CHAPTER 11

Taylor looked at Pierce. "I have no idea what you mean Pierce. What can Ridge and my children have to do with this story. You are so wrong, so wrong." She said in a panicky voice.

"Don’t get upset Taylor, we can talk about this. It’s only a theory."

"A stupid stupid theory." She said. "I can’t, I can’t deal with this right now." She grabbed her purse and got up.

"Taylor wait, stay, I didn’t mean to upset you."

"Not now Pierce." She said as she ran out.

Ridge walked around the lab and tried to collect his thoughts. He was more confused than he had ever been in his life. "I need to talk to someone, but who?" He said to himself. "Who?" He looked at the fabric that Brooke had so proudly shown him. He knew she had another wonderful discovery on her hands. She was brilliant and beautiful and he loved her. But did he really want to end his marriage? When he was with Brooke there were no doubts but now, his thoughts returned to Taylor and his children. They had a life together, a good life. It was happy and fulfilling. But she wasn’t Brooke.

 

"What do you want Brooke?" Eric gruffly asked as he spied Brooke at his office door.

"Can I come in? Can we talk?"

"I think you said enough at the meeting."

"You didn’t even stay Eric." She said walking in and shutting the door. "If you can’t respect me as your former wife and your friend the least you can do is respect me as the CEO. I wasn’t trying to start a fight with you." She sat down in the chair opposite him.

"People have to earn respect Brooke."

"That goes both ways." She said. "Do you really think I have so little regard for you?"

"I don’t even know you anymore. This thing with Thorne changed you. You have no feelings for this company or this family anymore."

"That’s not true and you know it. Eric Ridge and I have worked very hard on trying to fix things and make our next showing the best and most profitable ever."

"Leave him out of this. Ridge doesn’t care about you or any of your crazy ideas Brooke. He’s happy, he has a wonderful wife and family. Stay away from him."

"How dare you." She stood up. "How dare you make a call like that. Whatever Ridge and I feel or don’t feel for each other is totally irrelevant. This is purely business. I am trying my hardest to smooth things with you and to move ahead with this company. I respect you and your talents whether you believe it or not. My only goal is to make Forrester Creations the one company that everyone in fashion looks up to. Now I can do this with or without you Eric."

"Well you’ll have to do it without me then." He said.

"I didn’t want to have to do this Eric, I didn’t want to do it at all. Effective today all decisions based on creative control must be approved by Sean and myself. Is that clear?"

"Crystal." He said angrily. "Now get out of my office."

Brooke got up and looked at him. "Last chance Eric."

"Out." He said.

Brooke silently walked out and closed the door. She walked to Sean’s office. "Is he in Becky?" She asked.

"No Ms., I mean Brooke. He is down in production checking on some fabrics."

"Ask him to come by my office when he’s done please." She said as she walked away.

 

Taylor sat on her couch staring at her now cold cup of coffee. She had come immediately home and ran to the girls. Her sweet little miracle girls, how she loved them, how Ridge loved them. She had fought so long and hard to bring them into the world. How could Pierce even suggest such a thing? Her thoughts turned to that night long ago.

 

"What’s wrong Taylor?" Pierce had asked when he walked in and found Taylor crying. She had looked up at his friendly face and smiled.

"What else Pierce? Brooke."

"Brooke?" He asked. "Or Ridge?"

"If she’d only leave him alone we wouldn’t have this problem."

"Late night again?"

"She was modeling her atrocious Brooke’s Bedroom line Pierce. She was practically naked and he was laughing and enjoying it all. She’s not a model, she’s only doing it to get him into her bed."

"But she isn’t succeeding is she Taylor? Ridge loves you."

"She plays him like a piano."

"It’s just a game. He isn’t going to cross the line."

"He doesn’t even care how much it upsets me. He still stays and works with her like it’s the most normal thing on earth."

"Come here." He said as he took her into his arms and held her. "You can’t let her get to you like this, You’re playing right into her hands. This is what she wants."

"She’s winning then." She cried. "One day he will go too far and then what will I do? What will happen to our family?"

Pierce looked at the clock. "It’s late Taylor, is he still at work?"

"If that’s what you call it."

"Have you had dinner?"

"No, who can think of food at a time like this?"

"It’s really no different than any other day. Now you and I are going to have dinner together."

"I can’t Pierce. I can’t do that."

"Of course you can." He smiled. She felt her reserve melting away as he wiped her eyes.

They had left together and headed to a restaurant but when Taylor started to cry again Pierce had changed directions and taken her to his home. He had his cook prepare them a wonderful meal. They had shared a bottle of wine and had talked well into the night and then came the fateful moment. Pierce had put on music and asked her to dance. She accepted and he had taken her into his arms. The had glided all over the floor of his balcony and when he put his lips to hers she had found her mouth opening to him. The one kiss led to another and then another and before either one knew it they were in his bed making passionate love. Afterwards Taylor had begged him to forget what had happened. She liked and respected him but her heart was Ridge’s. With much regret Pierce had agreed and several days later they ended their business dealings as well.

 

"Pierce." Taylor whispered coming back to the present. "You made me feel so beautiful, so wanted. How can you take that night and try and destroy my life with it now?"

 

"I’d really like to do the test on both of them Pierce." The man told him.

"They’re identical twins Bob, what is one is the other." Pierce replied. "Please just do the test, I need to know for sure. Many peoples lives will be affected by the results."

The man took the two vials of blood. "I’ll have an answer for you soon Pierce. But I have to ask you, how did you get this sample?"

"Ask me no questions I’ll tell you no lies." Pierce replied.

 

Brooke looked up as she heard her door open.

"Why did you walk out on me like that?" Ridge asked as he stood in her doorway.

"What? You wanted more? Didn’t I satisfy you?"

"That attitude doesn’t suit you Logan."

"Yes, mold me into another little princess why don’t you?" She said sarcastically. "Is there something you want or am I just supposed to stare at you and admire you?"

"I can see we aren’t going to get anywhere like this." He said slamming the door shut. He walked up to her and pulled her from her chair and into his arms. He kissed her hard and fast.

Brooke pulled herself away. "This proves nothing. Nothing except that we desire each other’s bodies. I can’t keep doing this Ridge."

"What are we going to do about it then Brooke? You tell me."

"Nothing Ridge. You know as well as I do that you were caught up in the moment. You may have feelings for me but you don’t love me, you love Taylor."

"I do love Taylor." He admitted. "But it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you."

"I don’t want you to love me, I don’t want to be hurt again. I will never play second in another relationship, not with you, not with anyone."

"But."

"No, I’ll tell you what Ridge. You come back to me when you’re divorced. Then we can see if there’s still something between us. Because unless you are willing to risk everything for me it’s just not worth it." He looked at her and then looked down. "I didn’t think so." She said with a bit of regret. "I don’t regret what we did Ridge. It was a fantasy, a dream, but I’m awake now."

"Brooke it’s more than that. It is."

"It can’t be." She said sadly. She picked up a sketch and looked at it. "Your father hates me." She told him, officially changing the subject.

"Why Brooke? Why do you say that?" He asked.

"I tried to talk to him again and he was impossible. He was spewing off Stephanie’s mantras at me like they were his own. He even said something about you and how I should stay away from you."

"What did you do Logan? I can see it in your eyes."

"We fought Ridge. He made me so mad."

"Logan." He said.

"I told him that creative decisions had to go through me or Sean from now on."

"Sean?" He said more hurt at his exclusion than his father’s demotion.

"You’re too easy on him." She said flatly. "I’ll listen to you but I get final say."

"Or Sean?"

"Sean knows his business."

"Is he the reason?"

"Is he the reason for what?" She asked in an annoyed voice.

"That you don’t want us. That you won’t believe me."

"Sean and I aren’t involved. I couldn’t be after." She turned away.

He smiled to himself.

"Don’t be so smug." She said seeing his grin. "I’ve gotten over you before and I’ll do it again. Only this time we have to learn to work together at the same time."

"You’re a tough boss." He said.

"I wish I didn’t have to be." She said sadly. "Ridge, do you think you could try to talk to Eric? I want him part of this team. There doesn’t have to be a boss. We should all be working together."

"I’ll try." He said. "I don’t know how much good it will do but I will try."

 

"Are you ready?" Sean asked Becky.

"Did you call Brooke?" She asked him. "She seemed anxious to see you."

"Megan says she’s busy. She can wait. I’m starved." He held out his hand to her.

"Then I guess I am ready." She smiled. He took her arm and led her out of the building and to his rented car. He opened the door for her and then got in the driver’s side.

"I’m glad you agreed to come with me." He said.

"I’m glad you asked me." She replied shyly. She wasn’t sure if it was a business lunch or a date but she was happy to be able to spend time with her handsome boss.

"I made reservations at a nice place at the beach. I hope you like seafood. If not we can go somewhere else."

"I love seafood." She smiled.

"Good." He said. They sat in awkward silence for the ride, occasionally looking at each other and smiling.

 

"Catherine." Taylor called from her bedroom. "Can you please come up here right now!"

Catherine came quickly into the room to find Taylor holding little Stephanie. "Yes Mrs. Forrester."

"What happened? What happened to my baby’s leg?" She asked her. Taylor was furious and Catherine was scared.

"I don’t know what you mean Mrs. Forrester."

"Oh you don’t?" She said. She pulled her daughter’s dress up and showed her a Band-Aid on her thigh. "What happened to her?"

"I don’t know. Maybe Mr. Forrester put that on her?"

Taylor carefully removed the bandage. "It’s a prick mark Catherine. She was stuck with something. I want to know what it was and I want to know right now!"

Catherine looked at the child and gasped. "I swear to you I never saw that. Please, you know I love these children. I have no idea what happened to her."

"I know that you love them Catherine but Stephanie did not do this to herself. I want to know what happened to her."

"I don’t know, I really don’t know." Catherine said as her eyes filled with tears.

"Alright, I’m not blaming you." Taylor said. "You watch the kids, I’m going to go to Forrester and talk to Ridge. Maybe he knows something."

"Yes Ma’am." Catherine said leading Stephanie out of Taylor’s room.

Taylor opened her closet and grabbed a jacket. In her haste she knocked two dresses off their hangers. "Damn, I don’t have time for this." She said reaching down to retrieve them. As she kneeled down she noticed one of Ridge’s shirts on the floor. "Ridge!" She said angrily picking it up. "Now how did you do that?" She said seeing the torn buttons. "Or did I?" She laughed. She carried it to the trash can to throw it away when a pair of skimpy thong panties fell to the floor. "What?" She said aloud. "Ridge no." Tears filled her eyes as she retrieved the shirt. She put it and the panties in her top dresser drawer, grabbed her purse and started down the stairs.

 

"This is wonderful." Becky smiled as she put a piece of lobster on her fork.

"I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Actually Megan recommended this place to me. I’ve never been here before." He looked at her empty wine glass. "You need a refill." He said as he poured her more.

"Are you sure that’s a good idea? After all we are going back to work." Becky asked him.

"What good is a wonderful lobster without wine?" He poured himself more. "Besides if you want I’ll give you the rest of the day off."

"Now how would that look?" She laughed.

"How about I take the rest off too? We can do something."

"You and me?" She asked.

"Yeah, is that a bad thing? I thought you were having fun."

"Oh I am but well, I wasn’t exactly sure if, um."

"It’s a date Becky." He smiled at her. "This has nothing to do with business, this is a man taking a woman to lunch. That is unless you didn’t want it to be one. Then I will be embarrassed for a moment but work to make you more comfortable."

"I want it to be a date." She said softly.

"Good." He said as he raised his glass to hers. "To our first of many I hope."

 

Brooke picked up her phone and buzzed Megan.

"Is Ridge still with Eric?" She asked her.

"No Brooke, he’s back in his office. Would you like me to get him for you?"

"No, I’ll go see him. I want to know how he made out. Thanks Megan." She hung up and got up and stretched. She walked into the bathroom and combed her hair and reapplied her lipstick. "Why are you doing this Brooke?" She asked herself. "You know why you are." She answered herself sadly.

She closed her office door and went up to Ridge’s door. "Hi." She said.

"Hey Logan, come on in."

She walked inside and sat on the edge of his desk. "How did it go?"

"It didn’t. He won’t talk to me about it. He blames you. I told him I was as much to blame but he wouldn’t budge. I’m sorry Brooke, I should have believed you." He got up and walked around to her and started to massage her shoulders. "We’ll get past this somehow, it’s just going to be harder than I thought it would be."

She sighed and leaned back onto his chest. Her eyes glistened with fresh tears. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

"Not everything is." He said turning her around to face him. "This isn’t." He said as he claimed her lips. Against her will her arms circled his neck and she felt herself drawn into his kiss.

"I love you Ridge." She said. "Go help me but I love you."

"Oh Logan." He said pulling her close. "We will find a way to work this out too."

"How? What is it that you want Ridge? Do you even know what you want?"

"I want what we had again. I want us Brooke. I love you." He said as he pulled her to him and kissed her again.

 

"Hi Megan." Taylor said. "Is he in?"

"He’s in his office with Brooke." She said.

"Alright thanks." She said walking towards the slightly open door.

 Chapter 12

 

 

"No Ridge." Brooke said pulling away. "I made myself clear earlier. I can’t be the mistress, I can’t be the lover. Unless you are willing to make me your wife I can’t do this."

"It’s not that easy Logan." He said. "It takes time. I can’t just walk into the house and announce to Taylor that it’s over."

"Why not? You did it to me. Or did our marriage mean that little to you? No, don’t answer that I already know the answer."

"It meant everything to me and I was a fool to throw it away Brooke, a fool! I did not leave you for Taylor, I left you to be a father to my son. But I was wrong Brooke, I should have found another way to do it. I don’t regret being there for him because I love him but I regret losing you, losing you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Come back to me and I swear to you I will do right by you. I will find a way to make it work. I love you like I have never loved anyone in my life." He shouted as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with pent-up passion.

 

"Oh my God." Taylor whispered to herself as she backed away from the door. "It’s Brooke, after all this time it’s still Brooke." The tears welled in her eyes as she turned back to the door almost against her will.

 

"This is wrong." Brooke said tearing her lips from his. "I’m not the same person I was then. I respect your marriage. I can’t keep doing this. Not unless you are free. I just can’t."

"Logan when we made love the other day it opened my eyes. Suddenly everything in my life was clear again. I was where I belonged. I finally was complete. Tell me you didn’t feel the same way. Tell me!"

"I can’t." She said softly. "I can’t and I won’t. Ridge please don’t put me through this. I can’t come this close and then lose you again."

"You will never lose me again Logan, I’m yours now, yours forever."

"No Ridge." She said through her tears. "It’s too late for us, it’s way too late."

 

Taylor inched away from the door in tears. She tried to go unnoticed past Megan but she called out to her.

"Taylor are you alright? Taylor what’s wrong?"

Taylor waved her off and ran down the corridor and out of the building. Sobbing she made her way back to her car. She got in and sat behind the wheel in tears. "How did this happen? We were so happy, oh God what can I do? What can I do?" She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Think Taylor think. This is your marriage, you have to find a way to fix it, to save it." Her mind flashed Brooke in the sexy red dress. "You slut, you whore! You never stopped trying! Never! But you won’t have him. Yes he may have slept with you but it’s me and the children he loves. I’ll show you! He’ll never even speak to you again! Oh God!" She started to cry harder. "I’ve got to get out of here before he realizes I know." She put the key in the ignition and turned it. "You won’t win Brooke, it’s me he loves, he chose me. I won’t let you have him. You may use your body Brooke but I’ll fight you with my own little weapons." She turned off the motor and pulled out her compact. She fixed her makeup and combed her hair. With determination she got out of the car and headed back into the building.

 

Ridge sighed and looked at the door that Brooke had walked out moments before. "Am I crazy?" He asked himself. "Can I really throw away my life like this? Maybe she’s right, maybe it is too late for us." He picked up a design and absentmindedly started making changes to it.

 

"Taylor, you’re back." Megan said. "Was something wrong?"

"Something at home Megan, I needed to collect myself before I spoke to Ridge. You said he’s in his office with Brooke?"

"Brooke left. He’s alone."

"Good." She said. "Please hold his calls." She said walking to his office.

 

Brooke knocked on Stephanie’s door and then walked in.

"What do you want Brooke?" She asked her.

"We need to talk Stephanie. I need your help."

"Ha." Stephanie laughed. "You came to the wrong person this time Brooke. You’ll never get help from me."

"I’m not your enemy Stephanie."

"Of course you are. From the moment you and that tramp of a mother of yours crawled from the valley into my home you were my enemy and you always will be. You may think you won but it’s an empty victory Brooke. You may have part of my company but you will never have the heart of anyone in my family again and for that I celebrate."

"You’re willing to destroy this company over your hatred?"

"Perhaps when it is gone Eric and I will pull it from the gutter you pushed in into and it will rise again to where it was, and without you."

"No Stephanie, this company will flourish. It will do that without your help. And it will be bigger and greater than it ever was before. I don’t want you and Eric not to be part of it but if that’s what you want then so be it." Brooke said sadly. She turned and walked out of the office.

"Stupid little girl. My sons hate you and my husband hates you. Soon your own children will hate you."

 

"Sean we’ve been gone for hours." Becky said as he slowly sipped his coffee. "Brooke will be looking all over for us."

"Let me worry about that Becky. We’ve all been overworked lately and we deserve some rest. And now I want to take you for a walk on the beach."

"Now that it doesn’t sound wonderful but really, aren’t we overdoing it?"

"Not at all." He smiled at her. He put down his cup. "Anything more before we leave?"

"I’m stuffed." She said with a grin. "This was the best lunch ever. Thank you so much Mr., I mean Sean."

"Becky, Becky, Becky." He said helping her from her chair. "I certainly hope you don’t call me Mr. Damon when I kiss you." He took her hand as she stared at him open-mouthed. "Have I gone too far?"

"No." She said nervously.

"Good." He said as he lowered his mouth to hers.

 

"Hello Ridge." Taylor said as she walked into his office. "I need to talk to you."

"Doc! What a pleasant surprise. How long have you been here?"

"I just got here, but this isn’t a pleasant visit. It’s serious." She said shutting his door.

"What’s wrong?" He asked. "Have I done something to upset you?"

"Perhaps, I don’t know." She started. "It’s about Steffie."

"What’s wrong? Is she sick?" Ridge asked with a fatherly panic.

"Something happened to her. She has a cut on her leg. A puncture wound. Do you know anything about it?"

"Of course not. Did you ask Catherine?"

"Do I look stupid Ridge? Or course I asked her. She claims to know nothing about it, but it’s there Ridge."

"Well Doc sometimes kids injure themselves and parents never even know."

"And do they put Band-Aids on? Surely you realize Steffie is too young to bandage herself."

"I think we better both have a talk with Catherine, she’s not telling you something Taylor."

"Oh, so I’m incompetent?"

"I didn’t say that."

"You implied it."

"Why are you fighting with me?"

"I’m not Ridge. Our daughter was injured and treated and no one will admit to anything. I’m upset and you should be too."

"Maybe if you were home where you belonged." He mumbled.

"I heard that!" She shouted. "That is so unfair Ridge. Why don’t you quit your job and stay home with the kids?"

"Oh that’s reasonable."

"As much as my giving up my career. Or are you afraid to be away from your little whore!"

"What?" He shouted.

"Nevermind." She said. "This isn’t about my job or your job it’s about our daughter. Please Ridge, please tell me if you know anything." She said as she started to cry. He walked to her and took her into his arms. "No Doc, I don’t know anything at all but I will find out. Now come on and calm down." He kissed her gently and led her to his couch. "We’ll go home together, right now and get to the bottom of this. I promise you Doc, we will get to the bottom of this."

"Oh Ridge." She cried. "My family is everything to me. I get so scared something will happen to us."

"Nothing is going to happen." He said smoothing her hair. "Nothing at all."

A sly grin crossed her face as she held on tightly to him.

 

"Come in Thorne, I’ll be off in a minute." Brooke called to her former lover as he hesitated by her door. "That’s right Marcel. Sean will not be coming back to International anytime soon. Yes, I realize you’ll miss him but we need him here. No. No. Feel free to hire whoever you need. I have faith in you. Well thank you. I will. Bonjour." She said with a smile as she hung up. "What can I do for you Thorne?"

"Well you can start by not acting like a stranger Brooke." He said.

"Sorry, I’m a bit distracted today." She told him.

"And you’ve been crying." He said. "Honey what happened?"

"Nothing, I’m fine."

"Like hell you are." He said closing the door. "It’s my brother isn’t it? What did he do now?"

"You know me too well." She said with a half smile.

"I always have." He grinned. "Come on Brooke. What’s going on?"

"I can’t get into this Thorne."

"You know you can’t believe him. You know he’ll never change."

"Yeah." She said looking down.

"Please don’t tell me you’re letting yourself get involved again. You know it will never amount to anything. He has a wife and kids. He’ll never leave them."

"I know." She said sadly. "But sometimes he can be so persuasive."

"Brooke listen to me. He never was right for you. He never could or would give you all you deserved. Honey he won’t."

"I know." She repeated.

"Let me help."

"There’s nothing you can do."

"Let me love you Brooke, you know I never stopped loving you."

"Oh Thorne." She cried. "I wish he was more like you. I wish I could put the two of you in a blender and make one perfect man."

"No thing as perfect."

"I suppose not." She looked at his sad eyes. "I am so sorry I hurt you. I wish I could have made it work out. I know you are a good man."

"Why not give it another try Brooke?"

"It’s too late. It’s too late for everything."

"We can take it slow." He said. "As slow as you need. We can start just as friends. You know have dinner, movies. Fun stuff. What do you say?"

"It’s so tempting Thorne."

"Then say yes. Have dinner with me tonight Brooke. Say yes."

She looked at him and then down at the picture of Ridge she had been staring at. Her eyes returned to his. "What about Kimberly?"

"Forget about Kimberly."

"Thorne I."

"Brooke say yes."

"Alright Thorne, yes, yes I will have dinner with you." She smiled. "I think I really need a friend right now."

"Great!" He grinned. "I’ll be back at six and we can go." He said as he started out.

"Um Thorne." She said stopping him.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

 

"Megan I need to go home. I may not get back today." Ridge told her as he escorted Taylor out. "Tell Brooke will you?"

"Sure Ridge." She said. "Is everything alright Taylor?"

"It will be." She smiled putting her arm around her husband.

 

Sean put his arm around Becky’s shoulder as the walked barefoot along the beach. He leaned down and kissed her again. This time Becky returned the kiss putting her arms around his neck. She looked at him and smiled. "I’m having too much fun for today to end." She said. "I’d ask you to my place but my parents and the baby are there."

"We could go back to my hotel room." He suggested. She looked at him straight in the eyes. "I’m moving too fast aren’t I?" He said.

"No." She whispered. "I want to go with you." She reached up and kissed him with intensity. She pushed her body close to his and felt him straining against his pants. "Let’s go now." She said.

 

Brooke walked out to Megan’s desk. "Megan. I can’t find Ridge and I need his designs. Do you know where he is?"

"He and Taylor left a while ago. They looked pretty cozy. I don’t think he plans on coming back if you know what I mean." She laughed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Brooke said sadly. She walked back to her office, shut the door, put her head in her hands and wept.

 

"Eric we need to talk." Stephanie said as she barged into his office. He put his pad down and turned it upside down.

