told him.

“Is it because of what happened?” He asked.

“I don’t know.  I don’t think so.  I was just thinking about my kids and how I may never see them again.  I just can’t seem to stop crying.”

He walked over to her and put his arm around her. “You’re allowed Brooke. It’s not like we’re off on an exotic vacation. I just hope it’s not regrets about us.”

“I need to stop.” She said. “Crying isn’t going to get me anywhere, it never has.”

“Sometimes it feels good to let it all out.” He told her. He turned her to face him and gave her a sweet, tender kiss. “Cry all you want Princess, maybe I’ll join you.”

“We can’t ever let that happen again.” She said. “We lucked out this time.”

“Lucked out?” He asked.

“That first day, when we.” She was too embarrassed to continue.

“We lucked out?” He asked.

“I got my period.” She said.

“So that’s it then, PMS.” He smiled.

“Maybe your little Carla goes on crying jags when she has it but I don’t.” She pushed him away and turned to face the fire again.

“Don’t get mad at me Princess.  What happened between us was mutual. I didn’t force you to do anything.”

“And it will never happen again.” She said crossing her arms in front of her.

“Now what did I do to make you so angry?” He asked.

“Oh nothing.  It’s not you, I’m sorry.” She apologized.  “Unless you’re a woman you can’t even imagine how it is to have your period in a setting where it’s like the Middle Ages.”

“Oh, I think I get it.” He said. “No tampons? No Midol? No nothing?”

“Hell, I don’t even have toilet paper.” She said giving the sand a kick.  “I cut up a towel.” She told him. 

“What do you say I stay clear of you then.” He laughed.  “I know better than challenging an angry female.”

“Let’s just eat and go get our stuff.  I want to put on some shorts.  I feel so gross.” She complained.

“Nuff said.” He told her. “Can I do anything to help?”

“Want to get a couple or oranges?” She asked.

“I’d be happy to Princess.”

“Nick.” She said grabbing his arm.  “I’m sorry I was a crab but I did mean it about us.”

He just nodded and kept walking away.  “Whatever you say Princess.” He laughed. 

 

 

“Where are we headed?” Ridge asked the boat’s captain. 

“I know of several small islands that people don’t visit often.  I’m pretty sure your detectives didn’t check them.”

“Good.” Ridge said. He pulled out his wallet and looked at the picture of the beautiful blonde.  She was smiling up at him without a care in the world and her eyes were filled with love.  He had taken this picture several days before Taylor had come to him with the truth about Thomas.  “One of our last moments Logan, if only we knew.” He said sadly.

“Is that your lady?” The man asked.

“Yes, that’s Brooke.” He walked to him and proudly showed him the picture.

“I can see why you want her back so badly.”

“We have to find her.” Ridge told him. “There can be no failure, we have to find her.”

“See there?” The captain pointed.  Ridge looked but didn’t see anything right away.  Then he saw a speck of land. 

“Yes, yes I see it.”

“We try there first.” He said.  “No one live there now but they did once.  It’s out of regular flight plans and no fishing boats go there.”

“Why not?” Ridge wondered.

“Too rough, too many rocks.”

“Then how will we be able to get there? To dock?”

“Cause I’m the best.” He laughed.  “And I got me a really good boat too Ridge.  We’ll make land, maybe find your lady.”

“God I hope so Perry, we just have to find her.”

 

 

Four days later Brooke sat inside the shelter as the rain beat down.  She was tired and cranky and hungry.  It had rained steady for three days and they had lived on one small fish as well as fruit.  Nick was out trying to catch another fish. Brooke had given up. She was tired of being cold and wet.  She walked to her suitcase and pulled out a long sleeved blouse and put it on.  After the end of her period she had also lost her newfound modesty, but she was cold now. Her sarong covered her waist and the blouse, though sheer and extremely sexy did cover her freezing breasts.  She thought again about what had happened the night before her period. As much as she regretted it she couldn’t seem to get it out of her head. Nick had been a tender lover, so patient, so caring. But Brooke didn’t want that.  She didn’t want a man complicating her life again. Men had always been her undoing, her weakness. “Like a fish needs a bicycle.” She told herself with a laugh.

“No luck Princess.” Nick told her as he walked in shaking himself like a dog.

“Nick!” She shouted.  “I was dry!”

“Sorry.” He laughed.

“I told you that you wouldn’t catch anything except a cold.”

“I had to try.  You need to eat.”

“Don’t act like I’m some fragile thing Nick, you’re as hungry as I am.” She sighed.  “Maybe you’d be better off hunting for your wild boar.” She laughed.

“I’ll show you a wild boar.” He ran to her and tackled her to the bed.  He started to tickle her wildly. 

“Stop! Stop! You win.” She laughed and screamed. “Oh Nick stop.” She said. But he already had stopped. His fingers were no longer tickling her but touching her, stroking her soft skin. His hand ran a slow trail up and down her leg.  Then his lips captured hers in a kiss. Brooke opened her mouth to his, taking and welcoming his probing tongue. Her arms revolted against her and made their way around his waist. She pulled him closer, feeling his erection straining against her.  His mouth left hers and she whimpered in protest until he found his next target. He took her erect nipple, right through the gauzy fabric into his mouth. She moaned and pulled his head closer to her. Then her own hands betrayed her once more as they reached into his shorts, caressing him, stroking him, freeing him and ultimately guiding him inside her hot and willing body.

 

 

“Another island.” Ridge sighed.  He had had such hopes when he started this quest.  But they had covered so many miles and so many islands in the last five days. They had seen nothing at all to prove that Brooke Logan even existed.  Once more Ridge pulled the photo from his wallet.  It was starting to look worn.  The ocean air had already gotten to it, curling the corners and fading the colors.  With a tear in his eye he brought it to his lips and kissed her image.  “I’ll find you Logan, I swear I’ll find you.”

“Be about an hour or two.” Perry told him.

“Uh huh.” Ridge said wearily. 

“Maybe we get lucky today.”
“Maybe.” Ridge sighed. Then he looked up in the air. A small plane flew over them.  “Did you see that?” He asked.

“Odd.” Perry said.  “Not often you see them so far out and so low.”

“Where can he be landing?” Ridge asked.

Perry looked concerned and stopped the engine.

“What are you doing?” Ridge asked.

“Turning around.  They be headed for our island, we don’t want trouble.”

“But Brooke, she could be there.” He protested.

“We’ll come back.  I got a bad feeling.”

“But Perry, if she’s there then she is in danger.”

“If she’s there, and they’re who I think they are, we can’t help her.” He told him. “Pray for her man, pray for her.”

Chapter 8

 

 

“Damn it Nick! Why didn’t you stop me?” Brooke said angrily as she pulled herself out of Nick’s arms.

“Stop you? I didn’t want to stop you. You didn’t want to stop.  What the hell is wrong?” He asked.

“I just went through this with you! I told you why we couldn’t let that happen! I told you how scared I was and still.”

“Whoa Princess! Don’t you dare blame me, this was your doing.”

“You’re the one who started kissing me and touching me!” She screamed.  “Shit!”

“Calm down.” He told her.

“Easy for you to say.” She growled.  “It’s not like you might get pregnant! It’s not like you might have to have a baby in the middle of a deserted island with no doctors and no hospitals.  I could die, the baby could die! Damn it Nick I warned you that this could happen and you kept going, you wouldn’t stop, you just wouldn’t.”

“What can I say? I’m sorry, I thought we both wanted it.” Nick protested. “You sure acted like you did.”

“I got caught up! You knew that Nick, you could have stopped me but you didn’t.  You knew how I felt.  Now look what happened to us.”

Nick grabbed her hands. “Nothing happened to us.  We made love, it wasn’t a tragedy.”

“We didn’t make love! We had sex! We f*cked!” She screamed at him.

“Fine, be that way.  I don’t know why I bother, I really don’t.  You, Princess are way too high maintenance.” He got off the cot and grabbed his shorts from the floor.  “I’m going outside! I can’t deal with your change with the wind attitude anymore.  I think you better grow up Princess, until then maybe it’s best we avoid each other whenever necessary.”

“Fine!” she shouted. “I don’t want to be near you anyway! Prick!”

Brooke watched him through her characteristic squint as he left the shelter.  Once he was gone she let out a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes.  “So what? So what if I wanted it too.  You knew that it never should have happened.” She said softly.  “I hate you Nick Parker, I really, really hate you.”

 

 

Nick hadn’t planned on walking as far as he had but he was angry. He walked hard and fast and soon found himself at their old campground.  He sat down on a log and looked out at the sea.  Never had a woman gotten under his skin like Brooke Logan.  He didn’t know if he liked her or hated her but damn he wanted her.  Just picturing her face, her eyes, her soft sexy skin made him rock hard again.  He growled to himself and then got up.  He walked to the water and waded until he was waist deep.  “Come on! Come on!” He shouted impatiently at his own body.  It was a strange thing for him.  Sex had never been a huge priority in his life.  But with Brooke around it seemed that all he could think about was burying himself inside her tight body, kissing her, tasting her, loving her.  “No, no not love.” Nick said aloud.  His own thoughts were betraying him.  Love was something that Nick wasn’t even sure he believed in.  Did he love Carla?  As much as was possible he imagined.  Love and sex were just perks in life, something he could live with or without.  Work, work and money were his motivations.  He wanted success and to Nick that left little time for a social life.  In college he had barely dated, not that the opportunity wasn’t there. Women flocked around the handsome man but unless they shared common goals he barely noticed them.  Not even Carla had caught his attention, at least not until they met later in life.  Most people would have been shocked to learn that Nick had not lost his virginity until the age of twenty-one.  “Jenny.” He said wistfully.  It had been a long time since he had thought about her.  Jenny had been the closest thing to love that Nick had ever experienced and reflecting on it now he realized it was much more than he had ever admitted to himself.  It had been a cold winter and when the break had finally come while most of the other students had gone home or headed to warmer climates Nick had opted to remain at school and study.  If he had taken the time to notice it he would have seen that he was lonely, but he had buried himself in his books.  He woke early each day and headed to the almost deserted library.  There he spent countless hours researching, making notes and reading.  His lone breaks were for food, food that he barely tasted.  But then one evening he had ventured into a local pub, hoping for a change in scenery.  He’d sat at the bar eating a tasty cheeseburger when a pretty young woman had approached him.

“Hi.” She had said. “I’m Jenny Sanders.  Aren’t you Nick Parker?”

“I am.” Nick had replied.  He didn’t know the woman but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be polite.

“I’m in your American History class.” She had said.

“Oh?”

“So how come you’re still on campus?  I thought I was the lone straggler.” She had asked.

“Where else would I be?” He had honestly asked her. 

Her smile had suddenly lit up the bar.  “You sure are the serious one.  I had heard that about you. My friend Cathy swears you’re a statue but I told her she was wrong.”

“I’m alive, believe me.” He had laughed. 

“Want to shoot some pool?” She’d asked and Nick had taken her up on it.  They had played long and hard and only stopped when the bartender had announced it was closing time. 

“Walk me back to my dorm?” She had asked him.

“Sure.” He had replied.  He had taken her arm and they had left the bar as snow began to fall.  When they had reached her dorm Jenny had seemed reluctant to let him go.  Nick had a long day of studying ahead but when she invited him in for one last drink he had accepted her offer.  That night Jenny had introduced him to carnal pleasures.  Nick had enjoyed himself although it had been awkward for him.  But he had finally opened himself up to another human being.  Suddenly thoughts of solitude weren’t as appealing to him.  He wanted to spend time with this woman and he vowed to make time in his life for her.  He had kissed her goodbye at her door and promised that they’d get together again soon. They never had.  Jenny was killed in a car accident the next day and Nick had closed his heart to love. ‘Until now. Until Brooke.’ He thought. ‘No! Until Carla.’ He corrected himself. 

 

 

“We can’t turn around Perry.” Ridge protested.  “If there is danger and if there’s a chance Logan is there we can’t turn away.  I have to find her.”

“Look Ridge, you don’t know what kind of trouble there is out here.  That plane, that plane was way too low. They were avoiding radar.  They do that for a reason.  If your friend is on that island and we go after her and those people are who I think they are I’ll have no boat and we’ll have no lives.  We wait, we wait till we see him go, then we go look.”

“If Brooke is there and she sees a plane she’ll run to it, not away from it.  How can you even suggest that I let that happen? You have to take me there now Perry.”

Perry scratched his head and looked towards the island.  “I got a wife and two kids.  I don’t make a hell of a lot of money and I’m all they have.  You say you worried about your lady, well I’m worried about mine.  I won’t make her a widow.  I’m sorry Ridge but we will go back later.”

 

 

“This isn’t it.” The pilot told his passenger.  “No way he could land there.”

“Are you sure.  What about that field?” He pointed to a large empty space.

“Too small.  But he could come here by boat.”

“No, his old lady said he went off on the plane.  So where now?”

“We keep looking.  But soon I got to go refuel.”

“You find that son of a bitch.  He has my stuff and he has my money.  If I don’t get it back someone is going to pay.”

 

 

The sun was getting lower, the day was almost over and still Brooke sat inside the shelter.  Nick had been gone all day and she didn’t know if she was sad or relieved.  But she did know that she was hungry.

She grabbed her spear and headed to the beach.  In her heart she was hoping Nick would be there.  Brooke was lonely.  It was bad enough to be stuck on this island but to not even have Nick to talk to made it even more miserable.  “He’s just being stubborn.” She said aloud.  “Once he smells the fish cooking he’ll come running back and maybe I’ll even let him stay.”  She stripped out of her clothes and waded into the water.  With a deep sigh she looked into the water at the fish swimming around her.  She just had no desire, she didn’t seem to care.  Tears started to form once more in her eyes and then she stood up straight.  “No way Brooke! You need no one. You are a strong woman and you can get by just fine on your own, now catch a damn fish!”