"What is it?"

"Why are you hiding that from me?" She asked as she tried to turn it. He immediately held it firmly in it’s place. "Eric?"

"I’m trying something. I’m not ready to show anyone."

"You aren’t letting her get to you are you?"

"Maybe I am. Maybe there is something to it."

"Ridiculous." She said. "That woman knows nothing about fashion or about business. All she knows how to do is use her body with powerful men, but that will be over soon."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was thinking. Remember how we talked about starting over. You know, when she first took control." She said with distaste.

"It’s too hard at this stage." He said. "I’m resigned to my place."

"Well you don’t have to be. I have an idea."

 

"Six o’clock!" Thorne announced with a grin as he walked into Brooke’s office.

"Give me five minutes." She said. "I just need to run these figures one more time."

"They won’t change." He said noticing the long trail of paper from her calculator.

"I suppose you’re right." She smiled. "Okay let’s go." She picked up her purse and took his arm. "So where are you taking me?"

"The private dining room at the club."

"Thorne. We are not a couple."

"Not yet." He smiled. "But I thought it would give us a place to talk and let loose."

"I guess." She said as they got into the elevator.

 

"Your bitch!" Kimberly said seeing them arm in arm as they walked out. "He’s mine Brooke! You can’t have him!"

 

"Wait Thorne, can you stop here?" Brooke asked as they drove towards the club.

"The drugstore? Are you ill Brooke?"

"If you have to know I need tampons." She laughed.

"Well that lets something out for tonight." He joked.

"It wasn’t going to happen anyway."

"But it will." He assured her. "It will."

 

 

Pierce picked up the phone and punched in the number he had written on a piece of paper in front of him. "Bob? It’s Pierce. Do you have any news for me yet?"

"I just got the results Pierce. It was as you suspected. The child is yours."

"Did you get the other sample I had sent to you?"

"The mystery man? Where did you get that Pierce? It looks a little unorthodox."

"Never mind how or where I got it. I need to know if the other man, the man in that sample could also be a match."

"Yeah Pierce. The sample was old but it was good. There is no possible way that he is the father. You matched perfectly. Shall I get you some cigars?" He joked.

"Not yet." Pierce told him. "Have the results messengered to my office immediately. I need to work on how to handle the mother."

"Good luck buddy."

"Thanks Bob, thanks a million." He smiled from ear to ear as he hung up the phone. "My children Taylor, the girls are really my children."

 

Chapter 13

 

Brooke looked up from her desk and saw Thorne walking by her office. She stood up and called to him. "Thorne, come on in."

He stopped and walked in with a smile. "Hi Brooke."

"I wanted to thank you for the other night. I had fun, it was what I needed."

"You don’t have to thank me. I had fun too. I hope we can do it again soon."

"I don’t see why not." She smiled. "As long as we keep the same rules."

"It’s just fun and we don’t talk about Ridge." He told her like a student would recite to a teacher.

"That’s them." She said.

"Well we’re not out now. Have you and Ridge been getting along?"

"Actually I’ve been avoiding him." She said. "I haven’t let myself be alone with him at all."

"Good for you. You know it’s for the best."

"Yes." She sadly agreed.

 

Eric opened his locked desk and pulled out a sketchpad. He stared at the design and laid it on his desk. "She may be right Stephanie." He said to himself. "I can’t go along with your plan until I know for sure and there’s only one way to be sure." He picked up his phone and buzzed Megan.

"Yes Mr. Forrester." Her friendly voice answered.

"Megan, Ridge was in here before and he left one of his sketches by mistake. Can you come get it and bring it to Sean for approval?"

"Of course Mr. Forrester. I’ll be right in."

He hung up the phone. "The moment of truth." He said.

 

"You wanted to see me Mother?" Ridge asked as he entered her office.

"Thanks for coming so fast honey." She smiled. She got up and hugged him. "How is everyone?"

"We’re all fine." He assured her.

"And Steffy? Taylor was so concerned about that cut on her leg."

"It was nothing, you can’t even see it anymore. I think she made too much of it."

"But it is strange. How did it get bandaged?"

"I think Thomas got the Band-Aid." Ridge suggested. "He’s a very protective older brother."

"Well that’s a thought." Stephanie said.

"I think we are just going to try and put the mystery behind us for now." He smiled. "So what is it you wanted?"

"Sit down." She said.

"This sounds serious."

"Oh it is. It’s very serious. I have a plan to get our company back, to get it back and destroy Brooke at the same time." She smiled at him.

 

Kimberly took one last look at her reflection and headed for Thorne’s office. She knew she looked great and he wouldn’t be able to resist her. He had been short with her lately. They hadn’t had sex and he was seeing too much of Brooke. Kimberly intended to stop that. She pushed at her low-cut dress, making it expose even more of her breasts. She smiled and walked in. "Thorne, I’ve missed you." She purred only to be disappointed that she was alone. "Damn it Brooke! He better not be with you!"

 

"Hey Beck!" Megan said as she walked to her friend’s desk. "I have something for your boss from Ridge."

"Thanks Megan." She said. "He’s on the phone with Milan. I’ll bring it in when he’s done."

"So?" She said. "Did you go out with him again last night?"

"We saw a movie and went back to his hotel room." Becky smiled. "God Megan he is so sexy."

"You sure got off to a fast start."

" No point in taking things slow. I learned from my cancer life is too short to wait for things to happen, you have to make them happen."

"So do you have plans tonight?"

"No. He has to work with Brooke." She said.

"And is that all over?" Megan asked carefully.

"I think so. But I don’t own him Megan."

"Well you want to do some clubs with me tonight?"

"Yeah, sounds good." Becky said.

"Okay then we can go by my place and eat something and change there."

"I wonder if we can borrow something from Forrester to wear." Becky said.

"I don’t know."

"I’m gonna ask Sean." She said.

"You’re gonna ask your boyfriend if you can borrow Forrester designs to go out to meet guys?"

"We aren’t committed or anything. Why not?"

"Still." Megan said. "He’s a nice guy."

"He is. It’s not like I’m looking for someone else, but I am allowed to have fun without him."

 

"I’ll get it!" Taylor shouted to Catherine at the sound of the doorbell. Lately Ridge had been so attentive. He had been surprising her with gifts and flowers. She was sure this was something more from him. With a smile across her face she opened the door, it instantly disappeared.

"Pierce. What are you doing here?" She asked.

"It’s been five days Taylor. You haven’t shown up at the clinic or even called. What’s going on?"

"I changed my mind. Ridge was right, I need to be with my family. I meant to call you."

"No you didn’t. You were hoping I’d just go away, but Taylor that isn’t going to happen."

"I’m sorry Pierce, you’ll have to find someone else."

"May I come in?" He asked.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"I do." He said walking past her and inside his former home. Angrily she shut the door and followed him.

"You have a lot of nerve."

"So I’ve been told." He said flashing her a smile. She couldn’t help but find herself smile back.

"I’m really sorry Pierce but it just can’t work. My family is my first priority."

"That has nothing to do with it and you know it. This is about what I said to you."

"I don’t want to talk about that." Taylor said. "I don’t even want to think about that Pierce. You’re wrong. My children are mine and Ridge’s and nothing you say will change that."

"You can’t hide from the truth Taylor."

"It is not the truth! It’s not!" She shouted.

"Alright, I can see you aren’t ready for this yet but Taylor you have to be soon."

"Get out!" She shouted at him. "Get out of my house!"

 

"So how about dinner tonight?" Thorne suggested to Brooke.

"I can’t, I have to work with Sean tonight. We’re falling way behind."

"And Ridge too?" He asked.

"No, just Sean. I can’t keep in close contact with Ridge anymore. It’s just too dangerous."

"Just how close did you two get Brooke?"

"Too close, but I’m alright now." She said. "And I’ll take a raincheck. How about dinner tomorrow night? In fact I’ll cook."

"Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse." He grinned.

"Good." She said. "We can talk about the time tomorrow."

"Yeah, I have to get back to my office and check on the fabrics for Sean’s showstopper."

"It’s lovely isn’t it?" She said.

"It is."

"See you later Thorne." She smiled at him. He waved and walked out.

 

"Destroy Brooke? Are you insane? I don’t want to destroy Brooke. She’s my friend Mother."

"Do you or do you not want this company back?"

"Brooke’s doing a great job."

"She’s going to ruin us. Look at what she’s done to your father. How can you support her Ridge?"

"Mother," Ridge said calmly. "A part of me will always want what was ours. But I also know that we tried to cheat Brooke and we lost. She didn’t steal the company from us, we lost it. She’s been good to all of us, our profits are up and she has brought some wonderful ideas."

"Ha! Like that damn Brooke’s Bedroom?"

"Brooke’s Bedroom has earned us millions of dollars."

"And it’s made us the laughingstock of haute couture. When we get this company back that will be the first thing to go. And after that the men’s line."

"I resent that. I have done some great work on that line."

"This is a women’s wear company. A high fashion company. There is no room for a men’s line."

"Mother many of the other premiere house’s have taken our lead and started their own men’s lines. But the entire thing is moot. Brooke is CEO and she makes the decisions."

"I told you, I have a plan." She said.

"And I told you, I want no part of it." He said. He got up and walked out of her office.

"What is wrong with you men?" Stephanie said. "What kind of a spell does she have you under?"

"Hi Sean." Becky said with a smile as she walked in his office.

"Hi to you too." He smiled back. "What do you have for me?"

"One of Ridge’s designs, he left it in Eric’s office by mistake."

"That’s not what I meant." He said getting up. He closed the office door and kissed her. "I’m going to miss you tonight. A man gets used to having his woman in his bed."

"But I’ve never spent the night." She said.

"And that is something we have to remedy."

"I feel guilty leaving the baby with my parents all day and all night too."

"It must be hard being so young and having such a huge responsibility."

"It is, but I love him." She said. "In fact if it wasn’t for little Eric, I mean Kevin." She corrected herself. "I don’t know if I would have survived the cancer."

"Sure you would have." He assured her. "You’re a fighter."

"I don’t know." She said. "Anyway Eric wanted to make sure you saw this one. I think he likes it."

"Sh*t." He said. "Then it’s probably not that good." He took the sketch from Becky. "Wow, this is good. But it doesn’t look like Ridge’s usual work. There’s something special about this one." He held it up to her. "What do you think?"

"I’m no expert." She laughed. "I liked the ones you hated."

He reached for the phone and punched Brooke’s intercom. "Brooke, Sean. I have a design here by Ridge that I need you to see right away. Can you come down? Thanks." He hung up.

"It is nice." Becky said.

"It’s exactly what we’ve been trying to capture." He looked at his watch. "Becky it’s late. You go on home."

"You don’t mind?"

"Nah. As long as you promise me tomorrow night."

"I’ll stay as long as you need me." She said.

"I meant after work and I mean all night long."

"I’ll think about it." She smiled. She gave him a quick kiss and left just as Brooke walked in.

"You look like hell." He told her.

"Thanks." She said.

"Brooke you can’t let him do this to you."

"I wish you and Thorne would stop it. I haven’t seen him all week."

"Well you have to stop thinking about him then."

"That’s easy for you to say. You’re not in love with him." She said shutting the door.

"But he’s not in love with you Brooke."

"I know that!" She said angrily. "Now can you just show me the design?"

He handed her the sketch. She looked at it and smiled. "You said Ridge did this." She said.

"He did."

"No Sean, this is Eric’s." She smiled. "He’s listening, he’s really listening." She took the sketch and ran to Eric’s office. She opened his door and walked in. She shut the door behind her and walked up to him and hugged him. "Thank you." She said.

"What? What is this Brooke?" He asked.

"Your design." She said holding it up.

"That’s Ridge’s." He said.

"You can’t fool me Eric." She grinned. "I’d know your work anywhere."

He looked down and then brought his eyes to her. "Do you like it?"

"I love it, Eric it’s perfect."

"And Sean? Has he seen it?"

"He wondered what got into Ridge, he’d never seen better from him." Eric looked at her and beamed.

"I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks." He said with a smile.

"Do you have more where that came from?" She asked.

He opened his drawer and handed her two more sketches. She looked at them and held her hand out to him. "Welcome back Eric. Creative control is yours again. I’m out of the loop. I want you to work with Sean. Can you do that?"

"I can do that Brooke." He said.

"It’s going to be a lot of work."

"I’ll enjoy it. It feels like a new beginning." He smiled.

"It is." She said. "And with you back at the helm it will be the best ever." She hugged him again. "Thank you so much for making this work." She kissed him on the cheek and happily, for the first time in a long time left his office.

 

"Doc?" Ridge said is surprise when his wife walked into his office.

"Hi sweetheart." She said as she walked up to him and gave him a big kiss. "You left so early today."

"I had to make some calls. You know how those time zone things work." He smiled. "What brings you down today?"

She shut his door and walked back to him and sat on his lap and started to kiss him. "Is this good enough?" She asked.

"You don’t hear me complaining." He said. He buttoned her blouse and smiled. "No bra Doc?"

"I thought it would get in the way."

"Oh yeah." He said as he lowered his mouth to her breasts. His tongue took turns teasing her nipples and making them hard. She ran her hands through his hair and sighed as he administered to her breasts.

"I have another little surprise." She whispered. He****ed his eye and looked at her. She took his hand and guided it to her thigh. He slid her skirt up slightly and was shocked when his hand found her wetness.

"No panties either?" He said in a low, sexy voice.

"Any complaints?" She asked.

He lifted her skirt to her waist and lifted her to his desk. She reached for his fly and unzipped him. Her fingers then freed him from his shorts. "So hard." She moaned. "Take me Ridge, take me now."

He looked at her face. She was so beautiful, so full of desire. He felt himself going soft in her hand. "Come on baby." She encouraged him. "Taylor needs it. She wants it." He closed his eyes and pictured the beautiful blonde, the woman he desired above all others. His erection returned full force. "Brooke." He whispered softly as he entered his wife.

 

"Is he in?" Brooke asked Megan pointing to Ridge’s closed door.

"Yeah but I wouldn’t go in if I were you. Listen." She said. Brooke moved closer to the door and heard the unmistakable sounds of Ridge and Taylor’s lovemaking.

"I have to go." Brooke said turning quickly away.

"Can I give him a message Brooke?"

Ignoring her Brooke half-walked and half-stumbled into her office, shutting the door and falling in tears onto the bed.

 

"You were wonderful Doc." Ridge told his wife as she adjusted her clothing.

"We were wonderful." She smiled. She leaned over and wiped a smudge of lipstick from his face. "You know Ridge I was thinking."

"About what?" He asked.

"Well, you don’t want me to take this job and I am getting bored at home."

"Yes?" He said questioningly.

"Well I think I may stop taking the pill. What do you say Ridge? Would you like to have another baby?"

The look of shock and horror on his face was the last thing she expected.

 

Later that evening Brooke was alone in the lab working when she sensed someone behind her. Her pulse quickened as she turned and found herself in Ridge’s arms.

"Let go of me." She said.

"Logan you’ve been avoiding me all week."

"Doesn’t that tell you something?" As she struggled to free herself.

"It tells me that something is wrong. What happened? We were getting so close. Brooke don’t shut me out." He said pulling her closer.

"You did that yourself." She said. "Please let me go."

"I can’t, you don’t really want that."

"Ridge you have a wife. You have a marriage. I’m your past. Why must you keep hurting me like this?"

"I love you. I need you Logan. I want you to be my future."

"That didn’t seem your intentions today in your office."

"I’m sorry, she came in and started. What could I do?"

"If it was over with her you would have told her so. But it obviously isn’t."

"It will be, I need time. I have kids Brooke, I don’t want to devastate them."

"What do you think you’re doing to me?" She asked him. She stopped struggling and lay her head on his shoulder. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. As if not even a part of her body her arms went around his neck as she fell into the kiss. "Why Ridge? Why do you do this to me?" She cried.

His hands went to the zipper on the back of her dress and lowered it. He helped her step out of it as it fell to the floor. He stood back and looked at her in awe. She wore a black lace demi bra and matching thong. She had black garters holding up her hose. She looked at him and smiled. Her eyes lowered to his erection. Her hands slowly worked the buttons on his shirt. She slid it off him and reached to open the clasp on her bra. It fell to the ground and the two bare chests met. Her hands then opened the button on his pants. He pulled her away and quickly dispensed of them and his shorts in one quick pull. She laughed as he tried to kick off his shoes. She bent down and took them and his socks off. He lifted her into his arms and kissed her. She pulled her legs around him and he moaned as his erection strained against the silky fabric of her thong. He reached to touch her and she was so wet for him he groaned aloud. He laid her on a sturdy table and got on next to her. He brought his mouth to her thigh and licked and kissed his way up. He teased her through the flimsy thong with his tongue till she was writhing with desire.

"Take it off me." She begged.

Using his teeth he lowered the thong slightly. He pulled her legs wider apart and simulated the sex act with his tongue. "You taste so sweet." He muttered to her. "My sweet love, my Logan." He moaned. She pushed herself higher to his mouth. "You like this?" He asked.

"God yes." She moaned. "Don’t stop, please Ridge don’t ever stop."

He pulled the thong completely off and pulled her legs up over his shoulders. He reached and held her open with his hands and inserted his tongue again. She screamed in passion. He continued his erotic torture and then moved her legs down. "I need you Brooke, I need you." He said.

"Yes, oh yes my love." She said as she reached for him. Gently she guided him to her silky sheath. He moved in and out of her in a pulsating rhythm. She clutched at his back and dug her nails deeply in. "Yes, oh yes." She moaned. "I love you Brooke Logan." Ridge declared as he spilled his seed deep inside her.

 

"Mom? Dad? What’s wrong?" Becky asked as she walked inside her apartment. She sensed something was wrong.

"Oh honey we hate to have to do this." Tillie started.

"Do what?" She asked. "It’s not the baby? He’s alright isn’t he?"

"He’s find honey." Joe assured her. "But things aren’t that fine for us. We got problems in Furnace Creek and honey, we gotta go home."

"Home? But Kevin, who will watch him? I can’t lose this job, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me."

"We know that baby." Tillie told her. "And we found a solution. Ever since we knew we’d haveta be leavin’ you we been thinkin’ about what to do. Your Daddy thought up the plan. We found you a live in nanny."

"A live in nanny? Mom, how can I have someone live here that I don’t even know?"

"Well we talked to a lot of people, we did interviews. You’re gonna love this lady Beck, she’s a single Mom just like yourself. She needs a place for her and her little girl." Joe explained.

"She’s in the kitchen with Kevin now baby, and he loves her." Tillie said. "You just have to meet her."

"Alright." Becky said hesitantly. They walked into the kitchen and Becky watched from behind as a brunette was feeding and playing with her giggling baby.

"Hello." Becky said.

The attractive woman turned around and smiled at her. "Hello, I’m Sheila Morris and this," She gestured to a little girl by her side. "Is my daughter Mary."

 

Chapter 14

 

 

"Where were you?" Sean asked Brooke when she walked into his office. She appeared dazed, as if in a cloud.

"What?" She asked.

"Don’t tell me, you saw him."

She looked at him and a tear formed in her eye. "You don’t understand the power he has over me."

"It’s only because you let him. Brooke he isn’t good for you. If I believed he’s leave his wife and family for you I’d offer my support but I just don’t."

"I don’t either Sean." She said sadly. He walked to her and took her into his arms.

"Brooke you need some distance. You need to be far away from him."

"I can’t go now, not with everything the way it is."

"With Eric’s turnabout you can. Go visit your parents. Just a week or two could make all the difference in the world."

"I don’t like to run away and hide from my problems."

"I’m not suggesting that, I just think you need better prospective."

"I’ll think about it okay?" She said.

 

The loud music pulsated as Becky and Megan walked up to the bar in the club. Megan turned to Becky and shouted so she could hear her.

"So this woman is going to live with you?"

"On a trial basis." She answered.

"What?" Megan said holding her ear to Becky.

"On a trial basis." She repeated.

Megan laughed and turned to the bartender. "A Cosmopolitan please."

"Make that two!" Becky shouted.

Across the bar a young man dressed entirely in black watched them. He lifted his drink to his mouth and gulped without taking his eyes from them. "Steve." He said to the bartender. "You ever see those two before?"

"Who Sasha?" He asked him.

"Those at the end." He motioned to Becky and Megan.

"Ah, the rich bitches?" He laughed. "The tall blonde one’s been in before. This is the first I’ve seen of her friend."

"What are they drinking?"

"Cosmos." He said.

Sasha looked at him and laughed. "Trendy aren’t we?" He said as he took a gulp of his bourbon. "Find out more about them for me, especially the brunette."

 

Ridge sat in his car thinking before going inside. His life was a mess and he didn’t know what to do about it. He knew he loved and wanted Brooke, every moment with her was like a miracle, but still Taylor and the children were his family. He owed them something. Could he really just walk out on them? He rubbed his tired face and opened the car door. Tonight he had to deal with something else first. How was he going to convince Taylor now was not the time for another child?

 

"Eric? I didn’t know you were still here." Brooke said when he walked into Sean’s office.

"We’re a team Brooke." He smiled. "I have to do my part."

"And it’s much appreciated too." Sean said extending his hand to him. "I want to apologize for getting off to such a rough start."

"Apology accepted and I offer one of my own. I should have known Brooke only had the companies interest in mind." He put his arm around her shoulder. "But you look so tired Brooke. Why don’t you go home and rest? Sean and I can handle things tonight."

"Oh I am so tempted Eric but I’d feel way too guilty. But I will take tomorrow night off if you’re still willing."

"Oh course I am." He said. "Then what do you say we get to work?"

 

"Hi kids!" Ridge shouted to his children as he entered his living room. Shouts of Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Rang out. Taylor smiled as she walked in from the kitchen.

"I thought I heard your car. What took you?" She asked.

"I was listening to something on the radio." He said. He gave her a peck on the cheek. "Something smells good."

"I’m making an apple pie." She grinned.

"You hear that kids? We’re having pie for dinner." He teased.

"That’s dessert and you know it." She laughed. "We’re having lasagna for dinner. Yum." She said to the children. She turned back to Ridge. "So how was the rest of your day?"

"It was fine Doc." He said guiltily remembering his lovemaking with Brooke. "And yours?"

"Busy. I gave Catherine the day off so I am doing all the cooking."

"Uh oh." He said in a serious voice. "Have you informed the paramedics?"

"I’ll have you know I am still an excellent cook."

"I know that Doc." He said putting his arm around her. "How about some wine?" He asked.

"I just opened a bottle of Chianti." She said walking to the bar. She poured two glasses and brought one to him. "To us. May we always be as happy as we are right now." She toasted with a smile.

Ridge brought his glass to hers and then took a sip. "This is good."

"It’s from that new Vineyard we saw when we took that drive to San Francisco. I called them and had it shipped."

"It was a good choice." He told her. "Do you have time to sit and talk a moment?"

"For you? Always." She took his hand and led him to the couch. "What’s on your mind? Have you thought about my suggestion?"

"It’s barely been off my mind Doc." He said honestly.

"Shall we make a grand gesture of sending the pills down the toilet?" She said with a laugh.

"Well Doc, I don’t think so." He said. She looked at him with a confused expression.

 

Thorne opened the small box once more and stared at the large diamond ring. "This time you’ll say yes Brooke. I know it’s right for us. And you will too. You realize it’s over with Ridge, nothing stands in our way." He smiled and closed the box. "Tomorrow at this time you’ll be mine."

 

"What is that you’re looking at?" Kimberly said to herself as she watched Thorne through her binoculars. "Could it possibly be? Oh Thorne we will be so happy. I love you so much."

 

"Don’t look now but that guy is staring at you Becky." Megan said. Becky instantly turned to look across the bar at Sasha.

"He’s cute." She said.

"He’s creepy." Megan said. "He has an evil look about him. Don’t keep looking at him or he’ll come over."

"Maybe I want him to." Becky laughed.

"You’d want something like that when you have Sean?" Megan asked, turning up her nose.

"Variety is the spice of life."

"I’d stick with Sean if I were you." Megan said. "Oh damn! He’s headed this way."

Becky smiled but was disappointed when he walked right past them and up to a pretty blonde on the dance floor.

 

"I don’t understand Ridge." Taylor said. "I thought you loved our children as much as I do."

"You know I do Doc, I’m just not sure now is the time to be thinking about another child. Things are crazy at work and besides that, you had such rough times with Thomas and the girls."

"I’m not getting any younger." She said. "And I really want more kids."

Ridge took her hand. "Doc, I’m just not ready right now. I need to think about it more."

Tears filled her eyes. "I never expected this answer, never in a million years."

"It’s not forever. I just need more time."

"You’ve really disappointed me." She said getting up and walking out of the room.

"Tell her Ridge." He said softly to himself. "Tell her it’s over. Tell her you’re in love with Brooke."

 

The next day Brooke avoided Ridge at all times she was alone. He tried several times to catch her attention but she fought hard and didn’t give in. She was at her desk with the door closed when she looked at her watch. "Four o’clock. One hour and you’ll have done it." She said congratulating herself. She picked up the picture of Ridge in her drawer and looked at it. "I want to believe you so much. Oh please Ridge, don’t let me down again. Please don’t let me down again." She put the picture away and looked at the list in front of her and the one thing not crossed off was the one she had been putting off all day. "Stephanie." She said. "If Eric can go along with us you can too. I need to give it one last try." She got up and started her walk to Stephanie’s office.

 

Meanwhile Ridge was already there himself. He was sitting with her trying to reason with her.

"But Mother, even Dad agrees now. He’s working with us. He’s part of the team. I’m begging you to give up this revenge plan of yours."

"It’s not a revenge plan. I simply want what is ours. She’s had it too long. My plan will work."

"Tell me what you plan on doing."

"What? So you can stop me? No Ridge, I had hoped you and your father would support me but that woman has some kind of spell on you both. I haven’t given up on your brother though, she hurt him badly, just as we all warned him she would. He’ll help me and when he does and it all comes together you and your father will thank me."

"I could never thank you for hurting someone that it important to me."

"She shouldn’t be important to you. You have a wife and children. Do not let Brooke Logan ruin that for you!" She said angrily.

"Mother I want to talk to you about Taylor and me." He said. A smile crossed Stephanie’s face. Neither of them noticed Brooke standing outside the doorway.

"What is it honey?" She asked.

"Taylor wants to have another baby." He said.

"Oh honey! I’m so happy!" She said as she jumped up and hugged him.

Outside the office all the color drained from Brooke’s face. She fell back against the wall and slowly turned away. In tears she walked back to her office, grabbed her purse and let the building unnoticed.

 

Ridge pulled himself from her embrace. "Hold on Mother, it’s not what you think."

"What I think? What? Is there a new way to have babies?" She laughed.

"I told her no. I can’t have another child with her." He said quietly.

"Why on Earth not Ridge? You have three beautiful children, another will only add to your joy."

"I can’t do that Mother, I’m in love with Brooke."

 

Brooke was sitting in the dark in her living room when Thorne let himself in with the key he had kept. He immediately saw her on the couch and went to sit down next to her. He took her hand and held it. She threw herself into his arms and started to cry.

"It’s alright honey." He assured her. "I’m here and I won’t let anything bad happen to you."

"Oh Thorne." She cried. "He did it again. I trusted him and he did it again."

He held her face in his hands and gently kissed her tears. "I could kill him."

"No." She said. "It was me, I was the stupid one."

"He’ll never hurt you again Brooke." He swore to her. "I won’t let him."

"Please make my pain go away." She cried as he gently stroked her back. "I hurt so much, I feel like I’ve been shot."

"Shhhhh, honey it’s okay. I promise I’ll make it all better." He said to her. She clung to him as he held her and comforted her with soft touches and kisses.

 

"Plans tonight?" Megan asked Becky. She had finished her work and was ready to leave.

"Well yeah." Becky said. "I’m spending the night with Sean." She grinned.

"Did he find a place yet?"

"Actually he saw two he liked. He wants me to look at them."

"Wow, maybe he’ll ask you to move in." Megan suggested.

"I’m not ready for that." She said. "But I like that he wants my opinion."

"I don’t blame you." Megan laughed. "So did you get something special to wear tonight?"

"I plan on wearing my birthday suit." Becky giggled.

"But you need a seduction outfit." She grabbed her friend’s hand. "Come on, let’s check out the Brooke’s Bedroom stuff."

 

Stephanie clutched her chest and stared at her favorite son in shock. "No! No!" She shouted. "You did not say that! You did not say that!"

"Calm down Mother." He said as he rushed to give her a glass of water. "Drink this."

She took the water from him and sipped it. "This is a joke right? Taylor is going to walk in and tell me she’s pregnant. Ridge that was so cruel of you. Taylor!" She called out. "Come on out honey! Joke’s over!"

"It’s not a joke Mother. I’m in love with Brooke and I intend to marry her."

"What? How? You can’t Ridge! You’re married to Taylor."

"Mother, listen to me. Taylor is a wonderful woman, an amazing wife and mother. She has brought me nothing but joy."

"Then you stop it! You stop it at once!"

"I made a mistake, a terrible mistake and I have to fix it. I should never have left Brooke. She is my heart. She is my soul. I can’t live without her. I need her like I need the air I breathe. It took me a long time to realize it but I do and I can’t live this way anymore."

"But your family, your children?"

"I’ll still be their father, just like I was to Bridget."

"But you were never her father!" She spat.

"I was the only father that child knew, in some ways I still am. Do you think I stopped loving her when those tests came in?"

"You loved her as a sister."

"No mother, I still loved her as a child and I still love Brooke as a wife. And I need to be with her. Tonight I have to ask Taylor for a divorce."

"No! No! Think about this Ridge!"

"Do you think that I’ve thought about anything else?"

"That bitch! That bitch I’ll kill her!"

"No you won’t mother, because that bitch is going to be my wife."

 

"How about this one?" Megan said as she held up a sheer black teddy. "You’d look dynamite in this."

"Isn’t that a little much?" Becky laughed. "I really can’t see me as the seductress."

"Maybe." Megan agreed. She went through the pile a bit further. "Ooooh here’s something!" She said. She handed Becky a short ice blue nightie. "It’s sexy but it’s a little innocent too."

"It is cute." Becky said holding it up in front of her. "Thank God Brooke doesn’t have any of that crotchless stuff." She laughed. "I bet you’d want me to wear that."

"Brooke has way too much class for that." Megan laughed. "But I bet she would look great in it anyway."

"Brooke looks great in anything." Becky said. "That’s part of the problem. I worry that Sean is comparing us and I don’t even come close."

"Well you’re a lot younger than her."

"Like that matters when you look like Brooke." Becky giggled.

"Well it’s you he wants so don’t worry about it."

"You’re right! I won’t." She agreed. "And I’ll take the blue nightie."

 

Sheila Carter sang softly to her daughter as she unpacked her suitcase in the room Becky had given her. It was a nice room, homey and clean. "We’re going to like it here Mary." She said. "And even better, we can keep close tabs on the Forresters and when the time is right I’ll make my move and they’ll all pay for what they did to me. Especially you Stephanie." She said. "Especially you."

 

 

Taylor put the key into the car door when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She quickly turned around to see Pierce.

"We have to talk Taylor." He said. "It’s time."

"I’m busy Pierce, I don’t have time for you."

"Make the time." He said grabbing her keys.

"Hey!" She shouted. "Give me those."

"Give me ten minutes and I’m gone." He said. "Taylor we aren’t enemies."

"You want to ruin my life."

"No, I want to tell you the truth."

"Finally." She said. "Are you ready to admit you were wrong?"

"Can we sit somewhere?"

"I have to be somewhere." She said.

"All I’m asking for is ten minutes."

"Alright." She reluctantly agreed. "We can sit in my car."

"I’ll sit in the drivers seat."

"You don’t trust me?" She asked.

"Should I?" He laughed. He opened the car doors and they got in.

"I’m listening." She said.

"Read this." He said handing her a folder.

"I don’t want to." She said.

"Taylor please."

Slowly she opened it up and looked down at the papers inside. Her face looked calm but he could see the anger and sadness. She turned the last page and handed it back to him. "This proves nothing. You had no way of getting a sample of my baby’s blood."

"You don’t really believe that."

"It was you." She said. "I never would have allowed that! Never!"

"I know that, and I didn’t want to have to get a court order in case I was wrong, which as you can see, I’m not."

"And this other man that you tested?"

"Ridge."

"How?"

"I have my sources. But believe me it’s his. You’re free to repeat the tests yourself."

"I refuse to believe this."

"You know I don’t lie. And Taylor I want to see my daughters."

 

 

Thorne walked in from the kitchen and handed Brooke a cup of steaming tea. "Try to drink some honey."

"Thanks." She said quietly. She took a sip and put the cup down. "When will I ever learn?" She asked.

"I think you have." He said.

"Yeah." She whispered.

He sat next to her and took her hand. "Brooke, I know the timing isn’t right and I know you don’t love me the way you love him but I love you so much. I could be so good for you and I swear I’ll make you happy."

"You’re the only one who can." She said softly.

"What I’m trying to say is." He smiled and took the box from his pocket and opened it. "Brooke, will you marry me?"

Brooke looked down at the ring and then into his eyes. Tears poured from her own eyes. "Thorne, I’m no good. I’m not worth it. Why would you want a woman who was in love with your brother?"

"Because I know that I can make you love me and I have enough love for both of us. What do you say Brooke? Will you marry me?"

She stared at the ring and watched as a single tear fell onto the perfect diamond. She once more looked up at him. "Yes. Yes, Thorne, I’ll marry you."

Chapter 15

 

Brooke opened her eyes and stared at the man beside her in confusion. "Thorne?" She whispered. She looked down at the diamond on her finger. "Oh Ridge." She moaned as she started to cry again. Her soft sobs woke Thorne who sat up in the bed.

"Morning honey." He said with a soft kiss.

"Hi." She whispered. "How? I mean I don’t remember what."

"You fell asleep. I carried you in here, you asked me to stay."

"Did we?" She asked in a frightened, childlike voice.

"I would hope my lovemaking would be more memorable than that, but no. I would never take advantage of you like that."

"Thank you." She said. "I guess I was really wiped out last night."

"It was an emotional night for both of us. I hope you aren’t feeling any regrets."

"Me?" She asked. "I’d think you’d be the one regretting proposing to someone in love with your brother."
"I already told you, time will change that. Time and my love for you."

"Are you really sure Thorne? I won’t hold you to it." She said taking the ring off.

"Don’t you dare take that off." He smiled. "I’m going to make you the best husband any woman ever had. I promise you that, and you will make me the happiest man alive."

"I hope I can live up to your expectations."

"I have no doubts." He took her into his arms and kissed her with passion. She sighed and returned his kiss as best as she could. She suddenly noticed she was naked.

"Did you undress me?" She asked.

"Guilty. But honey I swear I didn’t touch you."

"I’m just not ready for that yet." She said. "Can you deal with that?"

"I can and I will."

She pulled him close and held him tightly as the tears started again.

 

 

"Good morning." Sean said to Becky as he handed her a steaming cup of coffee.

"Morning." She smiled. "Thanks." She said after she took a sip of the strong brew. "You make good coffee."

"Wait till you taste my pancakes."

"You can’t make pancakes in a hotel room." She laughed.

"True, but once I get my own place I promise to make them for you, but for now we have to rely on room service. Any requests?"

"I’m famished." She said. "We worked up quite an appetite last night, at least I did."

"It was wonderful." He agreed. "So what shall I order?"

"Anything, and lot’s of it with a big glass of orange juice."

"Your wish is my command." He laughed as he reached for the phone.

 

Ridge walked into his office and was shocked to see Stephanie sitting at his desk.

"Mother?" He said. "What’s going on?"

She got up and closed the door. "Tell me you didn’t, please tell me you didn’t."

"Didn’t what?" He asked her.

"You didn’t tell Taylor what you told me last night."

"No, I didn’t." He said.

"Thank God, you’ve come to your senses."

"Not exactly Mother, we didn’t talk at all last night. Taylor had a headache and went to bed. I stayed up with the children and when I went to talk to her she was asleep, but I am going to talk to her, that is a promise."

"Oh Ridge no. You can’t give up your family for that tramp."

"If you continue to speak that way about Brooke I just can’t talk to you Mother."

"I’m just telling it like it is," She said angrily. "That woman has bedded every man in this family and then started all over. What makes you think once she’s done with you she won’t move on to your father?"

"That’s enough Mother."

"Taylor is a good woman, a wonderful wife and mother."

"I don’t deny that."

"Then how can you do this to her?"

"I’m in love with Brooke Mother, I think I’ve always been in love with her. I just never let myself believe it. I was always trying to do the right thing and it seems I never once did it. I have taken the woman I loved and let her down time after time and I will not do it again. I love Brooke and I want to marry her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I will always be there for my children but I can not deny my own happiness any longer."

"Alright now you listen to me." She said getting up and putting her face right up to his. "You want her to bed her, she excites you. That’s all it is Ridge. You’ve been married awhile and it’s making you nervous, you feel you aren’t attractive anymore. That is a normal experience for men. So this is what I want you to do. You go to Brooke and you f*ck her, you take her on the floor, you take her on the tables, you take her in the damn lab like you did before and then you forget her! You forget her and go home to your wife where you belong!"

Ridge looked at her and started to laugh. "You’re a little too late for that advice."

"Get her out of your system and forget her. She’ll never be what you want or need. She’s good at what she does, seducing married men. You cannot throw your life away for that woman! You can’t!"

"You’re not being fair to Brooke. When I first fell in love with her I was not married, I was a free man."

"And you chose not to marry her now didn’t you?"

"Things happened. It wasn’t right at the time."

"And then she stole your father from me."

"No Mother, you and dad were separated."

"We would have reconciled."

"You don’t know that."

"We would have Ridge." She insisted.

"Well even if it were true it wasn’t just Brooke, Dad was responsible for his own actions."

"And then she tried to break you and Taylor up."

"And that was my first mistake. I gave up the woman I loved to save my father’s marriage, a marriage that was doomed from the start. I never should have left her."

"But you did and you and Taylor were happy."

"Yes, we were happy. But I could never get Brooke out of my head and Taylor knew that. She was insecure and unhappy so much of the time. And then when we thought she had died."

"That tramp set her eyes on you again."

"No, not true either. I fought like hell to win her back and when Taylor returned I couldn’t leave Brooke, I loved her far too much."

"You stayed for the children."

"That was part of it but not the main reason."
"But you found your way back to Taylor after Brooke cheated on you."

"Which never happened. That was you, you and Taylor that made me believe that."

"You can’t possibly think it was innocent between them. She married him Ridge!"

"I know they had feelings, but I had feelings for Taylor too. I should have trusted Brooke, I should have heard her out but I didn’t. Again circumstances got in the way."

"But you married Taylor again Ridge. Doesn’t that tell you something?"

"I love her. Yes Mother I love her very much. I’ll never deny that."

"Then how can you do this to her?"

"I need Brooke. Can’t you understand that?"

"No! No, I can’t. You married her when she tried to trick you with that fake pregnancy."

"She was pregnant!"

"I’ll never believe that."

"And I always will. And then I made the worst mistake in my life. I left her. I loved her so much and I left her."

"You had a child."

"And I had a wife and I abandoned her, and now I thank God that she’s agreed to let me back into her life, to love her again. And I swear I will never let her down again."

 

Thorne walked into the bedroom with coffee and handed it to Brooke. She had showered and was in her robe.

"You look better." He said.

"Thanks."

"So honey, why doen’t you get dressed and then we can head to my place, I’ll change and we can go to the office together."

"I’ll be fine Thorne, you go ahead and I’ll see you there. I need to do a couple of things."

"I hate to leave you alone."

"I’m fine, really." She smiled at him.

"Okay then." He leaned over and kissed her. "I’ll see you in a little while." She waved to him and he left her room and headed down the stairs. When she heard the front door open and close she picked up the phone and punched in a number.

"Hello, this is Brooke Logan. I want a ticket on the earliest flight today for Paris. No, one-way."

 

"Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Megan said to Becky when her friend came in.

"It was wonderful. He’s so romantic."

"Did he like the nightie?" Megan laughed.

"I don’t know if he even noticed it." Becky grinned.

"So what did you do?"

"Well we went to dinner at this outdoor place. The food was great and we had wine and we shared a chocolate mousse. Then we took a walk on the beach again. Then we went to the boardwalk. We went on rides and played games. We ate cotton candy and we laughed and laughed. Then we went to look at one of the condo’s."

"Was it nice?"

"Sean asked me if I liked it. It was so cool. It had a big balcony and a fireplace and the bedroom had this huge bathroom with a Jacuzzi. I told him I loved it so he wrote a check right then and there for a deposit. He asked the agent if we could look around a little more and she left and we did it in the Jacuzzi." She giggled.

"Wow." Megan smiled.

"Then we went back to the hotel and you will never believe this."

"What?" She asked. "Come on Beck, tell me."

"We got into the elevator and headed up to his floor."

"Yeah."

"He pushed some button and stopped it and we did it right there in the elevator!"

"Oh my God!" Megan giggled.

"Then we got to his floor and he looked out to make sure no one was around so he carried me naked to his room and we went right to the bed and did it again."

"Becky!" Megan laughed. "You guys are too much."

"Well we did take a rest then. We watched some old movies on TV and we had more wine and then I went and put on the nightie but he pulled it right off me and said he wanted to be able to look at my beautiful body." She giggled. "And I sure looked at his too."

They looked at each other and started to laugh.

"What’s so funny girls?" Thorne asked as he walked up to them. He had a huge grin on his face and he was carrying a bouquet of wild flowers.

"Nothing." They both answered and started to laugh again.

"Okay, I get it, girl talk." He smiled. "Megan is my mother in yet?"

"She’s in with Ridge."

"Great." He handed her the flowers. "Do me a favor and put these in Brooke’s office."

"Brooke? What about Kimberley?"

"These are for Brooke." He said as he headed towards Ridge’s office.

 

"You want me to what?" The florist asked the young man in front of her.

"I want you to dye them black, you can do that can’t you?"

"Of course I can but they are so beautiful as they are."

"Am I not paying you enough?" He asked handing her several bills.

"Solid black?" She asked.

"You can let a little of the red show through, blood red," He laughed. "But mostly black." He said. He picked up a card and wrote something on it and put it in an envelope. He made a show of licking the envelope closed turning the simple task into something highly sexual and seductive. He handed it to the florist. "They have to be sent right away. Becky Moore at Forrester Creations."

"Very well sir." She said.

He gave her a once over, laughed and walked out.

 

"I’m glad I found you both." Thorne said with a smile as he walked into Ridge’s office.

"I’m sorry honey but Ridge and I are having an important discussion. Can’t this wait?" Stephanie said to her younger son.

"Actually no." He said. "But I want Dad here too."

"Is this some kind of announcement?" Ridge asked.

"Possibly." Thorne teased. "Call Dad, will you Mom?"

Stephanie picked up the phone and called Eric’s number. "Honey, I’m in Ridge’s office with he and Thorne, can you come down for a moment? Thanks dear." She turned to Thorne. "He’ll be right here."

 

Brooke sighed as she closed the suitcase. She picked it up and put it next to the other one on the floor. "I’m sorry Thorne, but I need to get away and think. I just can’t deal with this here, I just can’t." She picked up the phone again and punched in a number. "It’s Brooke Logan again. I’m ready to be picked up but I need to make one stop before the airport. Yes. Forrester Creations. No, no. I want you to wait I’ll only be a few minutes. Alright, thank you, I’ll be waiting."

 

"What is it son?" Eric asked as he joined his family. "I’m very busy."

"Sorry Dad, it won’t take long." Thorne smiled. "But I have some news and I wanted to share it with the family before anyone else knew."

"Don’t tell me you’ve gotten yourself into trouble with that teenaged Lolita of yours little brother." Ridge laughed. Stephanie gave him a punch.

"Not quite Ridge."

"Well go on, tell us." Stephanie said.

"I’m getting married." Thorne said.

"Oh Thorne, come on. She’s just a kid." Ridge said with disgust.

"She’s a lovely young lady Ridge." Stephanie said. "I’m surprised but not unhappy." She went to hug her son.

"Wait!" Thorne started to laugh. "I’m not marrying Kimberly."

"You’re not?" Eric asked. "Then who on Earth are you marrying?"

"Brooke." Thorne beamed.

A look of shock and then horror came over Ridge’s face while his mother smiled and hugged Thorne.

 

 

"Morning Brooke." Megan smiled at her boss as she came in.

"Hello Megan." Brooke said as she rushed by and into the office. She started pulling things out of her drawers and making a pile on her desk. "Megan!" She called. "Please come help me."

Megan quickly got up and came in. "What can I do?"

"I need to get all this stuff to Sean. Please straighten it out and box it up. Also direct all my calls to him."

"Are you going somewhere Brooke?’

"Yes but I can’t talk about it." She said.

"Oh my God Brooke!" Megan said grabbing her hand. "Does it have something to do with this?" She asked as she gazed at the ring.

"Not exactly. Please Megan, don’t ask questions." She grabbed one last folder and put it on the pile. "I’m going to go talk to Sean and I’ll be gone. Please tell anyone that asks anything to see him."

"Okay Brooke." She said.

 

"Well honey, I’m surprised but if you’re happy." Stephanie said with a hug to Thorne.

"I am Mother, and so is Brooke. We finally are both at the same place at the same time."

"That’s impossible." Ridge said. "Brooke would never say yes to you."

"Well she did Ridge." Thorne smiled. "And we are planning on a quick wedding."

"No, this can’t be happening! It can’t!" Ridge shouted. He looked at his smiling mother and brother and stormed out of the office.

 

Brooke walked past Becky and into Sean’s office shutting the door behind her.

"What’s wrong?" He asked.

"I did something, I don’t know why I did it or if I should have or anything. I just know I have to get out of here."

"Slow down and tell me."

"I can’t slow down. My driver is waiting. I need to tell you and only you and I need you to promise you won’t tell anyone, especially Ridge."

"You have my word."

"I’m going to Paris, to see my family. Sean my whole life is a mess. I’m in love with Ridge, he doesn’t want me, in fact he’s more committed to Taylor now then he was before we started to sleep together again. I’ve let him hurt me too many times and I just can’t go through it again."

"Okay, so far I agree with everything. What’s the big hurry?"

"This." She said holding up her left hand.

"Brooke?"

"Thorne, he was there for me when my world caved in. He asked me and I said yes." She fell crying into his arms. "Sean I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do. All I know is I have to get away."

"Does Thorne know?"

"No."

"Do you want him to know?"