 

 

“There he goes!” Ridge said as he pointed up in the sky.  “Now let’s get over there. I have to know if she’s there.”

“He didn’t land.  That’s good news, good news for your lady if she’s there.”

“Perry she has to be.  I am starting to lose hope.  It’s been too long.  How the hell can she survive alone out here?”

“You have to remember there is no real proof that she is out here.” Perry reminded him.

“If she didn’t get on a commercial flight she must have taken a boat.  Maybe the boat got stranded.  She’s out here somewhere.  I can feel it in my bones.  I swear I have a connection with her and I know she’s out here, she’s alive but she’s scared and alone and I have to get to her.  I have to get to her soon.”

“Well we’ll try that island now.” Perry said.  He revved up the engine and they headed towards the lush, green island.

 

 

Brooke was tired but she was also tired of eating the same thing day in, day out.  She decided to try her best to make something different.  First she browned some coconut in lemon juice.  Then she used it to coat the filets she had caught.  “This is going to work.” She smiled.  She had thought it all out and she had found the supplies she needed. An old canteen would make a perfect frying pan and using fish oil and coconut oil she could fry her fish.  It would be a special treat if it came out as she hoped.  She knew she had to be careful.  Cooking on a fire was nothing at all like cooking on a gas or electric stove.  She would have to pay close attention and make sure she kept turning her fish but Brooke was determined.  She had lots of fish, more than enough for both her and Nick, that is if he came back.  She knew it was partially her fault that he had left but he was stubborn too.  He knew she was right and that they had taken a chance that they never should have taken.  Still it made no sense for him to run off like a child and sulk.  Brooke knew he couldn’t catch a fish and he wasn’t near the fruit.  “Oh well, you can just suffer Mr. Grouch.”  She said.  She turned her attention back to her meal.  It was starting to smell delicious and her mouth was watering.  “I hope you can smell this Nicky boy.” She said with a laugh. 

 

 

But Nick was too far away to smell her meal.  If he could his mouth would be watering too. He was hungry, very hungry. He hand brought two oranges with him but they were long gone. He had plenty of water but he really wanted more.  He was hungry but hungry for more than food, he was hungry for Brooke. Frustrated he broke open a coconut and pulled the meat off and into his mouth. It was like he was back to day one and he didn’t like it. But he refused to give Brooke the satisfaction of running back to her.  He’d be sleeping alone under the stars tonight.  Maybe it was for the best.  He had his own life, a life with Carla.  Brooke was nothing but a complication. A pleasant one but still just a complication.  “I wonder what you’re eating Princess?” He whispered.  Angrily he kicked at the sand in front of him.  The sun was starting to sink and soon it would be dark.  He wouldn’t be able to return to her.  What if she needed him?  What if something happened to her?  They really should stick together. “I’ll go back, I’ll camp nearby but I won’t go in.  She doesn’t need to know I’m there.” He decided.  He picked up his water bottle and brushed the sand off of his legs.  He was happy about his decision.  He turned away and headed back towards the beach where Brooke was.  He knew it was the right thing to do.

 

 

“Anything?” Ridge called out to Perry as the two men met up on the beach. 

“No Ridge, nothing at all.” He said. “We’ll try somewhere else in the morning.” 

Ridge picked up his pace and ran to meet him.  “Can’t we try one more island tonight?”

“It’s too late man.  Even if we head somewhere else we can’t dock at night.” Perry explained.  “It’s late, I’m tired and hungry.”

“So what do we do?” Ridge asked.

“We make camp right here, get a good night’s sleep and start early in the morning.” Perry told him.  “You bring your phone?”

“Yeah, you need to use it?” Ridge asked.

“I’d like to call my wife, but after you make your own calls.”

“You use it first.” Ridge said as he gave him the phone.  “I think I’ll take a swim while we still have some sunlight.”

 

 

Although Brooke had finished her meal the aroma still permeated the air and Nick’s stomach was growling.  He snuck up as close as possible and saw that she had the fire under control.  He wanted to see if she was inside the shelter but he didn’t want to draw her attention. “I’m sure you’re alright.” He said, but deep down he had to know for sure.  He made his way around the campsite on his hands and knees until he was near the open door. When he looked in the lamp was not lit so he assumed she was not there.  “It’s getting late Princess.  Where the hell are you?” He said in an aggravated tone.

“I’m right here Magellan.” She giggled as she walked up to him from behind.  “You make one lousy spy.”

Nick had to laugh in spite of himself.  “I guess I do.  But hell Brooke, I’m a banker.”

“You were worried about me?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He admitted.  “Sorry if that makes you angry.”

“Actually it makes me happy.” She told him.  “I was getting lonely.  I’m sorry we fought.  Do you think you would like to come back inside?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea Princess.” He said.

“You’re still mad?” She said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. 

“No.” he laughed.  “I’m too tempted.”

“Oh.” She was speechless this time.  She just looked at him and smiled. Finally she cleared her throat.  “Are you hungry?”

“I’m starved, looks like my pride got in the way of my appetite huh?”

“I saved you some.  It’s cold but we could try to heat it up.”

“You saved me some?” He was astonished.  “Brooke thank you.”

“It’s in the frying pan on the table.” She told him.

“What frying pan?” He wondered.

“Oh, I found a canteen and since we have enough containers for water I made it into a frying pan.  Why don’t you heat it up while I take a bath in the waterfall?” She suggested.

“It’s getting dark Brooke, please be careful.”

“I will. I won’t be long Nick, promise.” She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek.  “Thanks for caring.  And Nick.”

“Yeah?”

“Enjoy your dinner.” She smiled.

 

 

“Did you get your wife?” Ridge asked Perry after he got out of the water. 

“Yes, thank you.  I think you better make your calls now.  We won’t be able to juice up your phone again until we get the engine going.”

“It still has lots of power.” Ridge said, but he took the phone and walked a short distance down the beach for privacy.  He punched in the familiar number and listened to the ring. 

“Mom? It’s me.” He said.

“Ridge.  Good.  Have you had any luck?” She asked him.

“Another false alarm.” He sighed.  “How are the kids holding up?”

“Thomas is getting cranky and.”

“No Mother, I mean Bridget and Rick.” He interrupted her.

“Honey I think you need to worry about your own family.” She chastised him.

“I have nothing to worry about.  Taylor is with them, they know I’m fine and coming home.  It’s Bridget and Rick who are facing the real horror.  So how are they?” He asked again.

“Rick is pretending to be fine.  He is acting like he’s sure Brooke is fine and coming home.  It’s Bridget that I’m worried about.  Deacon Sharpe called me today.” She told him.

“What did that jerk want?” Ridge growled.

“He’s worried about her.  He asked me to come talk to her.”

“I hope you did.” Ridge told her.

“Yes, but she is getting worse each day.  Oh Ridge, it’s been too long.  Sooner or later we’re going to have to call off this search and accept the inevitable.”

“No Mother, I will not accept that Brooke is gone.  I’d feel it.” He looked out at the vast ocean.  “She’s out there somewhere Mother and I’m going to find her.”

“Just set a time limit Ridge.  As much as I want you to find her you have your own family and your own responsibilities.  Taylor needs you honey.”

“Taylor doesn’t seem to want to talk to me.” He said.  “And to be honest I don’t have time for her petty insecurities right now.”

“Ridge Forrester!” She shouted.  “She is your wife and any insecurities that she has should be of the utmost importance to you!”

“Sorry Mother, I guess right now I have my own priorities and I think Taylor should understand them.  I’ve given her no reason to doubt my motives, none at all.”

Stephanie was tempted to mention the letter but with Ridge so far away she knew it would serve no real purpose.  She’d tell him when he got home.  “Honey call her, call her tonight.  She really misses you.”

“I miss her too Mother.  Look, I better go, the battery is going to wear down and I do want to call Taylor.”

“Call me tomorrow honey.”

“Okay.” He said.  He disconnected the call and stared at the phone.  “I can’t deal with a fight tonight Taylor.  Please don’t give me a hard time.” He said before he punched in his own number.

 

 

Nick was bending over adding wood to the fire when Brooke came around the bend.  The she tossed back her wet hair and smiled at him.  “What a nice view.” She purred. 

“Hmmm, you like my butt do you?” He laughed.  “Princess what am I going to do with you.  You say one thing and then act the total opposite way.”

“Sorry, there’s just something about a sexy man working up a sweat.” She giggled.

He stood up and looked at her.  She was so beautiful and so appealing. His body betrayed him by instantly reacting to her.  He saw that her eyes zeroed right in on his erection.  “Stop it Brooke.” He warned.

“Stop what?” She teased.

“If you don’t knock it off I can’t make any promises about my behavior.” He said sternly.

She walked up to him and ran her hand up and down his arm.  “I don’t want to fight anymore Nick.”

“I don’t either Princess.” He pulled her close and kissed her.  “Yes, I much prefer this to fighting.”

“We just have to take it slowly and be more careful.” She told him.  She sighed and relaxed in his arms. 

“Brooke? What are you really up to?” He asked.

“I don’t want to be alone.” She said. “When you left I wasn’t sure you’d come back and I just started imagining spending the rest of my life stuck on this stupid island all alone.  I know we got off to a weird start but I think if we really tried we could get along.  Nick please, let’s not fight and please even if I get crazy don’t leave me alone again.  I mean I know I could do it alone but I really don’t want to.”

“I won’t leave you alone.” He promised.  “No more games okay?  What do you say we work on being friends?”

“I’d like that.” She said.  “Will you tell me more about your life?” She asked him. 

“Sure.” He walked her over to a log.  “Let’s sit here by the fire. I’m not that tired and I don’t want to sleep right now.”

“Neither do I.” She smiled.  “I’d really like to know more about you and I’ll answer anything you ask me, well within reason.” She added with a giggle.

“We don’t have to do it all tonight.” He put his arm around her.  “But I’m glad that we decided to try again.  It sure would be lonely here without you.”

 

 

Ridge jumped as Perry touched him to wake him.  “Sorry man, you sure jumpy.” He laughed. 

“I guess I was into a deeper sleep than I thought.” Ridge said.  “What time is it?”

“Early but time to get started.  Are you okay?”

“Why?” Ridge asked.

“You seemed angry after you got off the phone last night.” Perry told him. 

“Yeah well my wife won’t talk to me and my son is mad at me and my mother is stuck in the middle and.”

“Your wife?” Perry asked.  “I thought you and Brooke.”

“It’s a long story.” Ridge sighed.  “But yes, Brooke is very, very important to me.  Let’s just get on the boat and find her.  I have a feeling that today’s going to be the day.”

“Maybe, maybe.” Perry agreed.  “I want to look at the charts, I had an idea last night but it’s going to take us a long time to get there.”

“I thought you thought she’d be around here?” Ridge frowned.

“Yes, yes I did think that but the search was centered this way and no one has seen a thing.”

“She was headed in this direction, at least she should have been.” Ridge argued.  “If we go off some other way we may miss her.  Shouldn’t we at least check more islands around here?”

“Trust me Ridge.  I think I’m going to make some calls and get some help.  Trust my instincts, they haven’t let me down yet.”

“Okay Perry, but please, please just find her.”

 

 

Eric was ashen faced when Stephanie walked into the kitchen. 

“Eric? Eric what is it? Is she dead?” She gasped.

“The detective that Ridge hired called me.” He said.  “It seems that there is a young couple, Naomi and Jeff something or other that never made it to their destination. They were on the same plane or at least scheduled for the same plane as Brooke was, but they cancelled, left a message on a friend’s machine that they had hired a private plane.  Our detective thinks Brooke might have hitched a ride with them.  He also found that there was a man from New York that never made the plane and another woman but so far no one has reported them missing, maybe they just cancelled.”

“Then there has to be a record of this private plane.” Stephanie told him.

“No.  David, he’s the detective, he told me that on these islands they just don’t have the same rules and regulations like here or on a US or British island.  Pilots don’t file flight plans, there are very few records.”

“Someone must know if a small plane is missing.  Eric have there been any reports of a small plane going down?” She looked at him.  She was trembling.

“No, but you have to realize Stephanie, the Caribbean, the Atlantic, there are so many miles to cover.”

“They know where Brooke was headed.”

“And they’ve been combing those waters.  Stephanie it doesn’t look good.  I’m afraid it’s time we prepared Bridget and Rick for the worst.  I also think it’s time that Ridge came home.”

“Oh Eric those poor children.” She reached for his hand and clutched it. Her eyes were filled with tears.  “You know Brooke and I have never really gotten along but I, I, I never wanted this.  I never did Eric.”

“I know darling.” He said softly.  “I know.”

 

 

Brooke opened her eyes and smiled.  She was in Nick’s arms again and she felt so safe and protected.  They had brought out blankets and fallen asleep under the stars.  She cuddled closer to him and remembered the night before.  They had talked for hours.  She had told him about her family and her childhood and she had found herself reliving so many wonderful memories.  Nick had retaliated by telling her about his own youth.  She had been so saddened by the fact that he had not had a warm, loving family like she had but it also made her appreciate her own so much more. She had shed tears when Nick had told her about how he had lost both his parents when he was sixteen.  An aunt, his mother’s lone sibling had done her best to give him a home and had taken him in. She was much older than his parents were and unaccustomed to children.  Although Nick had loved her once he left for college his only trips back were for quick visits. The only other family he had was a distant cousin who was the son of his father’s brother who had been killed in Vietnam.  But Nick had seemed to enjoy her tales about herself, Donna, Katie, as well as her mother Beth and Grandma Logan.  In the end Brooke had promised him a big party with her family upon their return.  Later the conversation had turned to Brooke’s love life.  Nick had remembered some of the stories she had told him while he had drifted in and out of consciousness in the beginning.  He had asked a lot of questions and frowned often in hearing stories of her unsuccessful marriages. Brooke had asked him more about Carla but Nick didn’t seem to want to think about her.  She had assumed it was too painful and she hadn’t pressed him.  As the evening drew late they both were tired of talking and listening and they had found comfort in each other’s arms.  Brooke had sworn that it would never happen again but it had felt so right and they had both wanted each other so deeply.  Their lovemaking had gone on for hours until the two sated lovers had finally shut their eyes and fell into a deep and restful sleep.