"No Sean, please only you."

"Okay baby." He said holding her close. "It’s our secret."
"I,I have Megan sending all the files to you. Please work with Eric and Ridge, please make things work out for the showing."

"You know I will." He promised. "And you’ll call me, keep me up to date?"

"I will. Just please don’t even let anyone know that you know anything."

"Brooke." He said smoothing her hair. "You take all the time you need. Make your decisions. You know I’ll be here for you." He kissed her forehead. "Now what about Bridget?"
"She’s staying with a friend. I told her I was going to London on business. If she isn’t happy she can stay with Eric and Stephanie."

"Okay then, you go, be safe, be happy and call me. Please call me."

"I will Sean." She hugged him tightly. "I have to go." She kissed him on the lips and left.

 

"Where is she?" Ridge demanded of Megan.

"I don’t know Ridge, she came in, pulled some things out and took off."

"Damn it Logan!" He shouted. He turned to head down the hall and saw her heading towards her office. "Brooke!" He called to her.

She turned pale and stopped short. He quickly ran up to her. "Tell me it’s not true Logan, tell me it’s not true." He begged her.

She stared at him wordlessly. He reached for her hand and gazed at the ring. "No, Logan, no. You can’t do this, we were so close."

"I have to go Ridge, we, we can talk about this later."

"Now Brooke, we have to settle this now."

"It’s already settled." She said. "I’m marrying Thorne, now let me by."

"You can’t, you don’t love him."

"You know nothing about love." She said as tears streamed from her eyes. "I have to go."

He grabbed her arm. "This isn’t over Logan."

"Yes it is." She said sadly. She pulled herself free and ran from him.

"It’s not over Logan." Ridge said to himself. "I love you and I will not let you marry him. No Logan, it’s not over at all."

 

Chapter 16

 

Brooke leaned back in her seat and fastened her seat belt. She looked out the window and sighed. "Los Angeles, I wonder when I’ll see you again." She whispered.

"Can I get you anything before we take off Ms. Logan?" The flight attendant asked her.

"A glass of water please." She said. "And can I use my phone?"

"Not yet, we’ll announce when it’s alright again." She said with a smile.

"Thank you." Brooke smiled back. "I hope you aren’t going to be too upset to see me Mom." She said with a laugh. "Cause I sure do need you."

 

"Catherine." Taylor called. "I need to talk to you. It’s very important."

"Yes Mrs. Forrester." She said as she entered the room.

"You know Dr. Peterson don’t you?"

"Oh yes ma’am. He’s very nice and very handsome."

"Did you let him in when I wasn’t at home? Did he come to see the children?"

"Why would he do that?"

"Just answer me Catherine." She said with a touch of annoyance.

"No. I would never let someone other than family in to see the children."

"Alright Catherine." She said. "He’s sneaky, he must have found another way."

"Dr. Peterson was here? With the children?" She asked her boss.

"I have reason to think so." Taylor sighed. "But it’s alright, no harm was done. He’d never hurt them. But we all have to be more careful."

"Yes ma’am, I promise I will be."

"I have to go out. I want you to make sure you are with the children at all times Catherine, is that clear?"

"Absolutely."

"Good." Taylor said. She grabbed her purse and keys and left.

 

Eric entered Ridge’s office and found his son in an extremely bad mood. He had balled up pieces of paper all over the place and he was drawing as if it was a race.

"What’s wrong son? You ran out of here before like there was a fire."

"What? Mother didn’t tell you?"

"It upset you, Thorne’s announcement?"

"That’s putting it mildly."

"I know you still care about her son, we all do, but you’ve moved on. You and Taylor have a wonderful life together and a beautiful family. Perhaps Brooke and Thorne can do the same too."

"No Dad, she can’t marry him."

"You can’t tell her what to do Ridge. Even your mother has accepted it. You need to give them both your best wishes and stand aside."

"I love her Dad."

"Then let her be happy."

"She can’t be happy with him."

"Ridge, you can’t expect her to live her life alone. You made your choice. Now you have to let her go."

"You don’t understand."

"Oh I understand more than you think. I still dream of her. She’s an extraordinary woman. A woman that gets under your skin. I woman that no matter what you can never forget."

"I need her. I love her."

"But she’s not yours anymore."

"That’s where you’re wrong. We’ve been together again for a couple of weeks. Dad we’re still in love."

"Come on Ridge, you’re married to Taylor now, it’s not fair of you to play games with Brooke anymore. And apparently she’s in love with Thorne now."

"She’s not. It’s all some kind of misunderstanding. She doesn’t believe in me, but she will."

"You’re serious aren’t you?"

"I’m going to marry her. It will take some time but we will be together again."

"And your mother knows this?" A flabbergasted Eric asked.

"Yes."

"And Taylor? What have you told her?"

"Nothing, that’s the hard part. I don’t want to hurt her but I can’t live a lie and I can’t live without Brooke anymore." Ridge looked at his father with sad eyes.

"This is going to be hard on your wife Ridge but I do understand how you feel, somehow I’ve always known deep inside that you never stopped loving Brooke."

Ridge looked at him and laughed. "I wish you had told me Dad, it would have spared us all a lot of heartache."

"I tried son, I tried."

 

"Hi Megan." Thorne said with a big smile. "I’ve been trying to find Brooke but I can’t seem to catch up with her. Can you give me a hint where to look?"

"Thorne she left. She came in and pulled some files for Sean and left."

"Oh she must be at home. No wonder I can’t find her. Did she at least see the flowers?"

"I really can’t say. She barely said three words to me. But she did run into Ridge before she left. Maybe she told him where she went."

"I don’t think she’d be telling him anything but thanks anyway Megan."

"Oh" She said stopping him. "By the way, Kimberly was looking for you."

"Kimberly." He said softly. "I’m going to have to break it to her."

"Break what?" She asked.

"Well, it’s not a secret. Brooke and I are getting married." He smiled.

"Oh Thorne." She jumped up and hugged him. "I’m so happy for both of you. When did this happen?"

"I proposed yesterday and she said yes."

"Oh course, the ring. It was beautiful Thorne."

"Thanks Megan." He said. "But I have to find Brooke and Kim."

"Well good luck Thorne, and congratulations."

 

"Dr. Forrester, I’m so glad to see you." The receptionist at the clinic greeted Taylor. "Dr. Peterson said he wasn’t sure if you were coming back."

"Well I’m not really back." Taylor answered. "I’m looking for Pierce. Is he here today?"

"He’s in your office Doctor."

"Thank you Missy." She said as she put her hand on the doorknob. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "We have to talk Pierce, we have to talk now."

"Good morning Taylor." He said with a smile. "It’s good to have you back."

She walked in and shut the door. "You know as well as I do that I am not back."

"Alright." He said getting up from her desk and walking to the window. "Then is this about my children?"

"It’s about MY children Pierce, mine and Ridge’s."

"You have the facts Taylor."

"Why are you doing this Pierce? Why are you trying to ruin my life?’

He turned to face her. "I’m not. If you want to stay with Ridge I’m not going to stop you and I have no intentions of trying to take the children from you."

"I’d die before I let you." She said through clenched teeth.

"Taylor." He said as he grabbed her by the shoulders. "I am not your enemy."

"Then stop this nonsense now Pierce. Leave my family alone."

"The girls are my daughters Taylor. I know you don’t like that but it’s a fact. I want to be a part of their lives, I have a right."

"No." She said. "They are not your children, they’re not."

"Why is that so terrible? When did you come to hate me so much?"

"Oh please. You come around, tear my life apart, claim paternity of my children and you have the nerve to ask what’s so terrible? I have a husband that I love. This will kill him Pierce and it will kill me too. You and I made a mistake, one stupid mistake and now my babies are going to have to pay for it for the rest of their lives?"

"So you expect me to just stand back and pretend that they aren’t mine? What kind of man would do that?"

"If you care anything about me you will." She said.

"What do I get out of it?" He asked.

"Are you trying to strike a bargain? What is it you want?"

"What can you give me?"

"Oh God." She said. "Is it me you want? Is it sex?"

"For God’s sake Taylor!" He said angrily. "What kind of man do you think I am? I don’t want anything from you. I want to get to know my children, I want to be a part of their lives. I want to be your friend. I don’t want to destroy anything."

"Pierce I beg you to forget this, forget all of this. My children are happy and secure, you’ll take that from them. Is that what you want for them?"

"You’re still not ready." He said. "Aright, we can wait. But I want to see them, as your friend. And I want you to come back to work."

"And if I do you’ll drop this?"

"For now, but not forever." He said.

"Pierce." She said with a pleading look.

"It’s the best I can do."

"That’s blackmail." She said.

"I’m giving you the time you need and you’re doing what you promised to do in the first place, to me it sounds like a win win situation."

 

 

"Ms. Logan, you can use the phone now." The flight attendant told Brooke.

"Thank you." She smiled and reached for the phone. She swiped her credit card and punched in a number. "Be home Mom, please be home."

"Bonjour." Beth’s voice rang from the other side.

"Mom." Brooke said with a sigh of relief.

"Brooke, honey what’s wrong?"

"Everything." She said.

"Oh dear, well tell me about it." Beth said.

"I will, but not over the phone."

"What do you mean?" Beth asked. "Where are you?"

"I’m on a plane on the way to Paris to see you and Dad."

"Oh Brooke, I wish you had called first."

"I am calling. What is it Mom? Are you leaving town?" A disappointed Brooke asked.

"Not if you need me honey. Never mind me. When does your plane get in, I’ll pick you up."

"I can take a cab. I just can’t wait to see you Mom, I really need the two of you so much right now."

"You have me very worried honey."

"As long as I have my family I can make it through anything." Brooke told her. "I’ll see you soon Mom, give Dad a kiss for me too." She said before she hung up. "Okay Brooke one more call." She told herself as she punched another number.

"Thorne Forrester."

"Hi." She said.

"Brooke! Honey where are you? I’ve been looking all over for you."

"Thorne, please forgive me. I had to get away. Too much is happening too fast. I can’t seem to deal with it."

"Brooke? Where are you?"

"I’m on my way to London to visit a friend. I need some space."

"What are you telling me?"

"Just to give me some room."

"And our plans?"

"Nothing has changed, if you still want me." She said tearfully.

"Of course I want you, but I want to be with you honey."

"And you will be, just not right now. I have to go now Thorne, please don’t worry about me."

"I love you Brooke." He said.

"I know." She said and hung up.

 

 

"What?" Becky said as she returned to her desk and found a box from a florist. "Oh Sean." She smiled as she opened it. "Huh?" She said when she saw the black flowers. "How strange." She said. She got up and searched until she found a vase. She then put the strange flowers in water and placed the vase on her desk. It was then that she saw the card. She opened it up and to her surprise it read:

Tonight, 9 o’clock, Passions

"That’s the club Megan and I went to." She whispered. "That guy!" She said excitedly. "These are from that guy! I know they are!"

"What the hell are they?" Sean asked as he came out of his office.

"Roses." Becky said.

"Black roses? Where did you find them? Don’t tell me my girlfriend is into Gothic?"

"They’re from a friend of mine." She said.

"Is it your birthday or something?" He asked her.

"No, it’s just for no reason." She said.

"Hmmm. I better watch my back, looks like someone wants to give me some competition."

"Never." She smiled.

"So anything special you’d like to do tonight?" He asked her.

"Oh Sean. I really want to spend time with Kevin tonight. You don’t mind do you?"

"Now how can I compete with a cute guy like him." He grinned. "One of these days we’re going to have to start getting him used to having me around."

"How about this weekend?" She suggested. "We could take him to the zoo or the beach or something."

"That’s a great idea." He said. "Okay, in that case I’ll let you and your son have a private date tonight."

"Thanks." She smiled.

"I have to go see Eric. I’ll be back in about an hour." He walked to her and kissed her.

"I’ll miss you." She said. He smiled and walked away. Becky looked down at the card in her hand. "It has to be him." She smiled. "My mystery man."

 

"Merci." Brooke said to the taxi driver as she got out at her parent’s house. She grabbed her bags and walked to the door and rang the bell.

"Brooke!" Beth Logan said with a hug. "Oh honey it’s so good to see you."

"Mom." Brooke said as the tears started flowing again. "Darn, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry again."

"Come on inside and tell me everything." Beth said as she grabbed one of Brooke’s bags. Brooke took the other and followed her inside. "I fixed up the guest room for you. There’s clean sheets and everything you need if you want to take a bath."

"You think of everything." Brooke smiled as she wiped her face.

"Sit down, I’ll get us some coffee and we can talk."

Brooke sat down and picked up a magazine and looked at it until her mother returned. She then put it down and smiled at her. "The place looks pretty Mom, it really feels like home."

"It’s your home whenever you need it honey. Now tell me what’s wrong."

"Oh God, where do I start?" Brooke wondered as she pushed the hair from her face.

"Well you might want to start with that rock on you left hand." Beth said. "Who Brooke? I had no idea you were involved with anyone that seriously."

"If you don’t mind I think I want to go back a bit first." Brooke said.

"Alright but don’t keep me in suspense." Beth agreed.

"You remember Sean Damon?" Brooke asked her.

Beth’s eyes widened and she smiled.

"It’s not his ring." Brooke said. "But he came back to LA. He asked me for a job at Forrester. He actually opened my eyes to problems we were having."

"But no romance this time?" Beth asked.

"Not really. We tried but it didn’t really work. Anyway Sean and I decided we had to redo the entire line so we brought Ridge in."

"Oh dear. That’s like oil and water."

"You’re telling me." Brooke laughed. "But somehow we were able to convince him we were right. And he agreed to work with us."

"Alright. But so far I don’t see any major problems."

"Ridge and I were fighting like cats and dogs and Sean kept teasing me, he kept alluding that I was still in love with him."

"Oh Brooke." Beth said. "Please don’t tell me that you are letting yourself get involved with a married man, and not Ridge Forrester again."

"Mother please, let me finish." Brooke said.

"I don’t like the sound of this Brooke."

"Alright, you win. It is Ridge. Sean was right. I am still in love with him."

"Brooke he’s hurt you so many times and he’s married, married with three children."

"You don’t think I wanted this to happen did you?"

"Does Ridge know. Have you made moves towards him?"

"Why is it always me Mom? Isn’t it possible that it was Ridge?"

"What happened Brooke?"

"We were spending a lot of time together, we worked long nights together. I don’t know how it happened but it did. We made love."

"Oh dear God." Beth said to her daughter. "Why do you let him get to you like that? It only happened once right? Right Brooke?"

"No. It happened a few times. And he told me he loved me."

"I could kill that man."

"You don’t think he does?" A sad Brooke asked.

"I’m sure he loves you but he is not going to end his marriage for you Brooke, he’s let you down time after time, when will you learn?"

"I told him I never wanted to see him again. I stayed away from him. I even started dating again, but I can’t get him out of my head."

"Then who are you engaged to?" Beth asked. "Brooke honey this doesn’t make sense."

"I had done a good job of staying away from Ridge. I avoided him every time he came around. If I had to be with him I made sure I wasn’t alone. And then I was in the lab."

"And you saw him again."

"And he said all the right things and he made me feel so special. And we made love, and it was better than it had ever been before and he told me he wanted to divorce Taylor and marry me. He told me to believe in him, that we would have the life we wanted. Oh Mom, I wanted to believe him so badly."

"What did he do to you?" Beth asked. "What did that man do to you?"

"I was going to see Stephanie about the new line, Eric had finally come aboard and I wanted her to join us."

"She’ll never take your side Brooke, it’s a matter of principle for her."

Brooke looked at her mother and the tears began to pour down her face. "I was just about to go in when I heard her talking to Ridge. They were, they were, oh God Mom." Brooke burst into sobs as her mother took her into her arms.

"What happened Brooke?" Beth softly asked her.

"Ridge told Stephanie that he and Taylor were trying to have another child."

"Oh honey." Beth cried as she held and rocked her daughter. "That bastard! I could tear him apart with my bare hands."

"I believed him Mom, I really did. I really thought he loved me and wanted a life with me but all he wanted was sex."

Beth held and comforted her daughter as she cried. She stroked her head and soothed her tears and held her hand until Brooke was strong enough to continue.

"So then I knew it was over, but I still love him so much. Everything that happened, everything we did it just made me aware of how much I love him. But I had to get away from him."

"So you came here, to me. But Brooke that doesn’t explain the ring."

"I was so lost and so alone. Then Thorne came to me and took me out. We walked and talked and he made me feel like I was worth something. He asked me to marry him and I agreed."

"But Brooke, you don’t love him."

"But he loves me." She said. "And I need to exorcise Ridge from my soul."

"By marrying his brother? A man you aren’t in love with?"

"He’s a good man and he makes me happy."

"So was Grant and look what happened."

"Then I guess I’ll never be happy because I know now that I will never truly love anyone but Ridge."

"Megan you have to come out with me." Becky begged her friend. "I don’t want to go alone."

"Go where?" Megan asked.

"Look, come by my desk, that will explain everything. But then you have to come with me tonight."

"I’ll be right there." Megan said. She hung up and made her way to Becky’s desk.

"What are those?" Megan asked as she turned up her nose.

"Roses." Becky said.

"They’re black." Megan said.

"Yeah, I think they’re sexy." Becky smiled.

"Where did they come from?" Megan asked. "Not Sean I hope."

"From that guy." Becky grinned.

"What guy?"

"The one at Passions. The guy at the bar, the guy in black."

"The loser?" Megan asked.

"He’s not a loser, he’s cute."

"Come on Becky, what do you want with him? You have a great guy in Sean."

"But he interests me. Come on Meg, you might meet someone yourself. Isn’t it time you worried about your own love life?"

"My love life is fine thank you." Megan said.

"You haven’t had a real date in a month."

"Things are slow, they’ll pick up."

"Starting tonight, at Passions. Please Meg?" Becky begged her.

"Oh alright! But be careful, I got a bad feeling about that guy."

 

Thorne opened the door to his office and reached for the light but it wouldn’t come on. "Damn, I guess I need to get maintenance." He said aloud.

"You got all you need right here." Kimberly said as she put her arms around him.

"Kimberly, I was looking for you." He told her.

"Well you found me, now what are you gonna do about it?" She purred as she rubbed his chest.

"We have to talk, now what did you do to the light?"
"We don’t need a light." She said. She brought her mouth to his and kissed him but was shocked when he pulled away.

"I mean it Kim, we have to talk."

"I’d rather f*ck." She laughed. "We can talk after."

"There won’t be an after." He said. He inched his way to his desk and turned on the lamp. His eyes immediately fell on Kimberly who was wearing a shocking pink teddie.

"You like?" She said coyly.

"You look great but we have to talk."

She walked over to the desk and sat on top of it, crossing her long legs. She pulled the tie to the teddie exposing her voluptuous breasts.

"Kimberly please." Thorne said. "You are making this very hard for me."

"That’s the idea." She smiled.

"Kimberly I don’t want to hurt you."

"Believe me, it doesn’t hurt." She said sexily.

"Kim I guess I just have to come out and say this."

"You can come all you want, I promise you that."

"Damn it Kim." He said. "I can’t do this with you anymore, it’s over."

"Why?" She asked. Her face suddenly took on a childlike appearance of disappointment and a slight pout.

"Because I asked Brooke to marry me and she said yes."

"Brooke? You’re giving me up for Brooke?" She said to him.

"I love her Kim, you’ve known that from the start."

"No!" She said. "You love me."

"No Kim, you knew that it was never love for us. I never pretended otherwise. We had some fun but it’s over. I’m getting married."

"How can you do this to me?" She asked him as the tears started to flow from her eyes. "I gave myself to you, I was a virgin."

"I never meant to hurt you Kimberly."

"I won’t accept this Thorne. I won’t!"

"I’m sorry but I love her."

She grabbed her robe and ran out of his office in tears.

"Oh Kimberly, I really am sorry." He whispered.

 

Kimberly ran into the ladies room and splashed water on her face. "You’ll never have him Brooke, he’s mine. Mine!"

Chapter 17

 

Beth Logan opened the guest room door to check on her sleeping daughter. What a shock it had been to learn that once again Ridge Forrester was the cause of her pain. Beth was determined not to let him or his brother hurt her anymore. But she knew she couldn’t shield her from everything. Soon it would be time for Brooke to learn something that would cause her even more hurt. She walked over to the bed and tenderly, with a mother’s touch caressed her daughter’s cheek. She was surprised when Brooke’s hand reached to grab hers.

"Mom." Brooke said.

"I’m sorry honey, I didn’t mean to wake you."

"That’s okay. I didn’t come to sleep anyway." Brooke said as she sat up.

"It looks to me like you haven’t been doing much sleeping lately."

"Not good sleep anyway." Brooke smiled.

"Are you hungry? I can make us something to eat."

"Thanks Mom, I think I am. But shouldn’t we wait for Dad?" She asked.

"Brooke I have to talk to you about something." Beth started.

 

"This place is rocking tonight." Becky said to Megan as they walked into Passions. "I wonder if he’s here yet." She said as she surveyed the dance floor.

"I really think this was a bad idea Becky." Megan told her friend. "I still don’t understand what you want with a guy like that when you have Sean."

"Oh come on Meg. He’s mysterious, he’s exciting."

"He could be dangerous."

"Is that so terrible?"

"Yes!" An astonished Megan said.

"Silly." Becky giggled. "Let’s get a table."

They walked to the bar area and were lucky to find a small unoccupied table. They sat down and Becky started swinging in her chair to the music as she continued to look around.

"Don’t look so desperate." Megan warned her.

 

Tony, the bartender watched Becky and Megan as they sat down. He looked at his watch. "Right on time." He laughed as the phone rang behind him. He turned and reached for it. "Passions, Tony here."

"Did she come?" Sasha asked.

"She’s here." He assured him.

"You have the rose and the note?"

"I got it."

"Good. Go bring it to her. I’ll see you later." Sasha said and then disconnected.

 

"Oh no." Becky said to Megan as she saw the bartender coming over with the rose. "It wasn’t him."

"Well I’m glad." Megan said. "I didn’t trust that guy."

"I’m not glad at all." Becky said watching him.

"Hi." Tony said. "Becky this is for you." He smiled and gave her the rose.

"Um, thanks. And thanks for the others."

"Oh no, it’s not from me." He laughed. "My wife would kill me. This goes with it." He said as he gave her the note.

"Thanks." She said with a big smile.

He nodded and walked away.

"Open it." Megan said.

"I’m so nervous." Becky laughed.

"Come on, just read it." Megan encouraged her friend.

 

Brooke sat up and stretched. "What’s wrong Mom?"

"This isn’t easy honey and I know you’re going to be upset."

"You’re scaring me."

"Your father and I. Well we split up. We’re getting a divorce."

"What?" Brooke said with a gasp. "How? Why? Mom what happened?"

"Oh a little of this and a little of that. Brooke you know it was difficult right from the minute he came back. But we tried. We both wanted to give it our all. I guess that just wasn’t good enough."

"Oh Mom." Brooke said. "You sure didn’t need me and my troubles."

"Actually honey it helps. It gets my mind off my own problems."

"Was there another woman?"

"There were several over the years and I haven’t been perfect myself but it wasn’t that. Brooke, we just weren’t happy anymore."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well believe it or not I was planning on visiting you." Beth laughed. "But for now we’ll stay here and help you heal."

"Where is he now Mom?" Brooke asked.

"He moved back to the States. He’s settling in Arizona where his cousin Jim has a business." Beth explained.

"Oh Mom, why didn’t you tell me?"

"I planned on it but something told me you were having problems of your own, problems you hadn’t told me about either."

"Okay we’re even." Brooke smiled. "But if you want to go home we can."

"Soon, but right now I think you need some distance."

Brooke scratched her head. "I suppose you’re right, but you aren’t going to try to talk me out of my plans now are you?"

"I wouldn’t be a mother if I didn’t." Beth laughed. "I’ll go start dinner. You shower and change."

 

Becky slowly opened the envelope. She took out the short note and read it. "He’s not coming." She told Megan as she handed the note to her.

Megan read it. "Well I’m glad but it does seem like he had a good reason Becky. And he did say he’d call you."

"Yeah." A dejected Becky said. "You wanna go?"

"Go? We just got here. No, let’s have some fun."

"Yeah." Becky moaned.

"Oh come on Beck, you have Sean at home."

"Yeah I do." Becky smiled. "But we gotta find someone for you."

Megan smiled as they looked around at the men in the club. No one caught her interest, but she already had her eye on someone elsewhere, someone she was determined to catch.

 

Ridge watched Taylor as she dressed. She was a beautiful woman and he loved her. But she just didn’t ignite the passion in him that he had found when he rediscovered his love for Brooke. Brooke, he thought. Where are you Brooke? It’s been three weeks. Why haven’t you called me? Can you really be marrying Thorne? Oh God Brooke, please come home, we have to talk. I have to make you understand. I just have to.

"A penny for your thoughts." Taylor said with a smile.

"I was just thinking about the showing coming up. The collection is our best in years, it’s just not like Brooke to miss it."

"Well, whatever has Brooke’s interest must be very important Ridge. I wouldn’t worry about her."

"Yeah." He muttered. He looked at his wife again. She was wearing a deep blue suit with a black blouse and pumps. She looked elegant and beautiful. "I hate to see you dress that way for Peterson."

"I’m not dressing for Pierce, I’m dressing for the clinic. Besides, I told you he hardly ever comes around."

"I don’t trust him Doc."

"Well you don’t have to, not as long as you trust me." She said. She walked over to him and kissed him. She wiped the spot of lipstick from his mouth. "I really enjoy this job Ridge. I feel useful in a way that doesn’t happen just staying home with the children."

"I suppose I was wrong in asking you not to work."

"No, not at all. But it’s time now. That is until we have another child. And Ridge, I still want to talk about why you’re so reluctant."

"I’m just not ready for more kids right now Doc. We have a perfect family, we don’t need to change it."

"It wouldn’t change it Ridge, it would just add to it, and I’d be home again. Isn’t that what you want?"

"You have no idea what I want." He muttered under his breath. "Not now Taylor." He said in a normal tone. "I have to get to the office. And I am not looking forward to seeing Thorne."

"He must be very upset with Brooke gone so soon after their engagement."

"That’s a farce Doc and it’ll never happen." He said. He kissed her and left the bedroom.

"I have to get you out of his head Brooke." Taylor said. "And I have to get pregnant too."

 

"Brooke!" Beth said as she knocked on the bathroom door. "Honey are you alright?"

A pale Brooke opened the door. "I’m sorry Mom, breakfast must have disagreed with me." She said as she wiped her face with a cool cloth.

"Like yesterday?" Beth said with raised eyebrows.

"Now don’t you get any ideas." Brooke said.

"Honey this is not just an idea and you know it. When was your last period Brooke?" Beth asked as a look of fear came over her daughter’s face. "I thought so. Today we buy the test."

"Oh Mom!"

"Don’t you oh Mom me."

"It can’t be. I haven’t been pregnant in years. Not since Ridge and I were married the second time."

"And what does that have to do with anything Brooke? You can’t make it go away by denying it." Beth said.

"Alright you win. I’ll take a test but I’m sure it’s a bug of some kind."

"Honey." Beth said taking her hand. "I have to ask you something."

"I’m not pregnant."

"But if you are. Brooke do you know who the father is?"

 

"She’s still not back." Stephanie said to Eric as she walked into his office.

"I’m quite aware of that Stephanie. "But she will be. Besides Sean, Ridge and I have everything under control."

"Thorne is hurting and so is Kimberly. It’s time he realized Brooke is poison to this family and moved on."

"She still hasn’t called him either." Eric shook his head. "But it’s their lives Stephanie and if Thorne wants to wait for Brooke it’s his decision. I do not want you to interfere."

"I’m not Eric, I’m just hoping he’ll open his eyes to her and move towards a woman who is worthy of him."

"A woman? She’s a child Stephanie, a mere child."

"You haven’t noticed her lately Eric, she’s a woman, a woman in love with our son."

 

Thorne looked at the packing slip in front of him and then at the telephone. "Staring at it won’t make it ring Thorne." Kimberly said as she walked in. "She left you. I told you she was no good for you."

"Stop it Kim." He said. "She’s the woman I’m marrying."

"I don’t think so." She said as she closed the door. She walked over to him and sat on his lap. "I think I’m going to marry you." She smiled.

"Kimberly no, don’t start this again."

"How long has it been since you heard from her Thorne? You know I’d never do that to you, never."

"She’s going through a bad time."

"A bad time? She’s supposed to be engaged to you, that doesn’t sound like a bad time to me." She leaned over and brought her lips to his. Thorne returned the kiss as his arms encircled her. Her hands went to his shirt as she started to unbutton it. She then ran a perfectly manicured hand across his chest.

"I can’t do this Kim." He said as she gently lifted her off his lap.

"She’s not good enough for you."

"I love her, I love her and we are going to be together."

 

Taylor went to the girl’s room to check them before leaving for work and saw Ridge in with them. He was holding them both on his lap and singing a song to them. She stood quietly and listened. "Pierce, you can’t ruin my family." She whispered. She wiped a tear from her eye as she walked away.

 

"I’m not pregnant so we won’t even talk about it." Brooke said as she walked past Beth and into the living room. She picked up the latest "Eye of Fashion" and opened it up.

"We will talk about it after the test Brooke." Beth said as she walked in. "I’m going to the store to get it now. Then we talk."

"Fine, but I’m not pregnant." Brooke insisted.

Beth grabbed her purse, looked at Brooke and left.

"Oh God I just can’t be pregnant." Brooke said.

 

"Have you seen Kimberly?" Becky asked Megan.

"Not today. Why?"

"Sean needs her. Giovanni is ready to take the shots for the program and she was supposed to be at the studio." Becky told her.

"I’ll check around." Megan assured her. "So did he call yet?" She asked her friend.

"No. But I got more flowers this morning. I don’t get it. Do you think he’s shy?"

"I think he’s weird." Megan said. "And definitely not worth losing Sean over."

"I don’t plan on losing Sean. In fact if he doesn’t call by the end of the week I’m going to forget all about him."

"Good for you." Megan smiled.

"But I still need to find someone to set you up with." Becky said.

"Set her up?" Giovanni said as he walked up to Megan’s desk. "Cara. Do I have competition?"

"Not at all." Megan smiled at him. He leaned over and kissed her.

"Good. Dinner at Mannequins tonight?"

"What time?" Megan asked.

"I should be done at about seven." He said.

"Come by my desk and we can leave together." She grinned.

"Until then." He said as he leaned over and kissed her again. He smiled at Becky and walked away.

"How long has this been going on?" Becky asked Megan.

"About a week. We ran into each other at Passions the other night. We danced all night and had a long walk. We talked about everything. I really like him."

"Go Megan!" Becky said.

 

"Sean Damon." Sean said as he picked up his phone.

"Hi, it’s me." Brooke’s voice came over the line.

"Ah, the prodigal daughter phones home." He said with a laugh.

"So how are things?" She asked.

"They’re both miserable." He told her.

"I meant business." She said with annoyance.

"Oh no you didn’t." He laughed. "But since you ask it’s going well. But we miss you. Do you ever plan on coming home?"

"Actually yes, once I can convince my mother the time is right."

"Is she holding you hostage?"

"No, I want her to come back with me. She and my Dad split up."

"Oh I’m sorry Brooke." Sean told her sincerely.

"Yeah me too. But I blame that on Stephanie anyway. They might have had a better chance if they didn’t have to flee the country, but that’s ancient history anyway."

"Have you called Thorne?"

"No."

"Don’t you think you should? He’s supposed to be your fiancée."

"I can’t deal with that right now."

"So is it helping? Have you come to any conclusions?" He asked.

"You wanna marry me?" She joked.

"If only you’d asked that a couple of months ago."

"Oh Sean, I have so totally screwed up my life. I just don’t know how I can ever face Ridge and Thorne again."

"Have you made any decisions?"

"He’s married, he has a family and probably another child on the way by now. It’s over, it has to be."

"And Thorne?"

"He’s a good man and he loves me. If he still wants me I’m going to marry him. In fact as soon as I get home if he wants to get married I’m going to marry him."

"You still love Ridge Brooke, I can tell."

"And I will till the day I die, but that doesn’t change anything. He’s recommitted himself to Taylor. He’s made the decision for me."

"He still loves you too."

"I won’t be his mistress."

"What if he wants more?"

"He doesn’t." She said sadly. "So how’s Becky?" She asked, changing the subject.

"She’s great. We have something really special." He told her.

"I’m happy for you Sean, I’m happy for both of you."

"I wish I could say the same for you."

"Don’t you like Thorne?" She asked.

"I like him fine but he isn’t the man for you. He doesn’t have your passion for life."

"Well I lost Ridge and I lost you so I guess Thorne will just have to get more passionate." She laughed. "Sean, my Mom’s coming up the stairs. I have to go."

"Call me when you know when you’re coming home." He said.

"I will and bye Sean, and thanks." She said as she hung up.

Sean stared at the receiver. "He’s not going to make you happy Brooke and you won’t make him happy either."

 

Taylor walked into her office only to find Pierce sitting at her desk. "Who let you in?" She asked.

"I own this building." He laughed.

"This is a private office. If you can’t respect that."

"Oh come on Taylor, cut the crap." He said as he got up. He walked to the window and looked out. "It’s been three weeks."

"And?"

"And we need to talk."

"They’re Ridge’s daughters."

"They’re my daughters. Taylor I have a right. I’ve been very patient."

"No! No you will not destroy my family! I won’t let you!" She shouted.

"He’ll understand. You were having problems at the time Taylor. It only happened once. If he loves you he’ll understand."

"He’ll leave me. You can’t do this Pierce. You can’t!"

"This is too much to ask of me Taylor. I want to be a part of their lives. They have to know me."

"No. No Pierce. We can make some other deal. Anything." She said desperately.

"This isn’t a game Taylor. It’s my life and my children’s lives too."

"Oh God." She moaned. "What do you want? Do you want me? Fine." She opened her jacket and took it off. Her fingers started on the buttons of her blouse.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked.

"You, you want me. Fine, you can have me. But you can’t have my family." She opened her blouse and looked at him as tears ran down her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with her deep breaths against the flimsy black bra.

"Taylor no. This is not what I want. Yes, a part of me still loves you and would love nothing more than to make love to you but not like this. Never like this."

 

"What’s wrong honey?" Stephanie asked Ridge when she spotted him at his desk staring with the door open.

"Nothing Mother. I was just lost in thoughts."

"Good ones I hope."

"Yes." He said remembering his daydream of Brooke. They had been standing in front of the preacher saying their vows. She had had flowers in her hair and she had eyes only for him. For a moment it had been so real he could almost smell her.

"So am I going to be a Grandmother again?" She asked.

"Not anytime soon." He said. "At least not by me."

"Well I certainly hope Thorne and that tramp aren’t planning on any children. That would be obscene."

"Brooke isn’t even home Mother. I’m not so sure Thorne is going to marry her."

"Well you’ve forgotten your silliness now haven’t you?"

"Brooke made it clear to me that she doesn’t want me in her life." He said sadly.

"It’s for the best. You have Taylor and the children."

"Yes I do." He said. "The girls are getting so big Mother. But it’s strange. The older they get the less like Forresters they look."

"Well they look like the Douglas side of the family and I think like Jack too. You can’t complain, Thomas is a mirror of you as a child."

"Yeah he is." Ridge smiled. "And Bridget is a true Forrester too."

"She does resemble your father." She reluctantly agreed.

"You don’t have a problem with that do you mother?"

"No Ridge, I love her. I just hate her mother. But when I think of how she and Rick came to be it makes me mad."

"You can’t just blame Brooke."

"So your father keeps reminding me." She said.

 

"Ready?" Beth said to Brooke as she walked in and handed her the package.

"No, not really. But I’m not pregnant."

"We’ll find that out soon enough." Beth said.

Brooke started for the bathroom.

"Can I help?" Beth asked.

"I can pee on a stick Mom." Brooke laughed.

"Just don’t use your chemistry to doctor the results." Beth warned.

"I won’t have to. I’m not pregnant." Brooke said. "But if you want to watch come on in." She laughed.

"I trust you honey. Besides, you’d only be fooling yourself." Beth said.

"Wish me luck." Brooke said as she closed the bathroom door. "I sure will need it. Please God, don’t let me be pregnant. Please." She whispered.

 

"I’m sorry Pierce." Taylor said. She started to button her blouse back up. "I just don’t know what to do anymore. I thought you cared about me but if you did you would never do this to me, never."

"Do you really expect me to just stand by and let Ridge raise my children? Don’t I have any rights Taylor?" He asked her.

"But Ridge is their father, he’s the only father that they’ve ever had and they love him. And he will continue to be their father. He’s my husband and nothing is going to change that. So yes, you can tell him the truth and cause me lots of grief or you can stay my friend and maybe become Ridge’s friend too and meet the children as a family friend. And then when they’re old enough maybe we can tell them. Maybe."

"And you really think you can live with this lie Taylor?"

"I’ll tell Ridge when the time is right but I can’t let anyone or anything hurt my babies."

"I’d never want to hurt them Taylor." He said somewhat hurt.

"Not intentionally Pierce, but coming between them and Ridge will hurt them. I can’t let you do that. Can’t we please come to an agreement on this? Please?" She begged through her tears.

"Oh Taylor I don’t want to cause you pain." He said as he gently took her into his arms and held her. "We’ll find a way to work it out. We will."

 

Chapter 18

 

Brooke paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door while Beth watched her.

"It’ll be alright honey, no matter how it turns out it’ll be alright." She tried to assure her daughter.

"I never gave it a thought, I really didn’t. Mom I can’t be pregnant. I just can’t." She said as she stopped and faced her mother.

"You never answered me Brooke. If you are pregnant do you know who the father is?" Beth asked her.

"It would have to be Ridge. That’s why I can’t be Mother. He and Taylor are probably expecting by now. How could I be so stupid?"

"You and Thorne used protection?" Beth asked.

"I haven’t been with Thorne. Unless." Brooke said caught up in her thoughts.

"Unless what Brooke?"

"I woke up in bed with him. I was naked. I had been so upset the night before, I had some wine and cried myself to sleep. I don’t even remember him coming in but he swears nothing happened."

"But you think he lied?"

"He saw how upset I was, maybe he was trying to make me feel better. Oh Mom why do I let myself get into these situations?"

"I wish neither one of us ever heard the name Forrester." Beth said. "They’ve caused nothing but heartache."

"How can you say that? I wouldn’t have my children." Brooke said.

"I don’t know what I’m saying honey. It’s Ridge and Thorne that make me so mad. They treat you so badly and yet you still come running back."

"Please Mom, I feel bad enough already." Brooke said as she started pacing again.

"That won’t make it happen any quicker." Beth told her.

Brooke looked at her watch. "It may be time now, oh God I’m so scared."

"Would you like me to check?" Beth offered.

"No. I have to do this." Brooke said with a weak smile as she turned to walk into the bathroom.

 

Taylor pulled out of Pierce’s arms. "Pierce you have to understand. My marriage and my family are everything to me."

"We have to come up with a plan." He said.

"But you said you wouldn’t hurt us."

"I said we’d figure something out and we will. But I plan to be a part of my daughters lives."

"Please Pierce, please don’t do this." She begged. "I need more time. I need to find a way to tell Ridge. I can’t lose my husband over this. You have to understand Brooke is making moves on him again. Pierce please don’t do anything to make me lose him."

"This really has nothing to do with Ridge or Brooke Taylor. It’s something between you and me."

"I’d hate you forever."

"You make this so hard Taylor. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. But I honestly think Ridge would understand."

"Understand? You think he’d understand that I cheated on him and the two little girls that he loves so much aren’t even his children? He’ll never understand Pierce, never."

"I hate to do this to you Taylor but I’ll give you one month. You can tell him or not but at the end of the month I am coming forward to claim my daughters. This is not negotiable."

She looked at him in horror. "How can you do this to me?"

"How can you do this to me Taylor?" He asked. "You’re only thinking of yourself. I’m not a monster. I will not do anything to hurt those children but I want, no, I need and I insist that I am a part of their lives."

 

Ridge picked up a small paperweight on his mother’s desk and turned it around in his hands. "Mother you have to agree that Brooke is a good mother and Rick and Bridget are great kids."

"No thanks to her Ridge. I think it was your father and my influence that made them what they are today. Not Brooke. All she thinks about is herself and her sexuality. Look at what she almost did to you and Taylor. I was so scared that she had finally succeeded. So frightened."

Ridge looked at her and sighed. "Mother, when I told you I loved Brooke I meant it and that hasn’t changed. What changed is Brooke. For some reason she doesn’t want me anymore, she won’t even talk to me. Am I happy? No."

"Taylor makes you happy."

"She does."

"Then how can you say that Ridge?" Stephanie asked.

"It’s not as simple as that. Yes Taylor makes me happy and yes we have a satisfying life together, but now I know it’s not enough, something is missing and it always will be."

"Nothing is missing." She said.

"For a short moment I had true love again. It was so true and so pure. Everything was better. Food tasted better, colors were brighter, music was more beautiful. My whole life had more meaning."

"That’s ridiculous Ridge. You have a wife and children. All you and Brooke had was sex. You’re confusing that with love."

"It really doesn’t matter anymore though." He said. "It’s just that I’ll always wonder what could have been. What should have been."

"This was the best thing that ever happened to you Ridge. Brooke doesn’t belong with you or with Thorne. I just hope she never comes back." Stephanie said thoughtfully. "And you know this yourself Ridge, in your heart you know this."

 

Brooke was white as a ghost as she walked back to her mother carrying the test.

"Oh honey I’m sorry." Beth said seeing her face.

"What am I going to do Mother?" She said as a tear escaped from her eye. "He can never know."

"Brooke!"
"I mean it Mother. I can’t ruin his life, I can’t destroy his marriage." She sat down and stared at the stick.

"Brooke you can’t keep it from him. Remember what happened with Taylor."

"I’m not Taylor. Things are different. He wanted her, not me. He was only too happy to annul our marriage to remarry her. Nothing good can come from his knowing." She looked down at the floor. "I have to decide what to do now."

"What to do? Brooke you aren’t thinking of an abortion."

"It’s a solution." She said sadly.

"I don’t think you could do that honey."

"I have to get back, I have to get back and sleep with Thorne." Brooke said.

"Oh Brooke no! You can’t do that. You can’t tell them it’s his child when it isn’t."

"I can never tell Ridge. Thorne loves me. He’ll be a good father."

"Is that fair to him?"

"Maybe not but I can’t think of anything else."

"He’ll know and he’ll resent you. And what about the child, never knowing who his real father is."

"Then tell me Mother, what should I do?"

"I don’t know honey, but to lie?"

"We could be a family. Thorne will be good to us. Maybe I’ll tell him. He’d support me, I know he would."

"Before you do anything like that you need to think about it Brooke. You need to think very carefully."

"I’ve run out of time for that. I need to get home and see Thorne. We need to get married right away."

 

Thorne sat at his desk staring at a picture of Brooke. He was hurt that she hadn’t called him. He loved her and he missed her. "Where are you Brooke?" He said aloud. He looked back at the picture. "We could be so happy if you’d just forget about him and open your heart to me again." He looked at the phone. "Call me Brooke. Baby please call me. I promise I’ll never let you down." He practically jumped from his chair when as if on cue the phone rang. "Thorne Forrester." He said hopefully.

 

 

"I have a perfect idea for this weekend." Sean said to Becky.

"Oh you do do you?" She laughed.

"Well you have that new nanny now and you like her right?"

"Right."

"So what if we go away for the weekend. We can take a drive down the coast and stay at a nice romantic inn." He said to her.

"Oh Sean it sounds so great but I don’t know about leaving the baby alone."

"He won’t be alone. He’ll be with Sheila." He said. "You told me that he loves her."

"He does but she’s not his mother, I am."

"Becky it’s only two nights. One even if you’d rather leave on Saturday. We really deserve this."

"Can I think about it?" She asked him.

"Yeah but don’t think too hard. Sometimes you just have to jump in Becky."

She smiled at him. "I know Sean." She leaned over and kissed him. "I’ll give you an answer soon." She walked out of his office and headed straight to Megan’s desk.

"Meg, Meg I don’t know what to do." She said breathlessly.

"What’s wrong Becky?" Her friend asked her.

"Sean, he asked me to go away for the weekend with him."

"And?" Megan asked with a laugh.

"Well you know I hate to leave Kevin."

"You have a new nanny. You keep saying how great she is, even though I’ve never met her."

"Yeah she is good but it’s more than that."

"Well what? You and Sean are so great together."

"It’s Sasha." She said with a smile. "He sent me another note today. He wants to meet on Saturday."

"I can’t believe you would blow off Sean for that loser. How many times has he made plans to meet you only to not show up? What is it with you Becky?"

"I don’t know. There’s something about him. He’s so mysterious."

"He’s a jerk and you know it."

"There’s something about him Meg, I can’t put my finger on it but there just is. I want to go out with him. I want to find out more about him."

"But Sean is so great Becky, are you really prepared to lose him over this guy?"

"I won’t lose him. Besides, we never really said we were exclusive."

"I think that’s a given."

"Not to me."

"Oh Becky I don’t like this one bit." Megan said sadly.

 

Sheila gave Kevin two more cookies and a hug and sent him to play with Mary. She smiled at the little boy. She loved children so much. It was her undoing. She had to be careful that no one knew she was here until she was ready for them to know. That nosy Megan kept showing up and Sheila was scared that she might catch her. "Why did I use my real first name?" Sheila pondered aloud. She picked up the box of hair dye and looked at it. "Will Becky wonder why I’m doing this?" She wondered. "I’ll just tell her I wanted a change." She said. She walked into the living room where Mary and Kevin were playing. "Okay kids. I need to take a shower. I want you both to stay in here. I’ll put on a video for you." She looked through Becky’s collection and decided on "Lady and the Tramp." She put it in and both kids immediately were glued to the screen. She smiled as she headed into the bathroom.

 

"Hello, hello is anyone there?" Thorne said into the phone. Suddenly he heard a dial tone. He reluctantly hung up. "Brooke? Was that you?" He asked.

 

Beth walked back into the room as Brooke set the receiver back down. "Did you make the reservations?" She asked her.

"We got the last two seats on tonight’s flight." Brooke told her.

"Did you call the kids?"

"No. I thought we could call from the plane. I don’t want to chicken out." She admitted.

"Going home is the right thing honey." Beth said.

"I know it its, I just wish I knew what I should do once I get there." Brooke said sadly.