 

 

Carla Darvers walked up to her secretary with a smile.  “Any messages?” She asked.

“No Miss Darvers but Mr. Callahan is in your office.” She answered.

“Dan? Hmmm, I didn’t expect him to make it in on time today.” She smiled.  “We had quite the time at the ball last night Shirley.  You would have loved it.”

“I’m sure.” She answered politely.  “Can I get you coffee?”

“Yes please Shirley.” She said.  She opened her office door and smiled at her supervisor.  “Good morning Dan.  What brings you here so early?”

Dan Callahan stood up and walked to the door shutting it.  “Carla sit down, I have some bad news.  I’m afraid this is going to be quite a shock.”

“If it’s the Flanders account you don’t have to tell me, I know what they have in mind but I have in totally under control. I guarantee you that they are not going anywhere.” She started to look through some files on top of her desk.  “Let me show you the numbers I ran for them.  I know they are going to be happy.”

“Carla it’s Nicholas.”  He said stopping her rambling.  “I’m afraid we have some bad news.”

 

 

“Where are we headed?” Ridge asked Perry.  “I didn’t see anything on the maps in this direction.”

“Oh, are you getting to be a navigator now?” Perry teased him.

“Actually you’re a pretty good teacher.” Ridge admitted.  “I’ve been looking at he map and on the radar and it sure looks like we’re headed into plenty of nothing.”

“Actually we’re almost there.” Perry told him.  He lowered his sunglasses over his eyes and squinted out across the wide horizon.

Ridge’s eyes followed his and he looked at the other man with a frown.  “There is nothing ahead Perry.”

“Ah that’s where you are wrong.  But don’t worry Ridge, better sailors than yourself have made the same mistake.” He winked.  “Get the binoculars.”  He instructed him.  Ridge walked to the seat and grabbed them from their case.  He started searching himself. 

“I still don’t see anything.” He said.

“Give them to me Ridge.” He held his hand out to him.  “Take over for me, just stay on a straight path.” He told him.  Ridge took over the controls and Perry started to look through the glasses.  “Yes, yes, there she is.” He smiled.  “Keep going Ridge, keep going.”

“What are you talking about?” Ridge asked. 

“You’ll see soon enough.” Perry let the glasses rest around his neck. “There’s a small island ahead, well really nothing more than a sandbar.”

“A sandbar? Brooke couldn’t survive on a sandbar.” Ridge said in a tense voice.

“Many a boat has grounded itself on these parts Ridge. They get damaged, they leave clues.  Then they putter off to some of the small nearby islands.”

“Islands that would support life?” Ridge asked hopefully.

“Some of them, not all but some.”

“But this is the opposite of where she would be heading.” Ridge protested.

“People get lost at sea, even in good weather.  Add a sudden storm and you find yourself going places you never thought you’d go.”  He picked up the glasses and looked again.  “Ridge, I need to take over.  I see something.” He told him.

“A boat?” Ridge asked.

“I don’t know, just something.” He said.  He pushed Ridge away and took over the controls. 

“Let me look.” Ridge said.  “Give me the glasses.”

 

 

“Thorne, good, you’re here.” Eric said with a hug as his son entered his office.  Thorne looked from his father to him mother who was sitting on the couch.

“Something’s wrong.  You’ve found Brooke.  Is she dead?” He asked anxiously.

“We’ve heard from the detectives.  They think she might have gone off in a private plane.” Eric told him.

“And this plane, what happened to it?” He asked.

“We don’t know son.  We don’t know.”

 

 

“Hey.” Nick said as he opened his eyes and looked up at Brooke.  “You’re not mad at me again are you?”

“No.” She laughed. 

“Good cause I think my ego would be ruined forever if you slammed into me again after a night like that.” He laughed and winked at her.

“It was really wonderful wasn’t it?” She giggled. “But I am annoyed at myself.”

“Why Brooke?  You can’t lie this time and tell me that you didn’t want me as much as I wanted you.”

“I may have wanted you more.” She admitted.  “But I should have made sure we were more careful.  Oh Nick, what will we do if I get pregnant?”

“I guess I’ll have to figure out how to deliver a baby.” He laughed.  She frowned and gave him a punch in the arm but then she started to laugh.  “I’m sorry Princess, I promise that next time I will try harder to pull out.”

“Don’t you dare.” She giggled.  She leaned closer and kissed him.  “I don’t know why I feel so good Nick, I really don’t.”

“Maybe you’re feeling like I do.” He said.

“Horny?” She asked with a giggle.

“No Brooke, well that too but well, Brooke, I’m falling in love with you.”

 

 

“What the hell is that?” Ridge asked Perry as they approached the sandbar.  “Perry? What is it?”

“It’s a wing Ridge.” He said.  “A wing of a plane.”  He slowed down the boat and cut the engine. 

“What are you doing?” Ridge shouted.  “We can’t stop here! We have to get closer!”

“We will, but not in my boat.  We take the dinghy.  Come on.” He threw down the anchor and helped Ridge get into the small Zodiac dinghy.  Then he got in.  He started the small motor and quickly zipped over to the sandbar. They circled the plane’s wing.  “Small passenger plane.” He told Ridge. 

“New? Old?” Ridge asked.

“Looks like it was recent.” He turned off the engine and put the oar into the water and started to push it through the debris.  “More parts, burn marks.  This plane exploded Ridge.”

“It wasn’t her, it wasn’t her.” He repeated like a mantra.

“Ridge! Over there, what’s that?” Perry asked.  “Reach for it man.”

Ridge leaned over into the water and reached for a small leather satchel. 

“A suitcase?” Perry asked.

“Briefcase I think.” Ridge said.  “It’s burnt too.” He grabbed again and finally got it into his grip.  “I got it.” He said. He pulled it over and into the boat. 

“Let me see.” Perry said.

Ridge started to hand it to him but suddenly was hit with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.  He pulled it back to himself and turned it over.  “Oh no, oh no, oh God no.” He screamed.  Perry’s eyes widened as he looked over at his companion.  In his hands was a wet, waterlogged, burned briefcase but still clearly visible were the gold letters BLF.

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

Brooke’s eyes widened as she stared at Nick.  “You what?” She asked.

“Don’t look at me like I just told you I was Jeffrey Dahmer in disguise, I said I was falling in love with you.  It can’t be the first time someone told you that and I doubt it will be the last.”

“Nick I’m sorry but I am stunned.  We can barely stand each other most of the time.  You can’t really mean this, it’s just about the situation.  We only have each other, that’s all it is.” She protested.

“Believe what you will Brooke, but I know my feelings.  Do I scare you that much? Or maybe it’s because you are starting to feel more than a fleeting fancy for me too.” He suggested.

“Good sex.” She said softly.  “It’s just good sex Nick.  I don’t want love, I’m not looking for love, I’m no good at love.”

“You protest too much.” He laughed.  “Hey Princess, it’s not the end of the world you know.  Hell, we may be the only two people in the world for the rest of our lives.  Would it be that bad if some real feelings developed?”

“Carla? What about Carla?” She asked him angrily.

“Carla is someone I may never see again.”

“I don’t believe that. Besides, let’s think about it from the other viewpoint, let’s think about it like you’ll see her in a week or a month or even a year.  Then what Nick? You tell me you love me and then when Carla is available again it’s goodbye Brooke.  I’ve played that game too many times in my life, I won’t do it again.”

“I’m not Ridge.” He told her.

“You sure aren’t!” She readily agreed.

Nick got up and wiped his hands on his legs.  “You know something Brooke, you have a cruel streak a mile wide.  You really oughta work on your people skills.” And with that he walked away.

 

 

Perry looked at the case that Ridge was clutching to his chest.  He saw the pain on his face and the tears in his eyes.  “Is it hers?” He asked.

“Yes.” Ridge answered.  “It’s Brooke’s, it’s hers.  Perry tell me, tell me please, is there any chance? Could someone have survived?” He looked down at the wreckage. 

“There are always miracles Ridge.”

“It would have to be one, and even if it was a miracle and she survived.”

“Where would she go?” Perry finished.  “I’m sorry Ridge, the nearest island is many, many miles away.  We are going to have to try and recover what scraps we can, we will need to find who owns this plane.”

“I can’t just leave her out here.  She’s all alone.” Ridge said as tears fell freely from his eyes. 

“We’ll call the authorities.  If she is alive, they will find her.”

“Oh Logan, oh God Logan.” Ridge moaned.  He collapsed to his knees, still clinging to the burnt briefcase.  “I’m so sorry, I should have told you, I should have let you know.”

 

 

“What is it Dan?” Carla asked him as she grabbed onto her desk for support.  “What happened to Nick? Please, you have to tell me.”

“It appears that he cancelled his flight.  He never showed up at the next destination.  We’ve notified the police.”

“He, he, he must have found another way to get there.” She protested.

“Carla, he never made it to the next assignment.  He checked out of his hotel and hasn’t checked in anywhere else.  Carla I’m afraid something terrible has happened to him. I’ve hired detectives, I’m afraid he may have met some trouble down there. You know how some of those Third World Countries are, it’s just not safe Carla.  We have to prepare ourselves for the chance that something happened to him.”

“No, no Nick is fine.  He probably just checked in somewhere and they forgot to list his name.  Dan he has to be alright, he just has to be.” But deep inside her fears were becoming her realities.

 

 

Brooke was determined not to make the same mistake twice so a moment after Nick got up and walked away she stood, grabbed her sarong, wrapped it around her waist and followed him.  He hadn’t gone far.  He was sitting on a large boulder looking out at the ocean.  Brooke walked over and sat down next to him. 
“You didn’t have to leave.”

“It was obvious you weren’t enjoying the company or the conversation.” He answered.

“Nick it’s just that I wasn’t expecting that from you.  I’m not even sure I’m capable of love anymore, not for a man anyway.”

“Oh?” He looked at her with twinkling eyes.  “So you’re into women? My, how kinky.”

“No.” She smiled sweetly.  “I meant really that the love I can express is for my children or my brother and sisters, my mom and dad. You know what I mean, family love, safe, comfortable love.  But a man? Nick I’ve struck out so often I think maybe I never even knew the game.”

“That’s your problem Princess, love isn’t a game.”

“Coming from a man who doesn’t even know if he loves his fiancée.” She reminded him.

“I can answer that one now.” He told her. “I don’t.”

“You don’t?” Her eyes widened.

“How could I feel this way about you if I did Brooke?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.  It’s not real, nothing here is real. We’re living some strange fantasy, like a crazy movie.  You’re attractive, I’m attractive, we’re all alone, stranded together.  We reach out to each other, let our emotions and our hormones take over.  But Nick, that isn’t love. Desire maybe, maybe even passion but not love.”

“Don’t tell me what I feel or don’t feel.” He told her.  “You can do it for yourself and you can deny your feelings, but I think I know you.  I think I know what kind of woman you are.  You are not a woman who casually uses her body.”

“I didn’t even know your name.” She blushed as she remembered the first time he opened his eyes.

“The first time doesn’t count Princess.” He said, reading her mind.  “What counts is now.”

“And now?” She asked.

“Now is this.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.  Brooke didn’t even attempt to stop him because at some deep level she knew he was right.

 

 

Ridge sat in his hotel room with the phone on his lap.  He couldn’t seem to summon the energy to pick make the call that he knew had to be made.  His eyes were bloodshot from crying.  He felt like his life was over, like there was nothing to go on for.  He pulled out his wallet and for the hundredth time that day he stared down at Brooke’s smiling face.  “I can’t believe it Logan, I can’t believe I’ve lost you forever.” A single tear spilled onto the photo and he quickly wiped it dry.  “No, no, no!” He screamed at the top of his lungs.  But when he turned around and looked at the briefcase sitting next to his own suitcase he knew it was true, his search was over, his Logan was gone.  He took the phone and threw it against the wall, smashing it into hundreds of tiny pieces.  Then he buried his face in his arms and wept for what would never be again.

 

 

Megan knocked on Stephanie’s office door.  Usually the woman intimidated her and usually she never gave Megan the time of day but since Brooke’s disappearance she had changed.  The woman she once thought of as “The Dragonlady” had grown a heart.  The door opened and Stephanie forced a smile onto her face.

“Come on in Megan.” She told the young woman. 

“I was just wondering if you or Mr. Forrester had heard from Ridge today.”

“No.” Stephanie shook her head in reply.  “It’s been eight days now.  I’ve tried his cell phone but he doesn’t answer.  I don’t know where he is at this point.”

“Maybe he’s still out on the boat and out of range.” Megan suggested.

“That phone shouldn’t go out of range but I suppose it’s possible.  Megan I’m very worried.” Stephanie confessed.

“I’m sure Ridge is fine.” She tried to comfort her.

“No, not about Ridge, I’m sure he’s fine.  It’s Brooke, I’m very worried.  Frankly I’m losing all hope.”

“Oh please don’t give up hope.” Megan begged.