"What time is the flight?" Beth asked her.

"Eight Fifteen."

"Then we’d better get our bags packed." Beth said pleasantly. She linked arms with her daughter and they went to pack.

 

Thorne was distracted as he tried to concentrate on the reports in front of him. He didn’t even hear the door open but he sensed that he wasn’t alone and looked up to see his brother standing there.

"Hello Thorne." He said.

"Ridge."

"You look busy."

"I am, what do you want?" He asked impatiently.

"Have you heard from Logan?" Ridge asked him.

Thorne thought about lying but decided against it. "No. Not a word. But she said she wouldn’t be calling when she left."

"I’m worried. It’s not like her to stay away so long with so much going on."

Thorne closed the report he had been working on and gave all his attention to Ridge. "Look Ridge, I know that the two of you were involved before she left but that’s over now. She’s wearing my ring. She’s agreed to be my wife. I think it’s best if you concentrate on your own family."

"I’ll always care about her."

"That’s fine but she’s my concern now. If she calls I’ll let you know." He told him.

Ridge walked to the door and shut it. He then sat down in front of Thorne’s desk. "I hate to burst your bubble little brother but we were more than just involved. We’re in love little brother. We’re in love and I plan on winning her back."

"You’re a married man." Thorne said. "Doesn’t Taylor and your kids matter to you?"

"You know they do. But I can’t deny this anymore."

"She chose me Ridge."

"That was reactionary. I don’t know what she was reacting to but it isn’t real. If you had seen us together you would understand that."

"What I understand is that she was sad and hurt and I made her smile. I made her laugh and I made her happy again. Leave her alone Ridge, you know all you’ll do is hurt her again. You may think you love her and want a future with her but you’ll never leave your family. I think she realized that. Let her move on, let us all move on."

Ridge got up and started to pace. "She’s all I think of. I dream about her. I smell her. God Thorne, I need her. Can you even begin to understand? We’ve been through so much together. This is our time. I can’t let her slip away again."

"She already has Ridge."

"No. Maybe temporarily but it won’t last. Thorne you can’t marry a woman in love with another man. It’s wrong."

"Like it was wrong for you to marry Taylor?"

"I loved Taylor, I still do. But I can’t stop wanting Brooke. She’s gotten so far under my skin that I can’t get her out no matter how hard I try." He turned back to Thorne. "She’s not going to marry you because I’ll stop her."

"There’s only one way you could stop her Ridge." Thorne said.

"I know that." Ridge said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "This is the ring that I gave her the first time we were engaged."

"When you left her for Caroline?" Thorne asked.

"Yes." Ridge said.

"And now you expect her to take it back? Just take off my ring and put on yours?"

"Yes Thorne, that’s exactly what I expect."

"There’s just one little problem with your scenario, you already have a wife."

"I’m going to talk to her. I have to end it. I’m in love with Brooke. I can’t be with Taylor now."

"And if Brooke says no then you’ll be alone."

"She won’t say no."

"But if she does? Will you go running back to Taylor? It’s so wrong the way you treat those women." Thorne said shaking his head.

"I’m not proud of myself for this Thorne. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt Taylor or the kids but I can’t deny my heart any longer."

"After all the times that you’ve played this game with Brooke you really think she’ll come back to you?"

"She will Thorne. She loves me as much as I love her."

"That’s not enough this time. She wants more. She needs security, the kind you can never give her. Not only that she needs family approval."

"Mother won’t approve of her no matter which one of us marries her." Ridge told him.

"Mother wants you with Taylor. She’ll support my marriage."

"Don’t be a fool. Besides, it just doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve lived my life trying to keep mother happy long enough. It’s my turn Thorne. I need to be with the woman I love."

"Today." Thorne said.

"Today, tomorrow, forever."

"No Ridge, I mean that’s how you feel today. No, I am not going to let you break her heart again. You’ll say all the right words. You’ll romance her into your bed again but when push comes to shove you won’t leave Taylor and it will devastate Brooke."

"Not this time Thorne, I know what I want and it’s Brooke."

"You’re too late this time Ridge. I will not give her up. Not to you, not to anyone."

 

Beth reached for the overhead light and turned it off. Brooke had finally dozed off and she was glad. They had talked and Brooke had cried but nothing had been settled. Beth knew it would be a mistake for Brooke to marry Thorne. Not that she didn’t like him, but she knew Brooke wasn’t in love with him. "Don’t ever settle Brooke, not again." Beth said softly as she touched her daughter’s cheek. She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She opened it to a picture of the man she loved, the man she had always loved. "Oh Eric, if only we could have one more chance." She whispered.

 

"Sheila?" Becky said as she walked into her apartment. "Wow! What have you done?"

"Do you like it?" Sheila smiled as she twirled around. Gone were her long dark locks, gone and replaced with a shoulder length auburn bob. "I just needed a change. I guess it was a little dramatic."

"It’s shocking but it’s really pretty." Becky laughed. "Did you do it yourself?"

"It’s that obvious?" Sheila said.

"No, not at all. I mean I just figured you didn’t go out."

"I did do it myself. The dye was easy, the cut was a but harder."

"It looks wonderful." Becky said. "Is there a new man you’re trying to impress?"

"No. I was just bored with the old Sheila. In fact I was so bored that she’s gone, totally gone. And that’s why I want to go back to using the name I grew up with."

"Your maiden name?" Becky asked.

"I already did that with Morris."

"Then what?" Becky asked.

"My real name is Emily Sheila Morris. I hated the name Emily but everyone in my family called me that. When I went to college I used my middle name Sheila but now I think it’s time to go back to Emily. I want to be a new woman. What do you think?" She asked Becky.

"Emily? That’s a nice name. I’ll try to call you that. You will forgive me if I make a mistake though won’t you?"

"Oh course but please try to remember, it’s really important to me. Sheila is gone, long live Emily." She laughed.

"Long live Emily." Becky smiled at her nanny.

 

"Are you coming to bed?" Stephanie said to Eric as she headed up the stairs.

"Not right now. I’m in the middle of an article." He answered.

"It’s late dear, why don’t you finish tomorrow?"

"I’m not in the mood to argue again Stephanie."

"I’m not arguing. I just had hoped you’d join me."

"I will when I’m done."

"Why are you so angry?" She asked. "This is about Brooke isn’t it?"

"Brooke? She isn’t even here. Why would it be about her?"

"You think I’m wrong trying to keep her away from our boys."

"They aren’t boys Stephanie, they’re men, grown men with minds of their own."

"And you approve of Ridge’s talk of leaving Taylor and his children for that tramp?"

"He doesn’t need my approval."

"He wants it."

"Well it’s his decision. He could do far worse."

"He has a wife and children."

"She left him Stephanie, it’s a moot point."

"She’ll be back and she’ll be getting her claws into him again."

"It’s not your concern." He told her.

"And you don’t care about Taylor and the children?" She asked him. She was outraged and it was starting to show.

"You know that I do but I want my son to be happy and if it is Brooke that makes him happy then there’s not much we can do about it. Besides I care about Brooke too Stephanie."

"After everything she’s done to us?"

"This subject is getting old. You go on to bed and I’ll see you later."

"Eric I." She started.

"I said I don’t want to rehash this again! Good night Stephanie." He said gruffly dismissing her.

"No Eric, this is not acceptable. We have to discuss this."

"Discuss? You don’t know how to discuss. All you seem to be able to do is insult Brooke and interfere in Ridge’s life. I’m sorry Stephanie but I’m getting sick of it all. Now go up to bed and I’ll join you later."

Thorne stepped out of the ocean and shook the water from his hair. He had taken a long invigorating swim and it had helped, well somewhat he thought. Once more his thoughts returned to Brooke. Was anything Ridge said valid? He wondered. He loved her so much, he refused to let his brother hurt her again. Even if she didn’t want him he’d die before he let Ridge hurt her again.

"Isn’t it dark for swimming?" Kimberly said as she approached him.

"Kimberly." He said with a smile. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I just finished a late shoot with Giovanni and I decided to come say hello."

"Well hello." He said. He grabbed his towel and started to dry himself.

"You must be freezing." She said. "Why don’t we go inside and have some coffee?"

"Alright." He agreed. He reached down and grabbed his shoes and keys. "Let’s go."

Together they walked to Thorne’s beach house. Thorne unlocked the door and let them in. "Why don’t you make the coffee while I grab a quick shower." He suggested.

"Perfect." She smiled. He smiled back and headed for his bedroom. Kimberly went into the kitchen and took out the coffee. She spooned some into the pot and then filled it with water. Her eyes wandered to Thorne’s closed bedroom door. "Should I?" She asked herself.

 

 

"I’m sorry Mom." Brooke said as she opened her eyes. "That was rude of me."

"Nonsense. You needed the rest." Beth said as she put down her magazine. "Did it help at all?"

"If you mean have I made any decisions? No. But I’m still leaning towards marrying Thorne right away."

Beth sighed and took her hand. "I just want you to be happy honey. Do you really think he can make you happy?"

"As happy as I can be without Ridge." Brooke whispered. "Why did I let myself love him again? I knew nothing could come of it and yet I still let it happen. And now a baby. Oh God Mom I wanted this baby so badly when we were together. It never happened for us and now I’m having his baby and he can never know."

"Is that fair to him?"

"Would it be fair for me to upset his whole life? He and Taylor are planning another child together. Damn you Taylor!" She said.

"You can’t blame it all on her Brooke."

"I know. I’ve tried to think of this from her side but I just can’t, not when my baby is in the equation. She always wins, always."

"Honey stop torturing yourself."

"For a few short weeks I was so happy. I was so in love. I knew that it wouldn’t work, deep inside I knew it but I loved him so much. And I still do. I just don’t have the energy to fight Taylor for him anymore, besides it’s a losing battle. She already won. He’ll never leave her for me."

"That may be so, but is the answer marrying his brother? Honey you’ll be a part of his life forever then. Everywhere you go you’ll see him and you’ll always be wondering what could have been."

"That will still happen with Forrester."

"Then maybe it’s time to rethink your position there too."

"So now I should give up my career too? Mom that’s not an option. I can’t just hide in the house forever."

"No one said to do that. There are plenty of opportunities and Brooke there will be other men too."

Brooke sighed and lay her head back on the seat. "Unfortunately for me there’s only one man that I really want."

 

Kimberly’s arms were around Thorne before he even heard her get into the shower. He turned to face her.

"You shouldn’t be in here Kim." He said as his eyes took in her womanly body.

"Your mouth says no but the rest of you says yes." Kimberly purred as she stroked his erection. He moved back a half step but she continued her seduction.

"Come on Kim, I’m engaged."

She looked around with an innocent look. "I don’t see Brooke. In fact I haven’t seen her in weeks." She brought her mouth to his chest and took his nipple in a slight bite. He moaned and grew harder in her hands. "Don’t say no." She whispered as she got to her knees. He groaned aloud as she took him into her mouth.

"Kim no, no." He said. Yet he closed his eyes and moved closer to her. "Oh yeah, baby yeah." He said as he gave into her.

 

"I’m worried about Brooke." Megan said to Giovanni as he nibbled on her neck.

"Why is that Cara?"

"Kimberly. She doesn’t seem ready to give up on Thorne. I know Brooke trusts him but she can’t trust Kimberly."

"I cannot see Brooke with Thorne, he is not man enough for her, he never has been."

"She loves him Giovanni. And she wants to marry him."

"Perhaps." He said. He reached for the wineglass and took a sip. "But why are we spending so much time talking about them?"

"I have no idea?" She laughed as she kissed him. "None at all. But really I am worried. I don’t trust that girl."

"She is no longer a girl Cara, she is a woman."

"Did she come on to you again?" Megan asked.

"She only has eyes for Thorne. And it was I who came on to her in the past. But that was before I realized what a woman there was right in front of my eyes."

"How sweet." She said with a kiss. "Don’t you worry, I only have eyes for you."

 

"Yes, oh yes Thorne." Kimberly screamed as Thorne pounded into her. They had made love in the shower and he had carried her back to his bed and they had started again. Kimberly was a tigress and Thorne couldn’t seem to get enough of her. "So good Thorne, so good." She said.

"Yeah Kim. Yeah that’s it yeah." He moaned. "Come on baby, come on Kim. Yeah oh yeah." He said as the sweat poured down his face.

"Oh God." She moaned as she felt the release she had longed for. Thorne’s followed right after hers. "Oh Thorne we are so perfect together." She said as she kissed him. He rolled off her and guiltily looked at the framed photo of Brooke on his nightstand.

"Kim that shouldn’t have happened. It can’t happen again." He said.

"Shhhh. It’s okay Thorne, don’t feel guilty. We’re so good together, so good."

"Yeah." He reluctantly agreed.

They both turned at the ringing of the phone. Thorne reached for it as his look pleaded Kimberly for her silence.

"Hello." He said.

"Hi, it’s me." Brooke said.

"Honey? Where are you?"

"On a plane, on my way home. I need to see you Thorne."

"I need to see you too honey." He said. "I’ve missed you so much."

"We have a lot to talk about." She said.

"You haven’t changed your mind have you?" He asked her.

"No. But you might."

"Never Brooke, never."

"We’ll talk later. I’ll be home soon. Can I come over?"

"You don’t even have to ask." He said. "I love you Brooke."

"I love you too." She said.

Kimberly held back her tears as Thorne hung up the phone. "You have to go Kimberly, Brooke’s coming home." He told her.

 

"Well I guess you made up your mind." Beth said.

"He had to know the truth, and then if he still wants me I’m going to marry him." Brooke said.

Beth squeezed her daughter’s hand and gave her a weak smile. "I’ll stand by any choice you make Brooke, whether I agree with it or not. I love you and I will support you."

"Thanks Mom." She said.

 

Kimberly walked into her house without turning any lights on. Her eyes were red from crying. She walked to her mantle and picked up a picture of Thorne. "I won’t let that slut have you. You’re mine Thorne! Mine!"

Chapter 19

 

Thorne quickly got up and jumped into the shower. He felt dirty from what he had done. He cared about Kimberly but he loved Brooke. Once he got out of the shower he changed the bed and straightened up.

"Damn!" He said. "She didn’t tell me when she was getting in or her flight number. I guess I’ll have to wait here for her. Oh Brooke, I’m going to make you so happy." He said. He went to his wine rack and got a bottle of French champagne and put it in the refrigerator. "I can’t wait to see you honey. Hurry home to me Brooke."

 

Eric changed the channel to an old movie and settled in to watch it. The last thing in the world he wanted right now was to see Stephanie. He was so tired of fighting with her but he couldn’t support her attitude towards Brooke any longer. Yes, he loved Taylor but if Ridge wanted to be with Brooke he would support them. An unhappy Ridge wasn’t a good husband for Taylor anyway. He vowed to show his son more support and encouragement.

 

"Are you going to head right to Thorne’s honey?" Beth asked Brooke.

"There’s no use in putting it off. He sounded so happy to hear from me."

"I really wish you’d think about this. Marriage is a big step. I hate to see you making a mistake."

"He’s a good man Mom. I know he can make he happy."

"But you don’t love him Brooke."

"I did, maybe it will come again."

"And you’re willing to bet your future and the future of your child on that?"

"I already explained to you. Ridge can never know it’s his child. He won’t come back to my anyway. It can only hurt us all."

"But there are so many other alternatives Brooke. In today’s day and age a woman doesn’t have to be married to have a child."

"Everyone would speculate who the father is. Ridge would be hurt, Thorne would be hurt even Sean could end up hurt. And I’d be hurt too Mom."

"So what are you going to tell Thorne Brooke?"

"I’m going to tell him that I’m pregnant. He won’t have to ask who the father is. He’ll know. I just hope he’ll still want me."

"And what if he doesn’t honey? What then?"

"I haven’t thought that far ahead. Maybe we did come back too soon." Brooke said.

"No, but you don’t have to make this commitment right away. Give yourself a little time to think it over."

"That’s all I’ve been doing." She said.

Beth reached for her daughter’s hand and clutched it. "I love you honey, you know that don’t you?"

"Oh course I do Mom." She smiled.

"I’m sorry to have so many objections but I only want what’s best for you."

"I know that Mom."

 

"Taylor! Where are you?" Ridge called out when he got home.

"I’ll be right down sweetie." She called down to him from the bedroom. She ran her brush through her hair one last time and adjusted the neckline of her nightgown. She put on a smile and headed down the stair. "You’re very late tonight. Was anything wrong?" She asked.

"No. We had a late shoot and I wanted to make sure it went alright. Have you eaten?" He asked her.

"I fed the kids but I kept our dinner warm." She told him.

"You shouldn’t have waited Taylor."

"Of course I should have." She said. "Can I get you a drink or a glass of wine first?"

"Taylor we have to talk." He said. She saw the serious look on his face and was immediately worried.

"There’s plenty of time for talking. Let me get us some wine and I can get dinner out."

"It’s really important." He said. "Can we sit down?" He asked her as he sat on the couch.

"Ridge whatever it is it can’t be more important than getting you a nice warm meal. I’ll be right back." She turned and quickly went into the kitchen.

"Damn it Taylor, it has to be tonight. I can’t keep putting this off." He said to himself. "I have to do this while I have my nerve up."

Ridge got up and was just about to follow her when the phone rang.

"I’ll get it." Taylor called out from the kitchen. Ridge sat back down in frustration.

"Tonight Taylor, it has to be tonight." He said to himself.

Meanwhile in the kitchen Taylor picked up the phone. "Hello." She said.

"Taylor?" A young woman’s voice asked.

"Yes. This is Taylor. Who is this?"
"Taylor it’s Kimberly."

"Kimberly. How are you? Is something wrong?" Taylor asked.

"Is Ridge home?" She asked.

"Yes, yes he is Kimberly. Is something wrong at Forrester?"

"I need to talk to him Taylor. Can you put him on?" She asked.

"Oh course." Taylor said. She walked out to Ridge and handed him the phone. "Honey, it’s Kimberly. It sounds like she’s really upset over something."

"Kimberly?" He said into the phone.

"Yes, it’s me Ridge."

"What’s wrong Kimberly?"

"Look Ridge I know Taylor is right there with you so just listen to me. Pretend I’m telling you something about the photo shoot or something."

"I don’t understand. What are you talking about Kimberly?"

"Brooke. She’s on her way home right now. Ridge she’s going to go straight to Thorne’s. He’s going to try and get her to marry him tonight."

"What? Are you sure? Why are you telling me this?"

"Ridge I know you love her. Don’t ask how I know, I just do. But if you don’t get to her before she sees Thorne it will be too late for you. You have to stop her."

He turned and saw Taylor looking at him questioningly. "So Giovanni is sure that the entire shoot was lost? No Kim, we can’t have that. We need those pictures right away."

"Good Ridge." Kim said.

"Alright. Yes, I’ll meet you both. I’ll take care of everything. Don’t you worry about it. I’ll fix everything. And Kimberly, thanks for calling me."

Ridge hung up the phone and looked at Taylor. "There was a problem with the shoot tonight. We have to do it all over again."

"Tonight?" She asked. "Ridge it’s so late."

"I can’t help that. Look we may have to shoot through the night so I doubt I’ll be back. I’ll probably go straight to the office. I better take a change of clothes."

"Can’t you at least have dinner first?"

"I’ll grab something on the way. I really have to leave now." He said. He headed up the stairs to the bedroom. He pulled out a small suitcase and packed a change of clothing, his toiletries and then he took the ring box from his pocket and put that inside too. "Tonight Logan, you’ll be mine again tonight." He said. He shut the suitcase and went downstairs to Taylor. "We still have to have that talk Taylor. It just has to wait now. I’m sorry but it can’t be avoided."

"Call me later Ridge." She said.

"I don’t know if there will be time."

"Please try." She said.

"I’ll see you tomorrow." He said. He kissed her on the cheek, grabbed his suitcase and left.

"What did you want to tell me Ridge? What was so important?" She wondered.

 

"I’m glad we compromised." Sean said to Becky with a kiss. "One night alone together is better than none."

"I’m sorry that it can’t be the whole weekend though." Becky said. "I know you wanted that."

"You’re a good mother Becky. I can’t blame you for not wanting to leave Kevin for two nights. Maybe we can all have dinner tomorrow night."

"I don’t think so Sean. I want to spend some quiet time with him."

"You’re hard to argue with." Sean laughed. He sat up in the bed and looked at her seriously. "Becky am I pushing too hard? Moving too fast? I don’t want to spoil things if I am."

"Maybe a little bit Sean. It’s weird you know. I’ve never been in a real relationship before. It’s not that I’m not ready for it, I just don’t know how to do it all. Do you think we can sort of slow it down, just a little bit?" She said while biting her nails.

"The last thing I ever want to do is make you nervous. Sometimes I forget that I’m a lot older than you are. You’re so mature Becky. You’ve been through so much in your life. I just want to stay an important part of it."

"You are Sean, a really important part. But you know, sometimes I just want to hang out with my girlfriends and act goofy." She laughed. "Maybe you’re gonna get tired of me."

"I don’t think so. And you deserve time with your friends too. Sometimes I get selfish and want everything on my terms. You have to tell me when I’m doing that."

She smiled and kissed him.

"So what I’m saying is that I’ll slow down, but I won’t back off."

"You better not." She said. She pulled him into her arms and kissed him hard and passionately.

 

Ridge was in a limo talking on his cell phone. "My guess is she’s coming in from Europe somewhere. She’s due to land soon so concentrate on those flights. Yeah. Yeah that’s right. Check that names Logan and Forrester. No I’m not sure what she used. I’ll be available to you. No I won’t shut my phone down. The minute you hear anything call me, I don’t care what it is anything can be important. Also you have your people watching all approaches to Thorne’s house. Great. Thanks Roger." He said as he hung up. "I’m going to find you Brooke and I’m going to convince you that your future is with me and not Thorne."

 

"I’m going to call Bridget now Mom." Brooke said.

"Good idea. I’m sure she’ll be excited that you’re coming home."

"Maybe. I think she was getting tired of my moods before I left though. She seemed pretty happy to get to stay with her friends and Eric." Brooke laughed. "I wonder what she’ll think of having a new baby brother or sister."

"Are you going to tell her right away honey? Is it fair to ask her to keep your secret?"

"Maybe not." Brooke agreed. "Maybe I ought to wait until I’ve at least told Thorne."

Beth shook her head at that idea.

"Mom he’s good to me." Brooke said with a weak smile.

"Call your daughter." Beth told her.

Brooke smiled and punched in the number for her daughter’s cell phone.

"Hello." Bridget’s cheerful voice rang out.

"Hi honey."

"Mom!" Bridget said happily.

"I’m on the way home honey and Grandma is with me." Brooke said.

"Finally." Bridget said.

"You’re glad I’m coming back?" Brooke asked.

"Sure Mom, I missed you a lot."

"I missed you tons too baby." Brooke said. "I’m so sorry that I made you keep my secret. I hope it wasn’t too hard."

"Well Dad asked, Ridge asked and Thorne must have asked me a hundred times but I never told anyone."

"I know that baby and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that. I needed some time all alone."

"Is everything alright now Mom?"

"It will be. Anyway honey I’m not headed straight home. I’m going to see Thorne first."

"Will you be home tonight?" She asked.

"Grandma will. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing but you go on home if you want."

"Okay Mom. I think I will." She said. "I’m really glad you’re coming home."

"I love you baby." Brooke said.