“Honey it’s not like Peter Pan.  We can’t clap our hands and make Brooke okay.”

“But we can still hope.” Megan said pleadingly. 

“Yes.” Stephanie said softly.  And then in an unexpected move she took the younger woman into her arms.  “Yes we can.”

 

 

The last few days had been strained.  Brooke had been uncomfortable around Nick since his announcement about his feelings.  She had tried to avoid him without insulting him but she was lonely for his company.  They sat together, worked together, ate together and even slept in the room together but something had changed.  The easiness and camaraderie had vanished from their relationship and Brooke missed it.  She had just finished straightening out the shelter and was going to head to the beach for some fishing but her mind was on Nick.  She wondered where he was.  He seemed to go off on his own a lot more often than he initially had.  With a heavy heart she walked to the beach.  She took off her sarong and put it down on the sand and with her spear walked out into the water. All her concentration went into the job at hand.  She had gotten very good at it too.  She smiled to herself as she thought about what the people at home would think.  “Home.” She whispered.  “Will I ever see home again?” She absently threw the spear and then looked up.  “No, no I won’t and I’m throwing away the only good thing that’s happened to me in a long, long time.” She retrieved the spear and trudged out of the water, determined to find Nick and fix things.

 

 

“It’s Ridge.” Eric told Stephanie as he walked into her office.

“What? He called?” She nervously asked.

“He’s home, he wants to talk to the two of us.”

“Where is he?” She asked.

“He’s on his way to our house, he wants us to meet him there.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Stephanie shuddered.  “What about Taylor? And the children?”

“Just us.” Eric solemnly told her.  “Stephanie he was crying.”

“Oh God.” She gasped. “She’s dead isn’t she?”

“I think so.” He walked to her and took her into his arms.  “I really think so honey.  I think Ridge wants to tell us first and then we can decide how to tell the children.”

“Oh Eric, oh Eric, how will we ever tell them?”

“Get your purse and let’s get home but let’s not alert anyone that something’s wrong.  Try to look normal.”

“Normal?” She scoffed.  “Is anything going to be normal for this family?”

“No, not for a long time.” He sighed.  “Oh Brooke, why did this have to happen?”

 

 

“Hi.” Brooke smiled and sat next to Nick.  He was sitting on a log in front of the waterfall, just watching the water flow.

“Hi.” He answered. “Back from fishing already?”

“I changed my mind.  I had another idea.”

“Oh good, I’m hoping for a pizza.” He teased.

“Ummm, you and me both.” Brooke laughed.  Then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him.  He pulled her tightly into his arms, joining in the kiss and trying his best to make it last as long as possible.  But as he expected, Brooke pulled away almost immediately.  “Yup, I’m right.”

“About what?” he asked.  “That I’m a horny bastard?”

“Oh that too.” She smiled and stroked his face.

“What are you right about Princess? Or are you back to being a tease?” He asked with a frown. 

“Stay right here.” She told him as she stood up.

“Where are you going?” He demanded.

“I’ll be right back, stay please.”

“Yeah right. Good dog Nick, stay boy, stay.” He said sarcastically. 

“I won’t be long.” She leaned over, kissed him again and then ran off.

 

 

Ridge looked terrible as he walked into his parent’s house.  He looked around carefully then turned to face Eric and Stephanie.  “Are we alone?” He asked.

“Yes son.” Eric assured him.  “Ridge what is it?  Do you have news?”

“Yeah, yeah I have news.” He said sadly as he took a seat on the couch.  Stephanie walked over and sat next to him.

“Did you find her?” She asked.

“Not Brooke, the plane.”

“What plane son?” Eric asked softly.

“Remember that couple the detective told you about?” Ridge began.

“Yes.  Was Brooke on the plane with them?” Eric questioned.

“Yeah.” Ridge looked down at his lap. 

“So is the plane missing?” Stephanie implored.

“Not anymore.” Ridge sniffled in a sob.  “It went down.  No survivors.”

“Oh dear God.” Stephanie gasped.  “Are you sure Brooke was on the plane?  Maybe it was a mistake.”

“No.” Ridge looked up at her. Tears were streaming from his eyes as he handed his mother Brooke’s briefcase.  “Once we got the facts in they were able to weave it all together.  It was a small plane owned by some local.  The police think he was a drug runner.”

“Why would Brooke fly with him?” Stephanie said in an angry tone.

“Don’t you DARE turn this around to blame her!” Ridge shouted.

“Son, your mother is just upset.  We all are.” Eric walked over and put his arm around Ridge.  “Please go on.”

“Not much more.  They found some witnesses that saw Brooke and three other people get on the plane with him.”

“The crash? What happened?” Stephanie asked.

“They don’t know and the authorities aren’t all that interested.  I’m paying some people to find out.  I don’t know why I care, I guess I just need to know, I need to know if she suffered.  Oh God, I’ve lost her forever.”

“Did they find her body son?” Eric asked.

“They don’t expect to.  It was in the middle of the ocean.  They think they were all, well torn apart or burned or sharks or oh please don’t make me think about this.” He begged them.

“Have they officially declared her dead?” Eric asked.

“Yes.  But I suppose it will be a legal nightmare since there’s no real proof she was on board.  I mean we know she was but there was no ticket or boarding pass or anything.  I spoke to Jonathan before I came here, he said it could be years before they can distribute her estate.  I’m the executor of her will, he did tell me that.”

“We’ll help you son.” Eric promised.  “Oh dear, how are we going to tell the children?  Have you spoken to Taylor yet?”

“Taylor?” He asked.  He looked at him as if he had been speaking in a foreign language. 

“She’s been worried about you.”

“She’s been busy Dad.” Ridge sneered.  “Jonathan had more news for me.”

“About Forrester?” Stephanie asked.

“No, about Taylor.  She’s filed for divorce.” 

 

 

Brooke was giggling and her arms were full when she returned to Nick.

“What do you have there Princess? It doesn’t look like a pizza oven to me.”

“Smarty.” She laughed.  “Prepare to be pampered.” She put the objects down and took off her sarong.  Nick’s body immediately responded to her. 

“If it’s that kind of pampering I’m all for it.” He smiled.

“Well, we’ll see about that after.” She walked over to him and grabbed his hand.  “Come on.”

“Come on where? What do you have?”

“Come on to the water and you’ll see soon enough.”

“We’re going swimming?” He asked.

“We’re taking a bath.” She said. “You might want to undress.”

“If I do I can’t make promises that I can control myself.” He warned her.

“I don’t think I want you to sweetie.” She said with a kiss.  “Do you trust me?” She asked.

“That’s a hard question.” He laughed.  “I’m not sure how to answer you.”

“Trust me, please.” She said.  She let go of him and went to her supplies.  She picked them up and waded into the water.  “Come on Nick, take a chance.”

“Okay.” He said with a chuckle.  He stood up and took his shorts off.  Brooke watched him very carefully as he undressed and then walked to her. Her eyes moved up and down his body and then to his face. 

“Sit.” She told him.

“You like giving orders huh Princess?”

“And you like arguing don’t you Magellan?”

“It’s better than the ice we’ve had between us lately.”

“I’m melting that right now Magellan.” She purred. Then she pushed him down till he was sitting in the cool, clean water.  To his shock she straddled him and sat down on his lap.  He grew hard against her. 

“What are you doing to me?” He managed to say.

“Like I said, I’m going to pamper you. I have a nice clean cloth, I have soap, real soap Nick, I have some coconut oil and I have one more thing that I’ll show you later.” She reached for her precious bar of soap.  “Just enjoy Nick, I know I will.”

 

 

“Honey she was upset, you hadn’t called her, you took the trip and you know she was against it.  She’s making a statement and it’s a wakeup call for you but once you talk to her she’ll change her mind.  You need her now honey, you need your wife and your children.  You leave this to your father and me, we’ll talk to Bridget and Rick, your place is at home now.” Stephanie smoothed his hair and gave him a kiss on his cheek.  Ridge looked up at her with a blank stare.  This scared Stephanie and she looked towards Eric for support.

“You can be with us when we tell them son, I’m sure they will have a lot of questions but maybe before we get them here you go home and talk to your wife.  You’ve been through a terrible shock yourself, Taylor will understand, she loves you, you can make her stop this silly divorce action.” Eric told his oldest son.

“I don’t care.” Ridge said in a deadpan. 

“Of course you care.” Stephanie implored him.

“No, you don’t understand, neither of you do.  I realized how much I loved her, how much I needed her.”

“And she will come back to you.” Stephanie insisted.

“She can’t!” Ridge screamed.  “She’s dead! She’ll never come back to me! Never!”

Stephanie gasped and grabbed Eric’s hand.  He shook his head at her, begging her not to say anything.  He knew that Ridge needed to grieve and that in time he would repair his marriage but Stephanie was afraid that this might be the end for them.

 

 

“He’s home.” Taylor said into the phone.  “No, I don’t know anything except that he was served.  Yes, yes, no it was at the office.   Yes I’m sure.  I’m not going to live another day in her shadow.  If he wants her so badly he can have her.  I have my pride too you know.” She listened and frowned.  “Of course it hurts, I love him.  No, there isn’t anything left at this point, I just don’t trust him.  I could never believe a word out of his mouth. I put up with Morgan and for years before that it was Brooke, I can’t get back on this merry-go-round.  I’d never keep him from the children.  I want this to be civil, I will try to remain friendly with him but I have my limits too.  Stephanie doesn’t know yet but I did tell her that it was something that I was considering.  He’s not going to talk me out of this, not this time.  I won’t go back, I won’t.”  She listened again.  “I don’t know but if he’s home I assume she’s with him.  I won’t let her know that either.  You know that isn’t true, I’d never want her hurt or, what?  No, not that either.  I’m tired, I can’t fight her anymore and if Ridge respected me or our marriage he wouldn’t expect me to either.  Look, I have to go.  I want to prepare the children.  No, I’m not going to tell them but they will know something is wrong.  Yes.  Yes.  Wish me luck. Thank you, I’ll call you tomorrow.” She sighed and put the phone back in it’s cradle.  “You can call now Ridge, it’s time we got this over with.”

 

 

Brooke finished washing Nick’s body and hair with the soap. She had massaged him with the oil.  Her soft hands had roamed all over his hard body and he had enjoyed it as much as she had hoped that he would. She was still on his lap and her legs were tightly wound around his waist.  He was still feeling his body’s reactions to her closeness. It was painful but a wonderful kind of pain, a pain that promised more.  He smiled at her and brought his mouth to hers for a kiss.  Brooke moaned as his hands cupped her breasts.  “Give me the soap, let me wash you.” He said in a deep voice.

“I’m not done yet.” She told him. 

“I think I’m clean enough Princess.”

“You’re clean but I’m not done.  Now you have to trust me.  Do you trust me Nick?”

“Sometimes.” He laughed. He pulled her over for another kiss. Brooke sighed as the evidence of his desire grew larger and harder.  But she pulled her mouth from his.

“Yup, it’s time.” She rubbed her cheek with a show of discomfort.

“I’m sorry.” He told her.  “I guess my whiskers are a little scraggly.  Did I hurt you? Wait, you’re not suggesting that you, no way Princess.  There is trust and then there is trust.”

“I won’t hurt you.” She touched his cheek with her hand.  “I sharpened the knife on a rock.  We’ll use the soap as shaving cream, I’ll condition your skin with the oil first. Nick you’ll feel so much more comfortable when I’m done and well, it’ll be nicer kissing you after. Besides, I’ve shaved a man with a straight razor Nick.”

“Not this man, and that is not a razor.” He argued.

“Trust me.” She touched his lip with her fingertip.  “Please Nick.”

 

 

Ridge got up and started pacing the room. He was filled with so much nervous energy and so much pain that even Eric was afraid that if he stopped that he’d collapse.  Eric pulled Stephanie to the side and spoke softly to her.

“I know you’re worried about them but I think once the initial shock wears off he’ll see what he’s doing and repair things with Taylor. I think you should go and talk to her while I talk more to Ridge. We have to make arrangements, emotional ones and legal ones. We need to talk to the children and we have to speak to Jonathan.” He gave her a small hug. 

“Eric I am sick about this.  Not just his reaction about Taylor but the news about Brooke too.  But this is serious.  He may be throwing his marriage away.  I can’t let him do that.”

“That’s why I think you should talk to Taylor. Calm her down honey, Ridge isn’t looking for a divorce.  If you can make her see reason he’ll go home.  And Stephanie, he needs that woman right now.  He needs her badly.”

“Yes.” She agreed.  “Alright, but Eric, try and talk sense to him too, please?”

“I’ll do my damnedest.” He promised with a kiss.  She gave Ridge one last mournful look and then left.  Ridge walked away from the window and looked at his father.

“I don’t know if I can go on without her.” He said sadly.

“We’ll all miss her son, she was an important part of all of our lives, but we have to be strong for the children.”

“I don’t know if I can be.  This search, it proved to me all the mistakes I’ve made over the years.” He walked to the mantle and looked at his wedding picture to Taylor.

“You can’t really think marrying Taylor was a mistake son, you love her.”

“But I never should have left Brooke. She was always the one Dad.  I tried to pretend otherwise but she was always in here.” He gestured to his heart.  “Taylor knows that.”

“You have children.  What will it do to them if you and Taylor divorce?”

“Am I supposed to live a lie?” Ridge asked.

“I don’t think you are.  This is all very emotional, you’re raw, you’re hurt and you’re very, very sad.  But Ridge, Brooke is gone now, you can’t go back and your own family needs you.  Think about that.  Do you think Brooke would want you to abandon Taylor and the kids?”

“Taylor will never understand.  She won’t want to sit back and see me suffer over this.”

“I think you’re underestimating your wife son.  She loves you very much.”

“I don’t want to hurt Taylor.  I don’t.  But I just can’t act like Brooke was nothing, she was everything Dad, everything.”

 

 

Taylor pushed her hair behind her ear and opened the door.  “Hello Stephanie.” She said in a polite tone.

“He’s home.” Stephanie told her as she walked in.

“Yes, I know, and he’s been served too. I’m not going to fight her any longer, she won, he’s hers.”

“Taylor sit down.” Stephanie said in her commanding voice.

“You won’t change my mind Stephanie, I won’t play second best to her, never again. Ridge didn’t call me, he didn’t even call the children.  I know where his priorities were, with Brooke!  Well he’s welcome to them! Let him have her, see how long she wants him when she sees that I don’t.” Taylor said with a pout.

“Taylor, she’s dead.” Stephanie said softly.

“What?” Taylor gasped.

“Brooke, she’s dead.”

“No, no I don’t believe that.” Taylor stuttered.

“There was a plane crash, no survivors.  Brooke is never going to hurt you again Taylor.”

“Oh my God, oh God Stephanie! You can’t possibly think that I wanted that! You can’t think I would wish the woman dead!”

Nick reached up and touched his once again smooth face.  “It feels good, even if you did nick me once.” He laughed.

“I’m really sorry.” Brooke smiled and touched the small cut.  “I’ll get some aloe.”

“Get off my lap and you’re a dead woman.” He said as he held her tightly.

“I don’t want you to bleed Nick.”

“Believe me, the other option is much worse.” 

Brooke sighed and cuddled closer.  “Nick make love to me.”

“You don’t have to ask twice Princess.” He said. Then his mouth covered hers in a deep kiss. 

Brooke adjusted her position and felt his hardness straining against her. “Nick, oh God Nick, I really want you.”

“You got me Princess.” He said. He shifted her up and then down onto him. She gasped as he filled her with his hard length.  “That’s all I need Princess, that’s all I need.”

“Oh Nick.” She moaned. 

“I love you Princess, I really do.” He said as he claimed her as his own.

 

 

The next few weeks were tragic for the Forrester family.  Bridget was inconsolable when Ridge, Eric and Stephanie had told her the news about her mother.  Rick tried his hardest to be strong but when he was at home alone the tears continued to pour.  Jonathan was working like a madman trying to figure out all the legal aspects.  It appeared that it was going to take many years to iron out everything but the family stood united and was determined to keep the company going as it had been for so long. 

Ridge had gone home but he and Taylor slept in separate bedrooms.  The divorce was still in motion, even though Taylor had offered to stop it.  Ridge had told her that he just wasn’t ready to commit to her again and in her own way she had understood.  He promised to be there for her and the children but that he needed his space to grieve.  Stephanie was devastated by the news but she was determined to let Ridge come to grips on his own.  She was sure that in time, the marriage would be back on track.  To everyone’s shock it was Stephanie that had arranged a memorial service for Brooke. It was sad and beautiful.  They had tried to keep it private but once the press had gotten word of it they had swarmed.  Eric, Thorne and finally Ridge had spoken about the special woman that they had all loved so deeply.  Rick and Bridget had both read bible verses and even Taylor had not been able to stop crying.  There was an empty grave with an eternal flame and at Ridge’s insistence her name had been listed as Brooke Logan Forrester.  The Logan’s had all come and Stephanie had welcomed them into her home.  But when it was all over Eric had declared that they owed it to Brooke’s memory to keep her vision alive.  At that point everyone had gone back to work, determined to make their next showing, done in Brooke’s honor, the best ever.

 

 

After the shave and the waterfall Brooke and Nick had grown much closer.  Although they still argued like crazy their nights were spent making wild love.  A bond was growing between them, a bond so strong that it frightened Brooke.  As much as she was aggravated by Nick she also found that she trusted him more than she had ever trusted a man before.  She wanted him and she needed him and he felt the same about her.  For the first time since the crash Brooke was starting to feel that maybe she could be happy living out the rest of her days in Nick’s arms.

 

 

Ridge was having a hard time being inspired.  He had been working on the same design for almost two days and wasn’t making any progress.  He looked down at it again and was about to crumble it up when his intercom went off. 

“Yeah Megan.” He answered.

“Ridge, there’s a Carla Darvers here to see you.”

“Do I know her?” He asked as he tried to place the name.

“She said her fiancé was on the plane with Brooke.”

 “Send her in Megan.” He told her.  He got up and walked to the door.  A tall, attractive auburn haired woman stood there.  She had perfect, porcelain skin and her hair and makeup was impeccable.  She extended her hand to him. 

“Hello Mr. Forrester, I’m Carla Darvers.”

“Ms. Darvers, come in please.” He said after he let go of her hand. 

“I know it must seem odd for me to come here like this but I heard about your search and I felt the telephone was too impersonal.  I really needed to hear about what you found.”

“Wow.” He said as he let out a breath.  “Are you sure about your fiancé?” 

“Yes.” She said as Ridge led her to the couch. 

“Can I get you some coffee or tea?” Ridge asked.

“No thank you.  Just some answers please.”

“Perhaps you can tell me how you heard about my search.”

“The local authorities and your detectives.  You see my firm was also searching for Nicolas, but it seems we didn’t have your resources.”

“Well what was it you wanted to know?  I’m sure the police and the detectives told you everything that I could.” Ridge said with a heavy heart.

“But you saw the wreckage.  You saw things in the water.  I suppose I’m hoping to hear that Nick didn’t suffer.” She sighed.

“I wish I could answer that.” Ridge told her.  “Your fiancé?  He’s the banker from New York?”

“Yes.”

“You’re far from home.”

“Nick meant a lot to me Mr. Forrester.  I need to settle this in my head.  I need to make the nightmares go away.” She implored him.

“They don’t.” He shook his head.

“No, I don’t suppose that they do.” She agreed.  “But at least you have a wife and family.  Nick and I, we only had each other.”

“I’m so sorry.” Ridge said with a shudder.  “I wish I could tell you more.  I’m still pretty shell-shocked myself.  Brooke,” Ridge looked at her and smiled.  “Well Brooke was more than just a friend.  She was someone I have loved since the day I met her. I’m having a really hard time with her death.”

“She was a beautiful woman.” Carla acknowledged.  “I saw pictures of her and she was very lovely.  My condolences to you and your family.” She reached into her purse, took out a tissue and blew her nose.  “I’m sorry to have bothered you, I just hoped to have some idea about Nicholas’s final moments.”

“You came all the way from New York?” Ridge asked.

“I took a leave of absence Mr. Forrester.  I haven’t been able to eat or sleep, let alone work since I heard the news.  My superior financed my trip.  He cared about Nick too.”

“Ms. Darvers.” Ridge took a card out of his drawer and handed it to her.  “This is my number.  If I can do anything to help you, please call.  And if I find out anything more I will call you.”

“Thank you.” She sniffled.  She reached into her purse and took out her own card.  She handed it to him.  “I just can’t believe that he’s gone, I can’t.”

 

 

The smell of fish cooking woke Brooke from a deep sleep.  She grabbed her sarong, tied it and walked out to the fire.  “You caught a fish?” She teased Nick.

“It took me almost an hour.” He laughed.  “But I wanted to do something for you for a change.”

“You do plenty for me.” She said as she gave him a kiss.  “But I do appreciate this.”

“Come on and sit with me.” He took her hand and led her to a log. They sat close to each other. Nick put his arm around her.  “We’ve really grown close lately Princess.”

“Yeah.” She sighed and touched his face.  “Who would believe that two people who fought as much as we did could ever get along?”

“It’s more than just getting along, you do know that.” He told her.

“Nick, it’s still a fantasy situation.  You know that.” Brooke reminded him.

“You’ve taught me more about myself than anyone ever has. I know I’m stubborn and I know that I’m cranky and I know I am hard to deal with but you’ve sat back and taken all my crap.  Brooke I just never met someone like you. You’ve turned my life all around.”

“The accident did that.”

“No, I could have had the accident with someone else, hell, it could have been Carla and I bet we’d be at each other’s throats by now.”

“Oh, we’ve been there too.” Brooke giggled.  “Nick, you need to stop talking about her like that.  You love her.”

“That’s just the thing Princess, I never really loved her, it was comfortable, it fit, we fit.  I was marrying her for all the wrong reasons.  I know that now.”

“What are you telling me?” Brooke asked.

“That when we get home I’m going to break it off.  I can’t marry her Brooke.”

“Nick, don’t be hasty.  Things are so strange here.  Once you get home you’ll want that life back, you’ll want Carla back.”

“No Brooke, there is only one woman that I’ll ever want, that’s you.”

“Oh God Nick.” She gasped.  “I don’t want to be the cause of a couple not getting married, I’ve been there, I can’t do that again.”

“What about being the cause of a couple that is getting married?” He asked.

“I’ve been there too.” She laughed.

“But not with me Princess, what do you say? When we get home, will you marry me?”

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

“Marry you?  Nick did you just ask me to marry you?  You didn’t ask me to marry you, I know you didn’t.” Brooke’s eyes were wide with panic.  Nick had never seen her look so frightened before. 

“Brooke what’s wrong?  Why this reaction?  You admitted how close we’ve gotten, I know you love me, I know you do.”  He took her hand into his.  “I’m sorry if this was too sudden for you, I’d take it back if it would help but I mean it, I really mean it.  I believe that we will find our way home and I want you with me Princess, I want you with me forever.  I can’t even imagine life without you anymore.”

“But you don’t even know me and my track record is so bad and Nick I am not really a good wife, I’ve never been able to hold onto a husband and.”

“Maybe you never had the right husband before.” He told her.  He turned her head to face his and looked deeply into her wide eyes.  She shuddered and he put his hand under her chin to steady her.  “Maybe you’ve spent your life preparing for us.  Maybe this is your true destiny Brooke.  I don’t care about any men in your past, I don’t care if your marriages didn’t work out cause I know ours will.  I know I love you and I know you love me.  Think about it, have you ever felt this way before?  I can see a difference in you from the woman I met on the plane.  You have so much confidence now, you have a smile that lights up the sky, you have a glow about you that is brighter than the sun.”

“I just, I just don’t know Nick, I’m scared.” She protested.

“Take a chance Princess, take a chance on happiness. I know I can make you happy, I know I do make you happy.”

“But marriage?” She asked with concern.

“I’m an all or nothing at all kinda guy Brooke.  I’m on that Merry-Go-Round and I want to grab that brass ring and never let it go.”

“Brass?” She asked innocently.  “You mean I don’t get a gold ring?”

“Princess you can have any kind of ring you want.” He grinned at her. 

“I’m so scared Nick, I have never been this impulsive.  What if we find out we have nothing in common when we get home?”

“I’m not looking for a buddy Brooke, I want a wife and I know what we have in common and I know that we love each other and I know that my body doesn’t feel right when it’s not right next to yours.  Brooke say yes and I’ll give you the happiest life in the world.”

Brooke looked at him cautiously.  This was an important decision, one that she couldn’t make casually, one that she had to think about carefully going over all the facts, listing the pros and cons and doing it over and over again until she was certain.  Brooke looked him in the eyes once more.  “Oh Nick.” She whispered softly. “I can’t tell you yes.”

“You can Brooke, you know you can.  I make you happy.”

“Nick, I can’t say yes but I’m not saying no either.” She started to explain.

“Then that means yes?” He asked with a happy smile.  “You’re saying that it will be yes?”

“When I’m here with you I feel happy and safe and loved.  I want to say yes so badly but it’s not real Nick.”

“It is.” He protested.

“Not yet it isn’t, but maybe it can be.  But until we’re home and you’ve seen Carla and you’ve had time to decide if you really want to be with me and not her.”

“I’ve already decided that Princess.”

“But I haven’t.  Nick, I’ve spent a lot of my life coming between couples.  I’m not saying that I was right or wrong but I’ve been accused of being heartless and a man chaser and basically a bitch.  I don’t know Carla, I have nothing against Carla and I am not going to agree to marry another woman’s fiancé.   Now when we get home if after you see Carla you know in your heart she isn’t your destiny then you take the time you need to end it and end it properly.  Then you can come to me and ask me again.”

“And you’ll say yes?” He asked hopefully.

“What would I have to lose?” She giggled, then she turned serious.  “Nick I don’t know.  I do know you make me happy, I do know that I love making love with you, I think I could fall in love with you but I’m just not sure of anything.  It’s a prison and a paradise here and even though you won’t admit it it’s not real.  I need to see what happens when we return to reality.  You may really regret ever meeting me, but I know I do care about you and I am happy when I am with you.  Who could ever believe that I would laugh and smile and love in a situation like this but I have and it’s all because of you.  All my life I’ve been fighting for love, it’s always been such a struggle, I begged and pleaded and held on like my life depended on it and I still lost. But it’s so different with you. All you want is the woman in front of you, I don’t have to put on airs or impress you, I insult you and yell at you and you still love me.  What did I ever do to deserve you?  What did I do to deserve such happiness?  Oh Nick, I know this sounds so crazy but I am crazy about you and I have never felt so safe and secure in my life.  Do I so want to be your wife?  I would have to be stupid not to, but Nick, I need time, I need to see how we relate in real life. So if you want me after you see Carla then you ask me again and you may be surprised by my answer.”

 

 

Eric was having trouble concentrating on the sketch in front of him.  It was a gown for the couture line and it was just not coming out the way he wanted.  He tossed down his pencil and ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. 

“It’s good Dad.” Bridget said as she walked in.  She went up to her father and put her arms around him in a bear hug.

“Hi sweetheart, I’m so glad to see you.” He kissed her on the forehead and hugged her tightly.  “How are you doing?”