"I love you too Mom."

 

"Yeah." Ridge said answering his ringing cell phone.

"Ridge it’s Roger. She just landed. She came in from Paris."

"Paris!" He said. "I should have guessed she’d go to see Beth. Is someone at the airport?"

"I’ve got a man to follow her. Are you coming down here?"

"I’d never make it on time. I have to get to her before she gets to Thorne’s though."

"Where are you Ridge?"

"About a mile from his house. I thought I’d try and stop her car."

"Will she stop if she sees that it’s you?"

"I’m not in my car. I’m in a limo. I’m going to get her out of here tonight. We need time all alone."

"Okay Ridge, I’ll keep you up to date on her whereabouts."

 

"Are you sure you don’t mind catching a cab alone Mom?" Brooke asked her mother.

"Not at all honey. I can’t wait to see the kids and if you’re determined to see Thorne it’s best you get right over there."

"I’ll call you Mom. I’m not sure what his reaction is going to be but I’ll let you know if I’m spending the night."

"Or more." Beth said.

"Or more." Brooke smiled. "Please try and be happy for me. Thorne is a good man."

"I’m trying honey." Beth told her daughter. "Do what you have to do Brooke. Drive safely."

"I will." Brooke said as she gave her mother a kiss. She then headed to the long term parking garage to get her car.

 

"How’s this Mr. Forrester?" The limousine driver asked Ridge as he stopped several blocks from Thorne’s house.

"Perfect." Ridge replied. "Just remember when you get the call that she’s headed our way to block the entire street. I don’t want her getting around us."

"You can count on me Mr. Forrester. She ain’t getting nowhere." He turned back to Ridge and smiled.

 

Taylor picked up the phone and punched in a preprogrammed number. She listened to it ring and ring but no one picked up.

"I guess you aren’t in your office Ridge." She said to herself. "Where are you? Why is this shoot so late?"

She hung up and punched in another number.

"Hello." Came Stephanie Forrester’s familiar voice.

"Hi Stephanie."

"Taylor! What a pleasant surprise. How are you dear?"

"A little annoyed at my husband and his father."

"What did they do now?" Stephanie asked.

"Ridge got home, late as it was." She complained. "And then before he can sit down to dinner he gets a call that he has to go back to Forrester to supervise a shoot. I mean since when is this his responsibility? I am so annoyed at the way Brooke just took off and left her friend in charge. I bet he has something to do with this."

"Sean Damon?" Stephanie asked. "Actually he is working very closely with both Eric and Ridge. But I totally agree with you about Brooke’s irresponsibility."

"So you don’t know anything about this shoot?" Taylor asked.

"No, but I will find out honey. You try and calm down and I’ll call you back."

"I don’t want to annoy Eric. I just don’t know why this had to happen like this. He could have at least had dinner."

"Don’t worry, we’ll get him home to you and your family where he belongs." Stephanie assured her.

"Thank you Stephanie, I knew I could count on you." Taylor said.

"We’ll talk again soon dear." Stephanie said hanging up. "Alright Eric, what are you up to?" She said as she got out of bed.

"Here she comes." The man told Ridge’s driver.

"Thanks." He answered. "She’s coming right now Mr. Forrester." He told Ridge.

"Get the car into position." Ridge instructed.

He started the car and moved it so that it was blocking the entire road. Ridge sat nervously waiting for Brooke’s car.

 

"What the?" Brooke said as she stopped her car. A long limousine was blocking the entire road. "What a stupid place to stop." She said. She hit her horn once, twice and then a third time. "Come on! Get out of the way!" She said.

"She’s annoyed." Ridge laughed. "Start the car. I’m going to get out and get her. She is not going to be happy but pay no attention to her. Just get us to Big Bear. I’ll handle Brooke."

"Yes Sir Mr. Forrester." The driver said.

 

"I thought you went to bed." Eric said to his wife when she rejoined him in the living room.

"I did but Taylor called."

"Oh? Is anything wrong?" He asked.

"I think you know the answer to that. Where is Ridge Eric?"

"Why don’t you ask Taylor? She’s his wife."

"I’m glad you recognize that fact." She answered sarcastically. "She’s very upset Eric. He claims he had to go reshoot from today."

"Is that so?" He said turning his attention back to his magazine. Stephanie was furious as she grabbed it out of his hands.

"I want to know what this is all about Eric! I know that slut has to have something to do with it."

"I have had quite enough Stephanie. I have no idea where he is. And as far as I know Brooke is still away so you can stop blaming her."

"What has she done to you?" She fumed. "You hated her as much as I do! She mocked your designs! She hired that man to take your place! How can you defend her? How?"

"Brooke made a smart business decision. I wasn’t happy at first but she and Ridge both showed me how right they were and I’m glad about it. We are going to have our best collection ever and we can all thank Brooke and Sean Damon for that. Now as far as Ridge, I have no idea where he is or if he’s doing a reshoot. It’s time you let Ridge and Taylor deal with their own marital problems."

"They wouldn’t have marital problems if it wasn’t for that bitch!"
"However Ridge feels about Brooke is his right. You have to stop trying to force him to live the life you want for him."

"He has a wife and three children Eric! What about them?"

"Stephanie, whether you believe me or not I do not want Ridge to leave his family. But!" He started as he saw Stephanie ready to speak. "But! If he isn’t happy in his marriage and Brooke can make him happy then that is what I want for him."

"No! No!" She shouted.

"We will all support Taylor and the children if that happens. But don’t go borrowing trouble."

 

Brooke pulled her car to the side of the road and got out. "This is ridiculous. I need to get to Thorne’s." She said as she approached the limousine. "Hello! Is there a problem here?" She shouted.

"Not anymore." Ridge said as he got out and walked up to her.

"Ridge! What’s going on here?" She asked angrily.

"Hello Logan. You finally came home. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day. You’ve been a bad girl not calling me." He said with a laugh.

"I am not amused Ridge. Kindly get back in your car and get it out of my way."

"I’m sorry Brooke, I can’t do that."

"You damn well better Ridge. I don’t have time for your childish pranks."

"Oh believe me Logan, this is not a prank."

"Then get your limo out of my way Ridge. I have plans."

"Sorry Logan, your plans have been changed."

"You have no right to do this Ridge. You made your choices and I wasn’t one of them. Get the hell out of my way and leave me alone."

Ridge laughed and put his arm around her.

"You know you don’t mean that Brooke. Now why don’t you just make this easy on both of us?"

She pushed his arm off of her. "Fine, be this way. I’ll just get there a different way." She said as she headed back towards her car. Ridge quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"You may be mad at me now but you’ll get over it. That I promised." He lifted her into his arms and started towards the limo.

"Put me down damn it!" She shouted.

"Feisty one aren’t you?" He chuckled. He opened the door and sat her down in the limo and quickly got in next to her.

"Let me out!" She yelled.

"Sorry Logan." He said. "Let’s go. And call Roger to pick up her car." He told the driver. The limo quickly took off with a screaming Brooke and a laughing Ridge.

 

"Hello honey." Stephanie said when Taylor picked up the ringing phone.

"Stephanie, did you find out anything?"

"Eric claims not to know. But don’t worry, we’ll find him."

"Maybe I’m making trouble where there isn’t any." Taylor said. "It’s just that he was acting so strangely when he got home."

"How so Taylor?" Stephanie asked.

"He wanted to talk to me about something. He said it was very important. I was trying to have a nice quiet dinner but he was in such a mood. And then when I decided to hear what he had to say he gets this mystery phone call and he leaves."

"Who called Taylor?"

"That’s the really strange thing. It was Kimberly."
"Kimberly? Why would she call Ridge? She certainly isn’t the person responsible for a shoot."

"Well Ridge claimed that Giovanni had her call him, it just seems so fishy to me."

"Kimberly has been very upset since Thorne’s engagement to Brooke." Stephanie said thoughtfully.

"Do you think she was trying to get Ridge to help break them up?"

"Maybe. But Brooke isn’t home Taylor. No that wouldn’t make sense. Maybe it really was a shoot."

"I want to try and help that girl Stephanie. It’s not healthy, that obsession she has with Thorne."

"It’s not Kimberly who’s obsessed Taylor."

"You’re talking about Brooke."

"Yes. That slut wants a Forrester and it seems any one will do."

"I’m just glad she’s leaving Ridge alone. She was after him again Stephanie. I know she was."

"Yes." Stephanie admitted. "I was hoping you’d never find out. But don’t you worry about that. I talked to Ridge and he is one hundred percent devoted to you and your family. I think he enjoyed the attention but he’d never risk his marriage."

"For awhile I was scared he would."

"Taylor you have to do everything to keep her away from him. And honey, having a baby is your best bet to insure that he won’t even look twice at her again. How is that coming along?"

"Ridge doesn’t want another child." Taylor said sadly.

"Well sometimes men don’t know what they really want. Taylor, throw away your pills. Tell him it must be meant to be. But do everything you can to get pregnant."

"I don’t want to do that to him. I don’t want to bring an unwanted baby into the world." She said.

"It will be wanted. You know how he loves his children. Thomas means the world to him and have you ever seen a man who loved his little girls like he loves his?" Stephanie asked her.

Taylor lowered her head at this. She wiped away a tear and said nothing in response.

"Taylor? Honey are you there?" Stephanie asked.

"Yyes, I’m here. Sorry. Yes, Ridge loves the children I know that. I just can’t trick him with a child. That’s Brooke’s kind of game, not mine."

"She was making her moves on him once before Taylor. Luckily for your family you conceived the twins. I hate to say it but she might have been successful that time. I’m just suggesting you do it again. You and Ridge have a wonderful family and another child will only solidify it. Please give it thought."

"Stephanie I want another child. I want one badly, but not if it isn’t what Ridge wants. I have to respect him."

"Alright, alright. Then we have to make sure Brooke stays away from him. Even if I have to sacrifice Thorne in the process."

"He loves Brooke."

"He thinks he does. He doesn’t really Taylor. I hate to think of her getting her claws into him. But I have to do it for your family."

 

 

"Let me out of this car now Ridge!" Brooke shouted. "This isn’t funny. Thorne is waiting for me. Now let me out!"

"Brooke we have to talk. We need time alone. After we’re done, if you still want to see Thorne I’ll take you."

"You arrogant jerk. Why would I want to listen to a word you have to say? Thorne is my fiancée. He’s the man I love not take me to him now!"

"Sorry Logan, no can do. Just relax and enjoy the ride." He put his arm around her and she pushed him away. "Logan stop." He said.

"Why are you doing this to me Ridge? Damn it this isn’t funny."

"It’s not meant to be funny. Brooke you ran out on me. We need to talk. You have to listen to what I have to say."

"I don’t have to do anything." She said once more pushing his hands away.

"Brooke stop it!" He said. He pulled her to him and his lips claimed hers. She struggled and slapped him hard across the face.

"Don’t touch me!"

"Brooke I love you."
"Liar!" She screamed. "This is kidnapping! Let me out! Let me out now!"

"Is everything alright back there?" The driver asked.

"No! Stop this car this instant and let me out." Brooke said.

"Ignore her. Keep driving." Ridge told him. He pulled her back to him. "Now stop struggling. You aren’t going to win this one Brooke so you may as well accept it."

"Thorne is going to kill you." She said as her eyes shot daggers.

"I’m not afraid of my little brother. Besides, I told him that you were mine. He has to learn it."

"I am not yours! I belong to no one."

"That’s my Logan." He laughed.

"Ridge why? Why are you doing this? How can you do this to me and to Taylor? Damn it I’ve accepted your choices. Why can’t you accept mine? You don’t want me but you’ll never let me move on. You’re a cruel man Ridge Forrester, I don’t know why I ever loved you."

A look of hurt came over his face and then he smiled and kissed her. She struggled again but he wouldn’t let her go. Against her will she found her lips giving in to his and her arms, instead of pushing at him were suddenly tight around his back. She closed her eyes and let herself respond to him. She was in the arms of the man she loved more than life itself and it felt so good to feel his lips on hers again. "Just this once." She muttered softly. "Just for now." She said. Her hands went to his face and touched him as she opened her eyes and gazed into his. "Oh Ridge, why do I let you do this?" She asked him.

"Shhhhh. Just love me Brooke, just love me." He said as he brought his lips back to her waiting ones.

 

Thorne was pacing back and forth in his house waiting for Brooke. He was anxious to see her and a little nervous that she hadn’t shown up yet. A huge smile crossed his face when he heard the doorbell ring.

"Come on in sweetheart, the doors open." He said. His grin faded when Kimberly walked in. "Kim, why are you back? I told you Brooke was coming over."

"I’m sorry Thorne but I don’t think she’s coming."

"What do you mean? How could you know that?"

"Just believe me. I wanted to be here to support you Thorne. I know how upset you are going to be."

"I’m not going to be upset Kim cause Brooke is on her way over and we are going to get married."

"Married? Well I know she’s wearing your ring and all."

"It’s more than that Kim. I’m going to ask her to marry me tonight. I don’t want to spend another day without her."

"I don’t think that’s going to happen Thorne. But I promise I’ll be here for you. I won’t let you go through this alone."

"Kim she loves me and we are going to be married, if not tonight very soon." He looked at her sadly. "I don’t want to hurt you but I think you better leave. Brooke won’t be happy to find you here."

"Alright Thorne, but just remember, I’ll always be there for you." She kissed him softly and walked out.

"She’s crazy. Of course you’re coming. Brooke where are you?" He asked aloud.

 

"Big Bear? Ridge you have to bring me back." Brooke said when the limo pulled up at the cabin.

"Not till we clear things up Logan." He said opening the door. "Come on, get out."

"No. I want to go back."

"Am I going to have to carry you?" He laughed.

"Ridge I am in love with Thorne. I’m going to marry him. Nothing you can say will change that."

"We’ll see." He said. "Now come on and get out."
She reluctantly got out of the car. "I have to call him, he’ll be worried."

"I’ll take care of Thorne." He told her.

The driver went to the trunk and started to take out suitcases and boxes.

"What’s all this?" Brooke asked.

"Clothes, food, things we’ll need."

"I’m not staying Ridge."

"Thanks John." Ridge said to the driver.

"No problem Mr. F. See you in a couple of days." He said as he got back into the limo.

"Don’t let him leave Ridge!" Brooke said. Her protests were in vain as the driver started the limo and pulled away.

"Fine, I’ll call Thorne and he’ll come get me." Brooke said.

"I had the phones disconnected. I don’t want us to be disturbed." Ridge informed her.

"Smart move Ridge. What if something happens? Besides I want to see my kids."

"Everyone will know that you are safe. I made arrangements for that. Just relax and enjoy yourself."

She shot him a look. "This isn’t funny."

"It’s not meant to be." He said. He grabbed two suitcases. "Wanna give me a hand?" He asked her.

"No." She said as she stood facing him with her arms crossed across her chest.

"Fine." He said laughing. He took out the key and opened the door. Brooke pushed past him and went straight to the phone. She picked it up and gave him another look when she realized he did indeed disconnect it. "Told you." He laughed.

"Ridge you made your point. I’m still vulnerable to you. You kiss me and I melt. What the hell more do you want from me?"

"Well for one thing I’d love you to help me put this food away." He said as he went back out to get the rest of the provisions.

"I don’t have any clothes. Am I supposed to wear this till he comes back?" Brooke said gesturing to her suit.

"Actually I kind of am hoping to keep you naked but I brought you clothes too Logan. You know how good I am at picking out things for you."

"And what does Taylor think of this?" She asked sarcastically.

"Taylor doesn’t know. I was trying to fix things with her when I found out you were home so I had to change my plans. But don’t worry about that. I will handle it."

"This is so stupid." She said sitting on the couch. "Nothing is going to happen between us."

"You know that’s not true Logan."

"Oh, so you plan on seducing me again. Yeah good old Brooke, good for a quick f*ck any time Ridge wants a change."

"That’s not what this is about." He said as he took a bottle of chilled champagne out of the refrigerator. She watched as he uncorked it and grabbed two flutes. He brought it all over to Brooke and poured two glasses. He handed one to her with a smile.

"No thanks." She said putting it down.

"You really are going to make this hard on me." He chuckled.

"I’m not going to roll over and play dead for you Ridge. And even if you manage to seduce me I am still going to marry Thorne."

"No you aren’t Logan." He said. He took a sip of the wine. "It’s good stuff. Have some Brooke."

"I said no." She said defiantly.

"Brooke I know you’re mad but you have to know how serious I am. I love you. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone in my life."

"Right. That’s why you annulled our marriage. That’s why you chose both Caroline and Taylor over me. That’s why when I gave you a child you still didn’t come to me."

"I made mistakes Brooke. I’m human."

"Could have fooled me."

"You really aren’t going to make this easy on me."

"No I’m not. I want you to get that driver back and take me home."

He reached into his pocket and held something in his hand. Brooke’s eyes were drawn to it but he hid it from her. "What’s that?" She asked.

"In a minute." He said. He took a deep breath. "Logan, Brooke. A long time ago you and I came here. We shared champagne together like I’m trying to do now."

"And I said I don’t want any? Are you deaf?"

"No Brooke, I’m not deaf, but I am stubborn. Maybe even more stubborn than you are."

"I doubt it." She laughed and tossed back her hair.

"You remember that night don’t you?" He continued.

"Yes I do. You gave me a ring, you promised to love me forever. And then you married Caroline." She said. "A girl doesn’t forget something like that."

"Brooke, things were different then. I was different then, you were different then."

"No Ridge, I’m the same person I was then. Far too loving and far too trusting. So what is it? These memories are supposed to get me into your bed? Try harder Ridge, it’s not cutting it."

"Brooke when I asked you to marry me I meant it, I really did."

"You could have fooled me. All I had to do was miscarry the baby and it was bye bye Brookie." She said sadly. "Ridge please, please if I really mean anything to you set me free. Let me go to Thorne. He loves me. He wants to build a life with me. There are no Taylor’s or Caroline’s to come between us. We can be together and have a family together. Please let me have that."

"No Brooke, in fact I want you to take off his ring. Take it off right now."

"No!" She said. "I will not take off his ring."

"You have to Brooke." He said taking her hand. He gently slipped the ring off her finger and put it in his pocket.

"Give it back Ridge." She said as her eyes filled with tears. "I can’t. If I do then how can I do this." He said as he put another ring on her finger. She looked down at it and gasped. "What? Why are you doing this?"

"This is the ring I gave you that night. The ring I never should have taken off your finger. Now I know you can’t wear it publicly right away. It wouldn’t be fair to Taylor. But Brooke." He started as he got down to one knee. "I love you, and I swear I am ending it with Taylor. Please Brooke, please say you’ll be my wife."

"Hello. Brooke?" Thorne said as he answered the phone on the first ring.

"No Thorne, I’m calling for your brother."

"For Ridge?" He asked.

"Yes, he asked me to let you know that Brooke is alright."
"What? Where is she? What does he have to do with her?"

"She won’t be coming over tonight Thorne. He said to let you know that she’s fine and she’s happy. Good bye Thorne." He said as he hung up.

"No wait! Wait! Where is she? Brooke! Brooke where are you?" He shouted.

 

Chapter 20

 

 

Brooke stared down at the ring that Ridge had slipped onto her finger. "It really is the ring." She whispered. "You kept it all this time?"

"You think I forgot what we had, but Brooke I could never forget that. We shared more in the time we were together than most people do in an entire lifetime." He got off his knee and sat next to her. He took her hand in his and kissed it. "I always opted for the easier way out. I did what my mother expected of me. I did what Taylor expected of me. I didn’t follow my heart. I know it’s late, but Logan it’s not too late. My eyes were opened when I made love to you that night, suddenly it all seemed so certain. I knew what I wanted, I knew what I needed and that was you. Brooke I need you. I don’t want to live another day without you."

"So many years." She whispered. "So many years I’ve waited and longed for you to say these words to me. But you’re wrong Ridge. It is too late."

"No it’s not, not if you love me like I love you and I think you do." She turned away and looked at the door. He reached for her chin and turned her back to face him. "You do love me don’t you Brooke?"

"It’s not that simple. For years that was my mantra. Love is all that matters but I was wrong."

"No you weren’t." Ridge protested.

"Love does matter but it isn’t everything. It’s very important but there are other things that matter too. Like family." She looked into his eyes and hers filled with fresh tears. "I can never take you away from those children. It would be wrong. And not only that Ridge I don’t think you would even be able to do it."

"I won’t have to give them up Logan, they’ll always be my children and I’ll always be their father but I can’t live that life anymore."

"Oh Ridge," She said. "You’ve loved Taylor for so long. Surely you aren’t saying that’s over."

"Not over, changed. I do love her, I won’t deny that but it’s not like the love I have for you."

"And you’ve discovered this just now after all the years that I’d been fighting for us?" She asked. "No Ridge. Don’t you see what you’re doing?"

"I’m asking the woman that I love to be my wife."

"Damn it Ridge you already have a wife. You have no right to ask me. You can’t even come to me a free man and ask me. If I really meant that much to you you would have ended it first but you couldn’t take that risk could you? Imagine Ridge Forrester without a woman." She said.

"I was trying to tell Taylor but I found out you were on your way home."

"How convenient." She said.

"This isn’t a lie Brooke. I was telling her tonight."

"No Ridge, you’d never have done it. You love her and you’ll never leave her."

"Why don’t you believe me?" He asked in a frustrated tone.

"Believe you? I do believe you. I believe that you think you love me. Maybe you really do love me, but not enough. It’s too late Ridge. If you really did love me we would have been together years ago and I can’t let myself believe in you again. I’ll only get hurt and make a fool of myself and I’d hurt the people who love me too. I’m sorry Ridge, you’ll never know how sorry I am but no, I can’t marry you."

 

"How did Kimberly know? How? Why is she with him? Brooke no, no not Ridge. He’ll only hurt you. I’m the one who loves you, not Ridge." Thorne said as he punched at the wall. He was still holding the phone. He looked down at it and punched star 69 but it rang and rang without being answered. "Brooke please don’t listen to him. Please come back to me."

 

 

"Grandma!" Bridget said with a big hug. "I’ve missed you so much."

"I’ve missed you too honey." Beth said as she stood back and looked at her. "You’ve gotten so lovely and so grown up."

Bridget blushed and smiled. "It’s been a while Grandma."

"Too long."

"How long are you here for?"

"I’m not sure honey, but I’ll be here as long as your Mom needs me."

"Grandma what happened? Why did she run out like that?"

"She’s confused Bridget. She loves Thorne but I don’t think she’s ready to marry him."

"I hope she doesn’t marry him." Bridget said point blank.

"You don’t like him?"

"I like him alright, but he’s my brother. It’s too weird."

"You didn’t think it was weird when she was married to Ridge." Beth pointed out.

"He was never really a brother, he was like a father to me for most of my life. I guess I’ll always think of him differently. With Thorne it just feels funny."

"But if he makes her happy Bridget doesn’t that make it okay?"

She sighed and looked pensive. "I really don’t know. Rick thinks it’s okay but I just can’t get used to it. Grandma I was so sure it was over for them. And then she suddenly decides to marry him. There has to be more to it."

"I think you and your mother need to have a nice talk honey." Beth told her granddaughter.

"Can’t you just tell me Grandma? I’m really worried about her. I really don’t think she’s happy with Thorne."

"Well I hate to have to tell you this but there’s a chance that they’re getting married right now."