“Not so great.” She admitted.  “Oh Dad, will it ever go away?”

Eric knew she was referring to the pain, the pain that seemed to grow stronger each day.  Taylor had tried to explain the many stages of the grieving process but even her support wasn’t helping him.  But for his daughter’s sake he would do his best to put on a strong front.  “We’ll always miss her and it will always hurt, but it will subside honey, it’s still so new, so raw.”

“It’s been almost two months since we found out.” Bridget answered, her eyes welling with tears.  “And every single day I wake up thinking it’s nothing but a bad dream.”

Eric knew exactly what she was feeling, he was feeling it too.  “Has Deacon been supportive?” He asked with a scowl.  No matter what anyone else thought Eric Forrester didn’t like or approve of his daughter’s husband.  He knew Brooke never had either. 

“He’s been my rock.” Bridget smiled.  “I don’t think I could have made it through all this without him.”

“Humph.” He mumbled. 

“Dad please, give him a break, I love him.” Bridget smiled.

“Honey I will try my hardest, but for you, not for him.”

“He’s really not so bad Dad.” She smiled at him.  “He’s really been there for me.”

“I appreciate that Bridget, but is that love? Is that really love?” Eric desperately wanted his daughter to open her eyes to the man she had married.  Why couldn’t she see what everyone else saw?  He let out a sigh and embraced her again.  “I’m sorry honey, I don’t mean to upset you anymore than you already are.  I don’t.  Just promise me one thing.”

“What?” Bridget asked with a hint of concern.

“If he ever hurts you, you’ll come and tell me.” Eric said seriously.

“He won’t but I promise you I will.” She hugged tightly. 

“So what brought you here?” Eric asked her.

“I wanted to see you.  And I’m meeting Rick and Amber for brunch.  Would you like to come?” She asked him. 

“Just the three of you?  Where is Deacon?” Eric asked.

“Deacon is working, they’re doing stock at the Lair.  Do you ever quit Dad?” She was annoyed that no one seemed to accept her marriage.  Didn’t they realize how much she loved Deacon? How much she needed him, especially since her mother’s death.

“No, I’ll never stop protecting my children, never.” Eric answered.

Brooke sat on a rock and watched as Nick speared a fish. He was getting better at it, not as good as she was but he was learning.  Brooke was proud of him and she gave him the “thumbs up” sign as he turned to show her the fish. As he turned back around to search for another fish Brooke watched his lithe body.  The two of them had pretty much abandoned the idea of wearing clothes.  It seemed so natural and so normal to her she wondered how she would ever adjust if they were rescued.  “When we are rescued.” Brooke said aloud.  She was beginning to think it would never happen but she didn’t want to discourage Nick either.  If only she could see her children again and let them know she was safe.  Then maybe she wouldn’t even care.  She was so happy, so secure and so serene.  Nick had given her the kind of love she had been searching for all of her life.  Since that day he had proposed to her nothing had been the same.  Yes, they still argued but it was never serious, it never lasted long and the fights had always ended with intense lovemaking sessions.  Just the though of that filled Brooke with desire.  She stared at Nick’s tight butt, his deeply tanned skin and those long, strong legs, legs that wrapped so tightly around her.  “Shit.” She muttered.  “Enough fishing Romeo!” She called out.  “Mama wants some loving!” 

 

 

Ridge picked up the business card for the third time that morning.  He stared hard at the name and the number and then finally picked up his phone. He sighed and punched in the long distance number. 

“Hello, Carla Darvers office, this is Linda.” The pleasant sounding East Coast accented woman said.

“Hi, is Ms. Darvers in?” Ridge asked.

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“My name is Ridge Forrester.” He said.

“Would you mind holding a moment Mr. Forrester?  I’ll see if she is available.”

“Sure.” He said.  The muzac came on as he was placed on hold and Ridge wondered if he was doing the right thing.  She may think he was insane or she might even resent his call.  Maybe she had started to come to grips, maybe she had moved on.  But he hadn’t and he knew he never would without closure.  He turned to look out the window.  It was a beautiful day, sunny, bright and clear, so rare for Southern California but to Ridge all the days were dark and gray since his return from the Caribbean.  He opened his desk drawer and took out the framed photo of Brooke.  He had removed it from view out of respect for his children.  They were already taking the impending divorce badly and the reminder of Brooke bothered his son very much.  He and Taylor had worked hard to keep things amicable but it was difficult.  She resented the pain he felt for Brooke, resented the fact that he hadn’t fought the divorce and had instead given her more than she had even asked for.  It was over but they still had lifelong ties between them and it wasn’t easy for either of them.  Ridge’s thoughts once more turned to Brooke as he looked down at her smiling face.  “Oh Logan, why? Why?” He asked.  Thoughts of their past, their weddings, their lovemaking and more played in his mind like a motion picture.

“Hello? Mr. Forrester? This is Carla.” The voice said, bringing him out of his daydream.

“Hello.” Ridge said.  “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No.” She said suspiciously.  “Is there news?  Have their bodies been found?”

“Ms. Darvers I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Go on.” She said, she was more than a little curious.

“It’s not something that I want to discuss over the phone.”

“Mr. Forrester, you’re in Los Angeles, I’m in New York.  It’s hardly convenient for a face to face meeting.  If you’ve something to say the phone is the best resource.”

“I’d like to see you in person.  I can leave Los Angeles within the hour and be in New York in time to meet you for dinner.  Would that be agreeable?” He asked.

“It’s a bit absurd but I am intrigued and if you have any information about what happened to Nick I’d like to hear it.  Are you familiar with New York City?” She asked him.

“Somewhat.” He said.  “I can come to your office or your home or I can meet you at a restaurant, I’m amenable to anything you’d like.”

“Do you like Cuban?” She asked.

“I can’t say that I’ve had it but I’m willing to try.” Ridge said with a chuckle.

“Meet me at Victor’s Café, it’s on West 52 Street.  I’ll make reservations under my name.  What time do you think you can make it? When is your flight?”

“I’m taking the company jet, we’ll leave within the hour.  I think nine would be okay.” He said as he looked at his watch.

“Nine it is.” She said.  “Mr. Forrester, is there anything you can tell me now?”

“I’d really rather do this in person.  I’ll see you tonight Ms. Darvers.” He said. 

 

 

Taylor was already in a bad mood but when the messenger had come by with the divorce papers it had been the last straw.  Although the divorce had been her idea she wasn’t at all prepared for Ridge’s eager agreement.  He had been almost relieved when they had finally sat down to go over the details with their lawyers.  Taylor had insisted that her attorney make some outrageous demands.  She didn’t admit it aloud but inside Taylor was hoping that the demands would make Ridge balk and maybe rethink the whole thing.  But he had done the total opposite.  He had put even more on the table, so much more that Connor had told her there was nothing to fight.  The amicable divorce was going to be simple and fast.  Perhaps it would be better for the children, Taylor thought as she once more hesitated to put her signature down.  But it was so final.  Taylor hated to admit to failure, not only that, but part of her still loved Ridge.  She put the papers down again and walked into the kitchen to turn on the teakettle.  She was about to look for something to eat when the telephone rang.  “Not again Stephanie, there’s nothing that is going to stop this now.” She frowned and reached for the receiver.  “Hello.” She said, fully expecting her soon to be ex-mother-in-law.

“Taylor, it’s me.” Ridge said.  This was someone she hadn’t expected at all.

“Ridge? What is it?”

“Are the kids home?” He asked her.

“They’re at school Ridge, you know that.  What’s going on? Is this about the papers?”

“Papers?” He said with a distracted tone.  “Oh no, I signed them and had them sent back to Jonathan.  Is there a problem on your end?”

“A problem? Our marriage is coming to an end and you ask me if there is a problem like you’d ask if we ran out of toothpaste!”

“Taylor I thought we were in total agreement.  Whatever else you want just have Connor and Jonathan add it to the papers, I don’t care what it is, it’s yours.”

“You’re quite eager aren’t you?  Is there someone else?  I’d understand it if Brooke were alive but.” She just let her sentence wind down.  She didn’t even know if she wanted an answer from him.

“I just want it over Taylor.  Look, I’m going to go out of town for a couple of days, I just wanted to let you know and to say goodbye to the children, can you say goodbye for me?” 

“Can’t you wait Ridge? What could be so important that you can’t wait a few hours till the kids get out of school?” She had a pout on her face and her eyes were filling with tears.

“Taylor I can’t, I have a meeting at nine tonight and I need to leave town as soon as possible.  Look, I’ll call them later and explain.  I’m sorry, really.” He apologized.

“Where are you going?” She asked in a dull voice.  She just didn’t really care for any more of his excuses.

“New York and then, well I’ll let you know that when I know.  I have to go then Taylor, I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up before Taylor had a chance to get in another word.

 

 

Brooke lay in Nick’s arms looking up at the bright sky.  They had made love right on the beach and sated had fallen asleep.  A sudden sun shower had wakened Brooke who had in turn jostled Nick out of his own dream. 

“I wonder when the real rainy season starts.” Brooke said.  Nick ran his hands over her full breasts, playing with her tender nipples.

“I don’t know, we had some really bad days when we first got here, maybe we’ve already had the rainy season.”
“I doubt it.” She answered him.  “I think we might be in the hurricane path.”

“Maybe we’ll get home before they come.” Nick said as he continued his soft stroking.  “We crashed in March.” He said as he thought.

“How long have we been here?  I’ve really lost count of the days.  I tried so hard at first but it just seemed so meaningless.” Brooke sighed and closed her eyes.  She loved the feel of Nick’s hands on her body.  She could barely remember the first few days when she had disliked him so much. 

I think that it’s a little over three months.” He told her.  “I guess I lost track myself.  There must be some way we can get a better idea. Hey! I know!” Nick sat up, pulling Brooke with him.

“Hey! I was comfortable.” She complained.

“Sorry.” He laughed.  “When we first got here you had your period, so when did you get it again, your cycle is what? Twenty five, twenty six days?”

“Oh my God!” Brooke gasped and her hand went over her mouth.  “Oh my God Nick no! No!”

“Brooke? What? What?” He held her tightly as she started to shake and shiver.  “Brooke what? Oh my God!” He suddenly realized what it was.  “You haven’t gotten another one have you?”

 

 

Ridge found Eric’s office empty so he headed to his mother’s office hoping to find him there.  He was pleased to find not only his parents but his brother around the table looking over a stack of photos.  “What’s going on?” He asked as he entered.

“We’re trying to decide on a model for the new line.” Eric said as he threw down a photo.

“No luck?” Ridge wondered as he saw the forlorn expressions on all their faces. 

“So far no.” Thorne answered.  “But we will.  This line is way too important to go with just anyone.  She has to be as special as the woman who inspired the line.”

“Brooke.” Ridge said softly. 

“Honey, I was hoping you would bring Taylor and the children over for dinner tonight.” Stephanie said as she abandoned her stack and turned to face her son. She couldn’t contain her own displeasure at the frown on his face.  “Come now Ridge, you know that you and Taylor need to come to terms about this nonsense, you need each other, you love each other.”

“I signed the final papers today Mother.  In a few weeks we will no longer be married.”

“No! No! No! No!” Stephanie was livid and her face flushed with anger.  “You aren’t trying, you aren’t thinking. Ridge this is your wife, your family. I understand you are upset over Brooke, you miss her, she was your friend, but she’s gone and you have to come to grips with that.  Your place is beside your wife and children, not moping around after a dead woman!”

“How dare you!” Ridge said loudly.

“Son, calm down.” Eric jumped up and walked to his side.  He grabbed onto Ridge’s arm.  “Your mother didn’t mean it as an insult to Brooke.  She didn’t.  We all miss Brooke, why else would we be working so hard to make this new line our signature line? Her final tribute son, her legacy and we are going to do her proud, and that includes your mother.  But Stephanie is right too.  Why are you throwing away your life? Your family?  Taylor is the woman you chose, she is the love of your life son.”

“Ridge.” Thorne chimed in.  “Taylor is a wonderful woman okay?  She is loyal and kind and beautiful and devoted.  This has been really hard on her too.  Don’t you think you owe it to her to give it one more try?  You’ve barely spoken to anyone since Brooke’s funeral. It’s time you snapped out of it and come back to the world Ridge.”

“Stop it! Stop it all of you!” Ridge shouted.  “None of you have any idea about anything.  You don’t know me, you didn’t know Brooke and you have no right to try and tell me how to live my life.  Taylor and I were drifting apart long before Brooke vanished.”

“She didn’t vanish son, she died.” Eric said gently. He touched his son on the shoulder.  “And I think I for one knew and loved her very much.  She was the mother of two of my children.”

“So she’s nothing but a brood mare to you?” Ridge said angrily.

“Come on man, you know Dad didn’t say that.” Thorne said, defending his father.  “You gotta snap out of this Ridge, it’s unhealthy.  Brooke wouldn’t approve either, I’m sure she’d want you to reconcile with Taylor and be a good father to your kids.  She wouldn’t want you to still be mourning her like this. Okay?”

“Oh you think you know her do you little brother? Well you don’t! None of you know Logan at all.  She depended on me, she counted on me, she waited patiently for me and I let her down, but not now, not this time.”

“Honey, it isn’t going to help Brooke or her memory by turning your back on your family.” Stephanie implored him.  “Brooke wouldn’t want that.”

“Brooke needs me.” Ridge said as his eyes burned in anger. “I have to bring her back.”

“Brooke is gone son, you can’t bring her back.” Eric said sadly.  “We can honor her memory though.  Let’s leave Ridge alone about his marriage and work on finding a model shall we?”

“Good idea Dad.” Thorne agreed.  “Come on Ridge, sit down okay? Maybe you’ll see something special in one of these girls.”

“You’re not listening to me, none of you are.” Ridge said calmly. 

“I won’t pressure you, I just want you to think about it honey.” Stephanie told him.

“None of us will pressure you.” Eric agreed.  “Now sit down and help us son.”

“Sorry Dad, no can do.” Ridge smiled.  “I came in to tell you that I won’t be around for awhile.”

“What?” Thorne jumped up.  “Ridge we have a showing to prepare, an important one okay.  Hell, you rant and rave about Brooke and here we are premiering a new line in her honor and you’re going to take off?”

“Wait.” Stephanie smiled.  She looked hopefully at Ridge.  “Are you and Taylor going away to try and work things out?”

“No mother, I’m going to find Brooke.” He announced.

 

 

Nick put the towel around Brooke’s shoulders and sat next to her.  She gave him a weak smile and put her head against his chest.  “It’s not that I have an aversion to having your child Nick, I don’t, part of me wants to embrace it.  But not here, not here all alone. Nick I can’t have a baby on this island.  We’ve been so stupid and so careless.”

“Brooke I’m sorry, I should have controlled myself.  You told me time and time again about your fears but I just.”

“Shhhh, no.” Brooke touched his mouth with her fingertip.  “I’m as much to blame Nick.  I couldn’t control myself either.  Every time I looked at you I wanted you.  I wanted you with an intensity that I haven’t felt in so long, so please don’t think I blame you. I don’t.  But what are we going to do?” She turned to him as fresh tears fell to her cheeks. 

“We’ll do it Brooke, I’ll take care of you.  I’ll become a better provider and I’ll keep you safe and warm and I will deliver this child. I promise you Princess, I won’t let you down.”

Brooke smiled at his and gently touched his cheek.  “I know you’ll try Nick, but I haven’t had the easiest times in my pregnancies.  I lost two babies.  I don’t want to ever lose another.”

“I won’t let you lose this one.” He assured her.  “But maybe it’s time we became more proactive.  Maybe it’s time we stopped waiting for someone else to find us.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Brooke sniffled.

“I’m going to build a raft.  I’m going to get us off this place, I’m going to get you home Princess, I am.” He said with a confident smile.  “I will do it.”

“That’s my Magellan.” She said as the twinkle returned to her eyes.  “Maybe we can do it.”

“Not we, me, you’re not going to take any chances.” He said strongly.

“I’m not made of glass Nick.  I can pull my weight too.  You’re right, I need to be strong and confident again.” She pulled herself from his arms, stood up with her arms crossed and looked around. Nick struggled to his feet and shrugged.

“What are you looking at?” he asked.

“I’m trying to figure out what we can use, we need to plan it, we need to do it right the first time.”

“Well I can fashion some tools from things in the shelter.” Nick said.  “We have a lot of vine like things we can dry and make rope with.  Cutting down trees will be hard but not impossible, but remember we need to keep doing the normal things too.”

“Yes.” She turned to him and put her arms around his neck. Her mouth descended on his and her tongue snaked it’s way into his mouth.  “Umm yes.” She said.

“Brooke, isn’t this what got us into trouble in the first place?” He laughed.

“Too late now, I can’t make myself unpregnant can I?” She purred.  Then she let her hand drift down to cup his manhood.  “Oh Nick, so big, so hard, so nice.”

“Princess you are going to be the death of me.” He laughed.  But he was enjoying everything she was doing to him.  “But you know I was talking about fishing and exploring and, shit Brooke if you keep doing that I won’t be able to think.”

“Thinking is so overrated.” She laughed. To Nick’s shock she dropped to her knees and when her mouth replaced her very skilled hand Nick thought he had died and gone to heaven. 

“Princess, oh Princess so nice, God don’t stop.  Oh Brooke, Brooke.” He moaned deeply.  Brooke had shown him so many carnal pleasures and he had learned so many that she enjoyed too. They were well-suited lovers, both very sensual and both always concerned about their partner’s pleasure. Right now Brooke was taking him to heights that he had only imagined.  It seemed to Nick that each time they made love it was better than the last.  He moaned again as Brooke took him deeper into her mouth, yet he wanted to be inside her, he wanted to pleasure her as much as she was pleasuring him.  It took a force of sheer will but he gently pushed her head away from him. “Together, we do this together.” He said.  He carefully lowered her to the sand and climbed on top of her.  Their mouths met in a wild kiss.  Brooke’s legs wrapped around his waist and she pulled him inside her. 

“Nick.” She moaned as he thrust deeper and harder.  “Oh Nick.” She moaned again. 

“Yeah, yeah Princess, we’re almost there, almost there.” Nick muttered in between kisses.  Brooke’s nails dug into his back and she pushed herself closer to him. Over and over he pounded into her.  Brooke clung to him, touching, kissing scratching screaming as their lovemaking intensified.  Sweat poured down her body and her eyes glazed over in passion. 

“F*ck me hard Nick, harder. Now, now Nick, I’m ready, I’m so ready!” She screamed. 

Nick couldn’t get close enough.  He increased his pace and Brooke met him with each thrust.  They were so in sync that they climaxed at the exact same moment, falling onto each other’s well-sated bodies.   

 

 

“I’m going to call Taylor.” Stephanie told Eric and Thorne.  “Maybe she can help him, someone has to help him.” She was very disturbed as she paced back and forth in the office.

“He’s crazy Mother, crazy with grief, he isn’t thinking straight.  I think it’s guilt okay? That’s what I think it is.” Thorne offered.  Eric looked at him with a curious frown.

“What do you mean Thorne? Why guilt? He didn’t know she would get onto that plane.”

“He knows that he’s the reason she even went on that trip, when he turned her away after Paris and went back to Taylor it really hit Brooke hard.” Thorne told them. 

“That’s ridiculous.” Stephanie scoffed.  “He was married to Taylor, the woman was delusional if she thought he would leave his wife for her.”

“Ridge sent her a lot of mixed signals Mother.” Thorne protested in Brooke’s favor.  “He set up that camera okay? He flew to Paris knowing that Taylor was really furious, he gave Brooke hope.  I know he was wrong and he didn’t mean it but she was in an emotional state then.  She wanted to believe he was coming back to her so she did.  And Ridge knows this, and he knows she took that trip to get away from him, to forget.”

“It wasn’t Ridge’s fault.” Stephanie insisted.

“No, it wasn’t, but he feels if he had done things differently she might not have gone, and since she left it was his fault.” Thorne looked from his mother to his father.  “Am I making sense?”

“But son, he’s convinced himself that she’s alive and we all know that’s impossible.  He’s flying back down there to search for her and that’s crazy.” Eric walked up to Stephanie and put his arm around her.  “I think I should try to call him on the plane and talk some sense into him.”

“It’s a waste of time and money, not to mention what this is doing to his family.” Stephanie sighed.  “I am not trying to be cruel, I wish she was alive but she’s not.” Then she looked at Eric with a panicked expression. “The children.  Did he say something to them about this? Bridget has barely started to come back into the world, I certainly hope he hasn’t filled her head with nonsense.”

“I don’t think he did.” Eric interjected.  “I saw her this morning and she didn’t know then. Somehow we have to keep it from her, I can’t have her getting false hope.”

“You’re right Dad, let’s just keep it in here okay?” Thorne looked at Stephanie.

“And Taylor, she has to know.”

“I imagine Ridge told her.” Eric calmly stated.

 

 Ridge looked out the plane’s window to the ground so far below.  He thought about how the next time he took off he would be heading once more over the Caribbean.  “I know you’re alive Brooke.” He said in a strong, positive voice.  “I can feel you here.” He touched his heart.  “And I am not going to quit until I’ve found you. Hold on Logan, I’m coming, I’m coming. Hang on! Wait for me Brooke! I’m going to bring you home! I swear I am!”  He shouted as he pounded his fists against the window.  “I love you Brooke, I love you and I’m coming to get you!”

 

 

Brooke sat up suddenly and her eyes widened.  She rapidly turned her head, searching from side to side. 

“Princess?” Nick questioned her as he sat up. “Princess what’s wrong?”

“Shhh. Did you hear anything?” She asked him.

“Like what?” he responded. 

“I don’t know, I just, I, I, no, no never mind, it’s nothing.” She felt her face flush.  She couldn’t tell him.  He would laugh, he’d think she was crazy but for a moment she had felt Ridge, she had felt his presence and she could swear she had heard him calling to her.  She shook her head and frowned.  “Must be hormonal.” She told him with a sigh.  “And hunger.” She added as her stomach growled.

“I’ll go catch some fish.” He volunteered.

“Yeah right.” She laughed.  Don’t worry Magellan, I’ll do it, after all I’m better at it.  Maybe you should go explore and see about what we can use for that um raft.” She tried unsuccessfully to suppress another giggle.

“What?” He growled at her.  Brooke wasn’t sure if he was teasing or if he was really angry.  “You don’t think I can do it do you?”

“Nick, you’re a banker, you don’t have many Boy Scout skills.  Hell, you can’t even start a fire.  How the heck do you think you’re going to build a raft? Have you ever tried anything even remotely like it?  I’ve been thinking about it and it’s just not a good idea, maybe we should just wait it out. Someone will come, I just know he will.” Brooke had been thinking it over hard since his suggestion.  At first it had seemed an excellent idea but now she did indeed have severe doubts. If they did a half-assed job and it fell apart in the middle of the ocean they’d die.  Brooke wasn’t sure if she was willing to risk that, not with another life to be responsible for now. 

“So what Brooke? I can still do it. Give me a little credit for a brain will you?” He growled at her. “And who do you mean you know HE will come?  Not that idiot Ridge, puleeze.” He laughed.  “He sounds about as dependable as an umbrella in a hurricane.”

“That’s not fair Nick, you don’t even know him, only from a few things I said.  He is dependable and he does care and I just, oh forget it.  And as for you, well I do give you credit for a brain, but you have to admit you are not exactly in your element here.  I don’t want to go off on some piece of crap raft that will fall apart and kill us all!” She protested.

“It won’t fall apart!” He shouted at her.  “I think I can do something simple as building a Gad damned raft!”

“You can barely spear a fish, you can’t swim, you can’t start a fire, you fell out of the tree trying to get us coconuts.  Nick you’re not the athletic type.  You’re book smart but you lack the survival skills.  I am not trying to criticize you, I’m just making a point.”

“A point? A point? You call that making a point?” He screamed at her.  “You insult me, and that’s making a point! I don’t see you complaining about my body when it’s on top of you or inside you!”

“Fine! You can f*ck! That doesn’t make you a carpenter or a raft builder or anything even close! I do not want to take a chance of dying! We’re safe here. Maybe it’s best we just wait. Someone will come, someone will show up.  In the meantime I can fish, I’m better at it than you are.  No reason to be stubborn when you’re hungry!”

“I can fish Brooke.  I can fish and I can hunt and.” Brooke’s laughter stopped him cold.  “What?” He asked icily.

“Hunt? Are you back to that again? Are you going to get me that wild boar now?” She laughed.

“You KNOW you’ve heard sounds and you KNOW you’ve seen the shit! There are live animals here! I can catch one and I can and WILL make a raft!” He angrily insisted.

“No Nick, I don’t want to get on a raft that you build. You don’t know what you’re doing. Please don’t be mad, it’s the truth and you know it!”

“So you don’t trust me, fine! Fine! We’re back to that shit again are we?” Nick threw his arms into the air.  “You know something, maybe I was all wrong!” He was angry, he had tried so hard to do the things she expected of him but somehow no matter what he did it was never enough.

“Wrong? About what?” Brooke shouted back.

“About you! About us! Shit!” He walked over and picked up the spear.  He turned to face Brooke again.  “You remember that proposal Princess? Do you?”

“Of course I do.” She said softly.  She knew he was mad and she didn’t want to make him even angrier.  She was determined to stay calm. 

“Well you can just forget I ever said those words! Shit! I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last woman on Earth!”

At this Brooke became furious.  She squinted her eyes and put her hands on her hips and faced him.  “You know something Magellan! I AM the last woman on Earth for you and I wouldn’t marry you if you begged me!” She grabbed her sarong, wrapped it around her waist and stormed out of the shelter.

 

 

Ridge pulled out his phone and a business card and punched in a number.  He listened as it rang once, twice, three, four times and then went into an answering machine. He let out a frustrated sigh and spoke.  “Perry, it’s Ridge Forrester.  I don’t care who you have chartering you.  I will pay you twice your fee and I’ll pay for their charter with someone else.  We have to go back out and find her.  I’m hoping to have someone else with me.  Order anything you need and I’ll pay you for it.  I’m making a stop in New York and we’ll head down tomorrow first thing in the morning. You have my cell, call me.  I’ll try you again later.  Perry this is important, she’s alive and I’m going to find her.”  He disconnected and put the phone down.  He thought about calling Taylor again but he decided to wait until he had more details.  She was already angry, and rightfully so, but he had no desire to deal with it. He looked at his watch.  He knew they’d be landing soon.  He wasn’t sure why he did but he very much wanted Carla with him.

 

 

“Gramma! Gramma!” Thomas said as he greeted Stephanie with a tight hug.  “Mommy! Gramma is here!”

Taylor walked out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dishtowel.  She suppressed a frown and did her best to smile.  “Hello.” She said.  “Ridge isn’t here.”

“I know that.” Stephanie said, putting her purse down on the couch.  “We need to talk.”

“There is no use beating a dead horse Stephanie.  I offered to work things out, it wasn’t what he wanted.  He’s taken off somewhere and he didn’t even have the decency to tell me where.  Frankly I am sick of Ridge and his antics.  The divorce will go along as planned so if that’s what you’re here about.”