"Now?" An upset Bridget asked.

"Maybe not, hopefully I talked some sense into her." Beth said with a smile. "Now why don’t we find something else to talk about, like you." She grinned at Bridget.

 

"No Brooke, I am not accepting that answer." Ridge told her. "I can understand your concerns. I agree I haven’t been the kind of man you could depend on before but I swear I will be."

"Oh Ridge, it’s so easy for you to say the words. All the beautiful words. But they don’t mean anything."

"They do! I swear they do!"

"Please take me home Ridge. Please get your driver back and take me home."

Ridge flashed her his famous smile and stole a quick kiss. "Nope." He said. "I intend to not only change your mind but to have you so head over heels in love with me by the time we leave here that you’re gonna wonder why it took me so long to convince you. Now first let’s please sit and have a nice glass of champagne."

"I really don’t want any." She said.

"You’re just being obstinate." He laughed. "One glass, I’m not giving up Logan."

"We can talk, we can eat but I will not drink any champagne." She said.

"Are you scared I’ll get you drunk and take advantage of you?" He laughed again.

"No. I just don’t want to drink. I had a long flight and I’m tired. I will have a cup of herbal tea if you have any."

"I think so." He said. "Sit back, relax and I’ll get it." He kissed her gently on the lips and went to the kitchen. Brooke touched her lips where his had been and smiled.

"I love you Ridge." She whispered too softly for him to hear. She then touched her belly. "That’s your Daddy sweetheart."

 

Kimberly watched Thorne through her binoculars. He was upset and pacing, Ridge or Brooke must have called him. "Is it too soon to go to him?" She wondered. She watched as he poured a tall glass of amber colored liquor and quickly downed it. "She’s not worth it Thorne, she’ll never love you like I do." She went back inside and opened her closet door. "Sexy but not too obvious." She said as she surveyed her outfits. "Yes, this is perfect." She said as she pulled out a tight, short black dress. She slipped off her jeans and shirt and looked at her body in the mirror. "She has nothing on you Kimberly." She took off her bra and let it fall to the floor. She admired her firm, young breasts. She touched her nipples and watched them harden. She then slid the dress on. It clung to her like a second skin. "Brooke who?" She laughed. She sprayed on some cologne and ran a brush through her long, dark hair. "Maybe you’ll get married tonight after all Thorne." She said with a smile.

 

"Here you go Logan." Ridge said as he handed her a streaming mug of tea. "I’m sorry, I really wasn’t thinking. Of course you’re tired. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard."

She took the tea from him and brought it to her mouth. "Thanks. It’s good." She said.

He sat down next to her and picked up his champagne glass. "You don’t mind if I finish mine do you?"

"Knock yourself out." She replied.

"You really do look beat." He said looking at her closely.

"Thanks." She laughed.

"I meant it in a good way, if there is one."

"I’m sure you did Ridge." She sighed. She looked around the room and brought her eyes to his. "I know you have to have a phone. Please, let me call Thorne."

"I can’t do that Brooke. You still don’t believe me. We need to reach an agreement before I let you call anyone."

"I really am kidnapped aren’t I?" She asked.

"Lovingly kidnapped." He smiled. "I won’t do a thing to hurt you. I’ll pamper you and love you but I’ll never hurt you."

"My mother came home with me. She’ll be worried if she calls Thorne’s and I’m not there."

"Thorne knows you’re with me."

"No, Ridge no!" She was appalled. "How could you do that to your own brother?"

"We’ve talked about this a lot since you left Brooke, he knows how I feel about you. He knows that I’ll never quit till you’re mine."

Brooke looked at him. Her eyes traveled down to his ring finger where he still wore his wedding band. Hers eyes teared up and met his.

"I’m sorry, I forgot." He said. He tried to slide the ring off but it was stuck.

"An omen." She said softly.

"No, it’ll come off." He said.

"Forget it Ridge. If it was meant to come off it would have."

"Brooke I want your ring on my finger."

She touched his face gently and kissed him. "I do love you Ridge but this isn’t real. You love Taylor and the children and I’ll never come before them. I accepted that when Thomas was born. Why won’t you set me free?"

"I can’t. Not now, not now that I know how much I love you."

"You love taking me to bed." She said. "Seriously Ridge, we’ve barely talked in all this time that we’ve been involved again. Once that would have been enough for me but not any more."

"You want to talk? We’ll talk. We’ll talk all night long if that makes you happy. Don’t you see Brooke, that’s all I want to do, make you happy."

She smiled and took a sip of her tea. "If you want to really make me happy." She said in a very suggestive voice.

"Anything." He said.

"Cookies, I need some cookies." She smiled.

Ridge looked at her and burst out laughing. "Cookies? I’m offering you my love and you want cookies?"

"Yup." She smiled. "I hope you have some in one of those boxes you brought."

"So do I." He laughed.

 

Becky got out of the bed and walked to the sliding glass doors and looked out. The moonlight was reflected on the water and it was beautiful. She turned around and watched Sean as he slept. "He’s so special." She said to herself. "Why can’t I forget Sasha and just be with Sean? What’s wrong with me?"

"Becky?" Sean called to her. "Is something wrong?"

"No." She said. She closed the curtain and walked back to the bed and got in. "I just got up to go to the bathroom and I was admiring the view."
"I thought I heard you say something." He said.

"I was looking at you, I think I said something about how special you are." She smiled sweetly at him.

"That’s nice." He said. "I think you’re pretty special too. Get back into bed honey."

"I will." She said. "I’m gonna get a glass of water. Do you want anything?"

"Just you." He said.

"You got me." She grinned. "I’ll be right back."

 

"That’s him." Megan whispered into Giovanni’s ear.

"Who cara?" He asked as he looked in the direction on the dance floor that Megan was looking. A young man, dressed totally in black was dancing with a pretty young blonde girl.

"That guy. That’s that Sasha character that Becky is interested in."

"The man in black?" He asked.

"Yeah." She said turning up her nose. "I knew he was no good. Look at that girl he’s with."

"What’s wrong with her?" Giovanni asked.

"She looks cheap." Megan said.

"You’re prejudice Meg. You’re thinking of your friend. It’s not fair to judge a woman you don’t even know like that."

"If he was so interested in Becky he wouldn’t be out with another woman."

"Is Becky alone tonight?" He asked raising his eyebrows.

"Well no but."

"But nothing cara, that’s double standards. She is with Sean and this man is with this woman."

"Don’t you think he looks sinister?" She asked.

"He looks mysterious." He said. "Maybe a little dangerous but sinister? I don’t think so."

"Well if she saw him with this woman she’d forget about him pretty fast."

"I like Sean Meg, and I like Becky but right now I am with you and I really don’t care about this man and his blonde girlfriend yes?" He said.

"Yes." She agreed, her attention going back to Giovanni. She relaxed in his arms and let him lead her back into the dance that they had started.

 

 

"Brooke?" Thorne said and jumped from his chair when the doorbell rang. He was unable to hide his disappointment from Kimberly.

"No Thorne, it’s me." She said. "Can I come in?"

"I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I’m not very good company."

"I didn’t come to be entertained, I came to support you."

"I don’t need your support and I want to know something!" He said angrily.

"What?" She asked in an innocent voice.

"How did you know Kim? How did you know she wasn’t coming?"

Kimberly started to panic and then she looked at him. "I saw her. I saw her get into a car with Ridge." She lied.

"And you didn’t tell me? Maybe I could have stopped her!" He shouted.

"She didn’t look like she wanted to be stopped Thorne." She said softly. She walked to him and took his drink.

"Give me that!"

"You don’t need it. You have me now." She said. "You don’t need alcohol and you don’t need Brooke, all you’ll ever need is me."

 

Brooke yawned and put her head back against the soft cushions of the couch. "Ridge?" She called out. "Are you coming in here?"

"In a minute Logan." He shouted.

"If you can’t find cookies don’t worry about it." She said.

"I’ll find some." He called into her. "Do you want more tea?"

"Not yet." She said. She closed her eyes and started to relax. "Can you really mean it Ridge? Can you really love me enough to leave your family?" She whispered softly.

 

Meanwhile Ridge was pulling things out of the cabinets. The counter was covered with so many items it looked more like a shelf at a convenience store. Finally he found what he was looking for. "You want cookies Logan, you’ll get cookies." He said as he turned on the oven.

"Why haven’t you called Ridge? You said you’d try." Taylor lamented as she unloaded the dishwasher. Their dinner had ended up in the trash and Taylor had sustained herself with a small salad and three large glasses of red wine. She was melancholy and more than a little annoyed. She reached for the phone and lost her footing. By pure miracle she grabbed the counter and kept herself from falling to the floor.

"Damn it!" She said as she struggled to stand straight. She punched in a number and listened to it ring.

"Hello." She heard Ridge’s voice.

"Ridge! Finally!" She said. "When are you coming home?"
"You’ve reached Ridge Forrester, I’m not available right now. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you." His voice said followed by a screeching beep.

"Ridge it’s Taylor, please call me." She said. She frowned and disconnected and then punched another number.

"Hello." Stephanie answered.

"He’s not home yet." Taylor informed her.

"Oh honey, I’m sure he’s on his way. It’s late. They can’t be shooting anymore."

"I think he lied to me and I don’t know why?" Taylor said followed by a hiccup and a burp.

"Taylor! Have you been drinking?"

"Just a little." She said with another hiccup.

"Honey go to bed. He’ll be home before you know it."

"Stephanie where is he? If Brooke isn’t home then who can he be with?"
"Maybe he and Giovanni went out for a few drinks after the shoot. Taylor he isn’t with a woman. Ridge would never do that to you."

"I hope not." She said.

"Honey do you want me to come over?" Stephanie volunteered.

"Would you?" Taylor asked in a soft frightened voice.

"I’ll be there in a few minutes honey. You just sit down and wait for me."

 

Ridge walked into the living room to check on Brooke. She was sound asleep and snoring lightly. He sat down next to her and kissed her softly.

"Ridge." She said with a smile. "I guess I fell asleep." She looked at him and started to laugh. He was covered with flour and there was cookie dough in his hair. "What happened to you?"

"Me?" He asked as he looked at himself. "I guess I made a bit of a mess. But I haven’t done this since I was a kid."

"Done what?" She laughed as she reached for the dough in his hair.

"Made cookies."

"You’re making cookies?" She asked him.

"You wanted cookies, we didn’t have any so I had to make them didn’t I?"

"Oh Ridge." She said as she smiled and felt her heart melting.

"They’ll be done in about ten minutes. Shall I put on the water for more tea?"

"That would be great." She said. "And Ridge." She said as he started back into the kitchen. He turned to face her. "Thanks. You really are sweet."

"I love you Brooke. Plain and simple." He kissed the end of her nose and went back into the kitchen.

A little later he returned with two streaming mugs of tea and a plate of warm though misshapen chocolate chip cookies.

"They smell great." Brooke said.

"Be kind Logan, I did my best." He flashed her his smile and again her heart leapt into her throat. She took a cookie and bit into it. It was delicious and she grinned at him. "Are they okay?" He asked.

"They’re great." She said. "But Ridge, you didn’t have to go to all this trouble."

"It wasn’t trouble. Brooke I want you to be happy." She sighed and looked down. "What did I say now?" He asked her.

"This can’t work Ridge, no matter how badly I want it to it just can’t."

"You’re wrong. I fully intend to make it work. This is the most important thing to me. I can’t lose you again."

"We’ll always be friends. In fact if you just take me home I swear I’ll never tell anyone what happened here."

"Nothing happened, at least not yet. Please Brooke, just give me one night to change your mind."

"I won’t." She said.

"Won’t you at least give me a chance?" He pleased. "I made you cookies." He said with a little boyish smile.

She smiled at him and sighed. "I guess I owe you that. But can’t I please call Thorne?"

"It’s been taken care of Brooke."

"I can imagine what you told him, that’s cruel Ridge. He must be so upset with me."

"Not you Logan, me. And if you decide you don’t want us, well then I’ll tell him nothing happened. I will."

She reached for another cookie and sat back against the cushions. "So what do you want to talk about?" She asked.

"Us. Brooke I’ve been thinking about all the things we’ve done, all the time we spent together. God we have so many memories. So many wonderful memories."

"And a lot of bad ones too. Those are the ones I can’t get past Ridge."

"Can we try and concentrate on the good ones tonight?"

She nodded and started thinking and remembering. She smiled at him.

"What?" He asked.

"I was thinking about when Bridget was born. I was so happy then. I really thought we would be a family."

"We should have been, I was wrong."

"No, you loved Taylor. You loved her more than you loved me."

"Is that what you really think?" He asked.

"What else is there to think?"

"Brooke I did love Taylor, I loved her very much but it wasn’t that I loved her more than you. It was that I made vows to her and I didn’t want to betray them."

"And now you’re willing to? Ridge you didn’t have children with her then and you still wouldn’t come to us. Why is it different now?"

"I’ve grown. I’ve realized things that I didn’t then."

"So you’re saying if it happened now you would have left her?"

"It’s not about that Brooke. It’s so much more. I know now that I love you more than I could even imagine. I can’t, no Brooke, I won’t spend my life without you."

"And I have no say?" She asked.

"Sure you do, I just plan on making you see it my way."

She yawned again and he put his arm around her. She made no move to push him away. In fact she rested back on him and let her head touch his shoulder. "Anyway it was nice, that day I mean." She said.

"Brooke?" He asked.

"I know where you’re heading and no, I’m not sure. But I won’t put her through it again. She has a Dad."

"I’ve always felt so close to her."

"You love her."

"Yeah I do." He said. "If she’s really mine I’d like to know."

"There’s nothing to be gained and so much to be lost." Brooke said. "You both love each other, let that be enough."

"I just feel like we were cheated somehow. A man should know his children. He has a right to be a father."

"You weren’t willing to bring her up with me Ridge." She reminded him. "Even when we thought she was yours."

"That’s ancient history. We’ve come so far since that. My point now is that if I am her father I have a right, no a duty, to be there for her."

"Let’s change the subject." She said.

"Alright. For now." He agreed. "Remember our honeymoon Brooke?"

"Which one?" She asked. "The one where your wife was really alive or the one where you dumped me months after it was over?"

"You aren’t going to make this easy are you?"

"Don’t you see my point? For every single good memory there are five bad ones. How can I not think it will happen again if I let myself trust you and give you my heart again?"

"Faith. You have to have faith in me."

"Been there, done that." She said.

"Not fair Brooke, besides you promised."

"Yeah I did didn’t I?" She said with a wide yawn.

"You’re very tired aren’t you?"

"Yes. Maybe I oughta go to bed and we can continue this in the morning." She said.

"It is late." He agreed. He stood up and helped her to her feet. "Let’s go."

"Let’s go?" She asked. "Ridge I am not sleeping with you."

"Where am I supposed to sleep?"

"The couch, the floor, I really don’t care but you are not getting me into bed Ridge."

"You are stubborn." He laughed. "Okay honey, you win but let me at least sit with you while you fall asleep."

"I’m too tired to argue." She said. She let him take her hand and lead her into the bedroom. "Talk about memories." She said. "But again they’re good and bad."

"Bad? We never had a bad time here." He protested. "Remember when we came here after Belief?"

"And that isn’t good and bad?" She asked.

"Everything that happened here was good Logan."

"But when we got home it was over. See what I mean?"

"I’m trying to fix all that. What else do you remember that can be considered bad?"

"You have to ask?" She said as tears filled her eyes.

"Brooke what?" He asked. "Is my memory that selective that I can’t remember?"

"It wasn’t you and I here but we were both here and it led up to the worst, most humiliating day in my life."

"Grant." He said. "Brooke please, please don’t go there."

"You gave her my gown, you gave her my ring." She said sadly. "And no matter how hard I tried to explain your wouldn’t listen, you didn’t care. You told me it was too hard, not worth it. Ridge it hurt so badly."

"I’m sorry. You’re right Brooke, I’ve been terribly unfair to you. But I swear I’ll make it up to you. When we marry it will be forever. I’ll never leave you again, never." He pulled her into his arms and their lips met in an intense kiss.

 

Stephanie rang the bell over and over before Taylor finally stumbled over to answer it.

"Oh Taylor, how much have you had?" She asked her daughter-in-law with deep concern.

"Four, five glasses of wine. Want one?" She asked.

"No and I think we’d better sober you up before Ridge gets home."

"He’s not coming home." She said.

"Oh course he is."

"He never called me, he never called at all." She said.

"Where are the children?"

"Children?" Taylor asked.

"Your and Ridge’s children." Stephanie said sharply.

"Ohhhhh." Taylor moaned as she started to cry.

"What’s wrong? What happened to them?"

"They’re in bed. Catherine put them to bed." She said.

"You scared me Taylor."

"All a lie, it’s all a lie and he’ll never understand. He’ll never love me again." She said in a sing-song voice.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about honey." Stephanie said.

"I know, but you will, you all will and then I’ll just disappear." She said. "Whoosh." She said and started to laugh and quickly began crying again.

"Honey you’ve had too much to drink. We need to get some coffee into you and get you into a cold shower."

"No, it’s not use Stephanie. My house of cards is falling down all around me. He knows, that’s why he’s gone. He knows."

"He knows what Taylor, honey you aren’t making sense at all."

 

Brooke had changed into a nightgown. She and Ridge had lain down on the bed together where he held her until she had fallen asleep. Ridge pulled a blanket over them and shut off the light.

"No." She whispered softly after waking. "You can’t stay."

"I have all my clothes on Brooke, It’s chilly, that’s all." He pulled her to him and kissed her. "Having you in my arms like this is a dream come true."

"It’s just a fantasy, a one night fantasy." She said.

"If that’s all it can be then we have to fulfill it." He said. He leaned over her and captured her lips again. She hungrily joined the kiss. "It can’t end here Brooke, this is just our beginning." He told her. She moaned as his hand drifted between her legs but instead of pushing him away she spread them to allow him better access.

"So sweet, you are so sweet." He said. "You want me Brooke, don’t deny us, please don’t deny us."

"It’s wrong." She said.

"No Logan, it’s right." He said kissing her again. His hand was driving her wild, his thumb had found her sensitive nub and was making wide sweeping circles. She moaned and pushed herself harder and closer to his hand. "So wet. You are so ready for me. You need more Logan, we both do."
"Yes." She whispered. "Yes."

 

Kimberly was frustrated. Thorne wasn’t responding to her at all. He had stopped drinking but he was depressed and had no interest in anything but Brooke.

"She has to come back. She’ll realize he’s all wrong for her. She’ll know he’s filling her head with lies and promises he can never keep and she’ll come home to me."

"Why would you want her after she’s been with him?" Kimberly asked.

"How could she want me after I’ve been with you? I love her Kim, I love her and I want to marry her. It’s all my fault."

"Why is it your fault?"

"Ridge knew about us. He thought my feelings for Brooke weren’t real but they are."

"And what about your feelings for me?" She asked.

Finally she had his attention. He looked at her with a guilty expression. "Kim I care a lot about you but I’m not in love with you. I’m sorry if that hurts you but I’ve never pretended otherwise."

"I could be so good for you Thorne. I love you, I love you so much." She said as she gazed into his eyes.

"You are so pretty Kim. You’re such a wonderful girl and a really good friend."

"Friend? Is that how you think of me? Do you sleep with all your friends Thorne?"

"I’m not proud of what happened between us." He admitted. "I stole your innocence."

"I gave it to you, I gave it to you willingly. There was no one else I ever wanted, just you Thorne."

"Forget me Kim, I’m not the man for you. You need to find someone who can give you back everything that you give."

"But Thorne, Brooke will never come back to you. You know it’s always been Ridge for her."

"But it’s always been Taylor for him. Brooke was never his first choice, she was always his consolation prize. I’m the man who loves her for herself and will never put another woman before her."

"But she puts Ridge before you. If she didn’t then she’d be here with you. Please Thorne, don’t throw my love away. I want you, I love you."

 

Stephanie had gotten Taylor to drink some coffee and take a shower and then she had finally gotten her into bed. She checked the children and went downstairs to wait for Ridge. She was furious at her son. He wasn’t being attentive to his wife. Whatever it was she fully intended on getting to the bottom of it. She picked up a magazine and started to read it when the phone rang. "Finally." She said as she quickly picked it up. "Where the hell are you? You’re wife is frantic!" She said without waiting for a response.

"Stephanie?" Eric said.

"Eric, I thought it was Ridge." She said.

"He’s not home yet?" He asked.

"No and I’m mad as hell. Eric if you have any idea where he is you have to tell me now."

"I really don’t Stephanie but I will make some calls. Now I’m getting concerned. How is Taylor?"

"She’s terrible Eric. She was drunk. She isn’t making sense. That poor girl is so insecure right now."
"Are you going to stay with her?" He asked.

"Of course I am, until that son of yours gets home anyway."

"He’ll be home. I’ll make some calls Stephanie, I’ll find him." Eric assured her.

 

"No, no Ridge please stop!" Brooke said as she pushed his hand from her and sat up. "I can’t let myself do this again. I can’t let myself just roll over for you."

"That isn’t what this is Brooke. Why won’t you believe me?"

"If you really meant it you would have come to me a free man. But you couldn’t take that chance. You couldn’t."

"I already explained that to you. I was trying to tell her when I found out you were home. I couldn’t risk having you marry Thorne Brooke. I had to get you tonight but I will tell her, I will."

"When?" She asked. "When Ridge?"

 

Eric hung up with Giovanni more confused than ever. He learned that the shoot had gone well and that they had all left Forrester. Giovanni had never gotten a call about a re-shoot. Eric was puzzled. Why would Ridge lie to Taylor? What was really happening to that marriage? He picked up the phone and dialed his other son.

"Hello." Thorne answered on the forth ring.

"Hello son, I’m sorry for calling this late. Did I wake you?"

"No Dad, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep anyway. What’s wrong? Is it Mother?"

"Your mother is fine. It’s Ridge that I’m calling about."

"I think it’s best we don’t discuss him right now." Thorne said angrily.

"Then you know where he is. What has he done son?"

"He stole my woman that’s what he’s done."

"Brooke? Brooke is back?"

"She came home tonight and she was supposed to come here. We were going to get married tonight."

"She didn’t show?" Eric asked.

"No she didn’t. And then one of Ridge’s henchmen called to tell me that she was safe, with Ridge."

"No wonder Taylor is so upset."

"Taylor knows?" Thorne asked.

"She must have some clue. Thorne I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

"Oh no, this I will take care of myself. You know that bastard will only hurt her again and I swear he will pay. Once I find them I’m taking Brooke away from him and we’re getting married."

"Thorne you can’t force her."

"She’ll have realized what he is by then. I won’t have to force anything. I love her Dad, and she loves me."

"So you don’t know where they are?"

"No. Not a clue. But I will find out." Thorne said as he disconnected the call.

Eric hung up the phone. "I hope you know what you’re doing son. Damn you if you hurt her again."

 

Ridge gently stroked Brooke’s back while she cried. "I never meant to upset you. I won’t rush you into something you aren’t ready for Brooke."

"I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m so damn emotional and I can’t seem to make up my mind about anything. I want to believe you, God how I want to."

"Then do Brooke. I swear I will tell her. I need you, I want you to be my wife."

"Hold me. Please just hold me." She said through tears. He pulled his arms around her and kissed her on the mouth. She clung to him kissing him back, loving him, wanting him.

NEXT