“It’s not.” Stephanie explained.  She ruffled Thomas’s hair.  “Honey, why don’t you go play with your sisters so your Mommy and I can talk.”

“I know about the divorce.” He said angrily. 

“I’m sure you do honey, but this is still grownup talk.” Stephanie explained.  “You play with your sisters and when Mommy and I are done if you’re good, I’ll take you for ice cream sundaes.”

“Go on upstairs Thomas.” Taylor told him.  “I’ll send the girls up too.”

“Where are they?” Stephanie asked.

“We were making cookies.” Taylor answered.  “Come on into the kitchen with me, I want to put them into the oven.”

 

 

Brooke kicked at the log, stubbing her toe.  She hopped around frantically, hoping to dissipate the pain. But the pain wasn’t relegated to her toe alone.  Her heart was aching.  She hated when she fought with Nick, but she was also stubborn and she was frightened.  Brooke was determined not to take any careless chances just to satisfy Nick’s male ego.  And then there was Ridge.  It seemed lately she couldn’t exorcise him from her mind.  She heard his voice, she pictured his face and she felt his presence in a way that she hadn’t experienced in oh so very long.  She knew he was no longer hers, he never would be again, he had made that evident after Paris.  But in her heart she would always love him.  He was a part of her.  “You’re thinking about me Ridge.” She whispered as she stared out at the soft waves.  “I’m safe Ridge, but I want to come home.  Please hear me, please don’t give up on me.” A single tear rolled down her cheek.  “Please Ridge.”

 

 

Ridge had booked rooms for himself and his pilot at The Plaza from the plane.  After landing he had instructed his pilot to bring his luggage there and to check in, he had also asked him to keep his cell phone on as he intended to notify him as soon as he had concluded his travel plans.  Then he had caught a taxi to Victor’s Café.  It was unobtrusive from the outside and rather small on the inside but the aromas were inviting. The atmosphere was wild and exciting and Ridge even noticed several celebrities as he looked around the establishment.  He walked up to the Maitre De and introduced himself.  “Hello, my name is Ridge Forrester and I am meeting a Carla Darvers.”

“Yes sir, your party has already arrived.  I’ll take you to her.” The cordial man answered.  “Please follow me.”

Ridge looked across the crowded restaurant until his eyes met Carla’s.  He smiled and she waved to him.  He watched her as he approached.  She was a lovely woman, a classic beauty. Her skin was flawless and her hair and clothing were impeccable.  She was so different from Brooke, in fact if anything she resembled Taylor in both style and temperament.  He pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”

“Well, I admit I am most curious.  I can’t imagine what could make a man of your position fly clear across the country to talk to me.” She picked up her glass and took a sip.  Then she motioned for the waiter. 

“Sir, what may I get you to drink?” He asked as he handed Ridge a menu.

“What are you drinking?” He asked Carla as he tried to figure out what the liquid was in her glass.

“It’s a Mojito and it’s very delicious.” She answered. 

“A Mojito? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of it.” Ridge cocked his eyebrow.

“It’s a light tropical drink.” She smiled.  “White Rum, Club Soda, sugar and mint leaves.  It’ very refreshing. I highly recommend it, or the Sangria if you prefer.”

“I’ll try a Mojito.” Ridge told the waiter.  “And perhaps we’ll have the Sangria with our meal.”

“Very good sir, I’ll be right back with your drink.” He gave Ridge a polite nod of his head and walked away.

“So please Mr. Forrester, what is this about?” Carla asked.

“I’m going to come straight to the point.  I think that they are alive.” Ridge said as he looked her in the eyes. He couldn’t quite read her reaction. To call it shock wouldn’t have been the right thing.  She seemed to be slowly digesting it.  A quizzical look came and went several times.  The only thing that truly gave her away was the fact that she couldn’t seem to close her mouth.

“Alive?” She finally got out. 

“Yes.  I believe they are alive.”

“Why? What have you heard? Who have you spoken to? Mr. Forrester, I don’t mean to doubt you but I have been in constant contact with the authorities and no one has given me even the remotest glimmer of hope that Nick could be alive.  Please, why?” She looked at him, her eyes begging for an answer.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone.  I can’t really explain it.  Ms. Darvers, have you ever just known something in your gut? Have you ever known something and not had anything to support it and yet you would bet your life on it?”

“So you’re basing this all on an assumption, a feeling?  Mr. Forrester I don’t mean to sound cold.  I loved Nick dearly, but I think it’s cruel of you to insist on meeting me, getting my hopes up and it’s all based on a feeling.  We have physical evidence that the plane went down.”

“I know.” Ridge interrupted.  “I know the plane went down, but that doesn’t prove there were no survivors.”

“You told me yourself that there was no land around.  How could they have made it to land? Answer that Mr. Forrester and perhaps I’ll listen to you.”

Ridge fidgeted in his chair.  How could he explain the bond he had with her? How could he make this woman understand that he could feel Brooke, he could feel her heart beating, he could see her fears and her hopes.  He knew, without a doubt that she was alive.  He didn’t even know why it was so important to him that she believed him.  He didn’t know why he wanted her with him, but he did.  He scratched his head and opened his mouth to answer her when his cell phone rang.  “Excuse me please.” He said.  “Hello.” He spoke into the phone. He listened and then turned to Carla.  “Excuse me a moment.  I need to take this call.  I’m going to stand by the door where it’s a little quieter. I’ll be right back.”

After Ridge walked away the waiter came and put his drink down.  “Will your friend be back soon? Shall I bring this back later?” He asked.

“He’s just taking a phone call, please leave it and I’ll order some appetizers.”

“Very good Ma’am.” He took out his pad.

“I think we’ll have the Croquetas, the Empanadas, and Tostones.  And I’ll have another Mojito.” She handed him her empty glass.  “We’ll decide on our main course while we have the appetizers.”

“Alright, I’ll put the order right in.”

“Thank you.” She said softly.  She watched him walk away and then she turned her attention to Ridge at the bar.  “Does this have to do with Nick I wonder?” She said aloud.  “And why is it that you think they are alive? And what do you want from me?” She tapped her bright red nails on the table.  She had been having a difficult time adjusting to work after the news of Nick’s death.  Her boss had been very supportive but she felt she was letting him down.  He had offered her more time off, time she could have used except she didn’t want to face the loneliness of their empty apartment.  “Oh Nick, could you really be alive?”

 

The sun had set hours before, it was dark with a quarter moon. Nick was worried. Brooke still wasn’t back.  He was still angry with her but he was scared.  “Come on Princess, this is not funny!” He shouted out.  “Come back and we’ll talk!” He leaned over and threw another bunch of twigs onto the fire.  He was starving but he wasn’t about to eat without Brooke. The fish was starting to look a little less than appealing and he was annoyed. It had taken him a long time to catch this fish.  “Come on! This is not funny. I’m going to eat if you don’t come back.”

Meanwhile Brooke was sitting at the beach.  “Go ahead.” She mumbled.  She popped another sea grape into her mouth and turned up her nose at the sour taste.  “I am not in the mood for you yet Magellan.  Not one bit.” She took a deep breath and smelled the cooking fish.  Her hunger was getting the better of her.  “I suppose I can eat and not talk to him.” She stood up and brushed the sand off.  “Yes, that’s what I’ll do.  No reason to spite myself over him.”  She started to walk towards their campsite.  “Not one word Nick, you better not say one single word!”

 

 

Ridge’s phone call had taken longer than he had expected and by the time he returned to the table the appetizers had been served. 

“What’s all this?” He asked Carla. He looked at the stack of delicious smelling appetizers and his mouth started to water.  He was determined to enjoy this meal, it might be a long time before he sat and ate like this again. 

“These are Croquetas, they are ham croquettes, they’re very good.” Then she pointed to what looked like small tortillas.  “These are Empanadas.  They’re fried tortillas filled with meat, and these are Tostones, fried green bananas.”

“Sounds good.” He said as he sat down.  “Sorry for the delay, that was the man who I chartered down there.”

“Chartered? You’re going down to look again?” Carla wouldn’t have been surprised if he had hired detectives again but she never expected him to go down himself.  She was impressed and starting to think maybe there was something to it. 

“Yes, and I’m hoping you’ll join me.” His last statement totally stunned her.  Her mouth fell open again and she just stared at him.  “Ms. Darvers, Carla, I know you have your doubts but I really think they are alive.  Now wouldn’t you like to be there to greet your fiancé?”

“You’re so certain.  Why Mr. Forrester? What more is there than this gut feeling?” She just couldn’t conceive of this notion. She was always so practical and so serious, she didn't rely on instinct, facts were what led her.

“Brooke and I are very close.” He started.

“But I’ve read about you, you’re married, you have three children. Isn’t your wife upset?” Carla wanted so badly to understand.

“Taylor and I are divorcing, but that is besides the point. I’ve always been close to Brooke, we have always been able to communicate with each other even miles away.  I KNOW she is alive, she’s reached out to me, I know it Carla, I really do.”

 

“Stephanie that is the craziest thing I ever heard.  Are you sure you heard him correctly? Maybe he’s just going to try and find her body.  Not that that is normal either, but I can’t fathom Ridge actually thinking that Brooke could have survived a plane crash into the Caribbean.”  Taylor walked over to the oven and looked through the tempered glass window.  The cookies were browning nicely but needed a little more time.  Her conversation with Stephanie had taken longer than she had imagined.  They had eaten dinner together with the children and then Catherine had taken them out for the promised sundaes.  Once they had left they had continued the discussion while Taylor put the cookies in to bake. 

“I want to call him on his cell phone and I’d like you to see if you can make him understand how obsessive this is.” Stephanie practically ordered the younger woman.  She wanted this marriage to survive and she wanted her son to come home and forget this wild goose chase.

“I can’t Stephanie, I do agree with you that this is not healthy, not normal at all, but Ridge and I have reached a point where we only communicate if it concerns the children.”

“This does concern the children!” Stephanie insisted.  “Their father has taken off on an impossible mission, it’s sick and it’s wrong.” She grabbed the woman by her shoulders.  “Taylor if there was any chance that she was alive I would encourage him. But we’ve all spoken to the detectives and the police and the coast guard and they all said the same thing. There couldn’t possibly have been a survivor and even if by some miracle she had survived she wouldn’t have lasted more than a day or two in the ocean.”

“This is bad for Rick and Bridget.” Taylor conceded.  “Did he tell them what he was up to?”

“No, he hasn’t, but I don’t know how long we can keep it from them.  My God, if the press finds out about this.” Stephanie shook her head in dismay.  “Taylor please, please call him.  He’ll listen to you, he knows how level headed you are.”

“He loves her Stephanie.  No matter how level headed he thinks I am, when it comes to Brooke there is no stopping him.”

 

 

Ridge took a bite of his Paella Cubana and washed it down with a large gulp of Sangria.  “We can do it, I know we can.  I promise I’ll make things work with your boss and if I can’t I’ll set you up in a better job.”

Carla was unsure.  She wanted to believe that Ridge was right, she wanted Nick to be alive, but the whole thing seemed so fruitless.  She played with the Arroz con Polla on her plate, then put down her fork.  “How long?” She finally asked him.

“As long as it takes.  But I don’t think it will be long, I feel her, I sense her, she is going to lead me to her, I know she is.”

“And why do you need me?” She asked for the third time.

“I don’t know.  Maybe I feel that if someone else had something invested I would push harder and stay stronger.  Maybe when I first met you I realized that you love your Nick like I love Brooke. Maybe I just don’t want to do it alone.  Carla please.  We can go shopping here or down there, I’ll get you anything you need.  Please.”

Whatever it was, Ridge seemed so sincere that Carla was having hope again.  She looked around nervously and then turned back to Ridge.  “I’ll need to talk to Don in the morning.”

“Fine, fine just do it as early as you can.  Then we can meet and head for the airport.  We’re gonna find them.” He smiled.  “We are.”

 

 

“Sorry.” Brooke said as she walked up to Nick and sat down.

“It’s cold and it’s burnt.” He pointed at the fish.

“That’s okay, I’m not picky.” She sighed.  “Nick I don’t want to fight.”

“Then don’t talk because I’m really pissed at you.”

“Fine.” She said.  Then she looked into his eyes.  “Nick I really am sorry.”

“It was all a mistake.  We were all a mistake.  I’m sorry, I never should have touched you.  I’ll support the kid, I won’t be a deadbeat Dad but you and I? No, sorry Princess but I just don’t want the hassle.”

Brooke turned her head so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes.  Then she got up and took the fish from the fire and started to eat it.  “So what now?” She asked.

“We just work together and whatever.” He said angrily.  “You have your memories of your precious Ridge. They can keep you warm at night.”

“Oh.” She said with a laugh.  Nick turned sharply towards her. 

“You’re laughing at me?”

“I know what got that bug up your ass.” She said cheerfully.  “You’re jealous.”

“Jealous? Me? Ha!” He said but his blush told her she was right. 

“You are.” She giggled. 

“Honey you are really full of yourself.”

Brooke laughed even harder.  “Oh Nick.” She got up and walked over to him.  She sat down very closely and ran her hand up and down his chest.  “Let’s start today over.  We really need to both stop flying off the handle.”

“I’m glad you admit that it’s you.” He answered with a scowl.

“Nick?” She said softly.  Her hand started to descend lower and lower down his body.

“That’s not going to work.” He said, but sweat was beading on his forehead and Brooke knew she had him.

“No?” She asked innocently as her hand cupped him.  “Will this?” She said sweetly. Then she got onto his lap and their mouths met in a passionate kiss.  The fight was over, at least for the night.

 
 

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