Chapter 108 Review ( Homecoming)

Caspian is summoned to Grayson where the head of the Mafia family suggests that he and Brooke are not a match. Meanwhile Grayson’s wife Sophia invites Donnetella over for dinner hoping that a match can be made between the two. Brooke is disappointed when Caspian won’t make it back home for their plans and is worried by the ominous tone in Caspian’s voice. Caspian realizes that Grayson and his sister are hiding something from him. Rick plans a special evening for Eve who is struggling with Trudie’s secret. Taylor tells Ridge about Stephanie’s threats to her and suggests that her husband not absolve his mother of her alleged crimes until he has proof. Charlie visits Brooke brining Dylan when Storm arrives. Pharren tells her husband of the threat against her company.

Against All Odds Chapter 109 The Night All Hell Broke Lose

Grayson watched as Caspian’s face turned hard as granite. “Dominick? What you are asking me to do with him….”
“It isn’t what you are thinking.” Grayson finished. “ Dominick and Dante have both gone their separate ways. It is time that they did. Dom has done well.”
“ While his twin brother has chosen the ways of the family no doubt.” Dante was bred and born for the family life. If it were dark and dirty, he was involved. He loved every minute of family live He lived on the edge of danger. Polished handsome and suave, egmatic and paranoid. He was like it or not just his father.
“ He is very much like his father.” Grayson added with a hint of admiration. “He will do well with my guidance. However Dom has chosen a different path. He wants to work in the arena of legitimate business.”
“ You’ve allowed this?’ Caspian sat back not sure what to believe. “ The family has never done well with change are you sure that you’ll be able to let him go without interference.
“ We changed for you, didn’t we?”
“ I paid a price.” Caspian stated.
“ Yes, financially you had to give up your holders but you were allowed to leave.” The man- servant came into the den and poured Grayson a cup of coffee. Grayson lifted the coffee to his mouth. “Years ago I would not be satisfied with a simple cup of coffee but things has changed. Stefano has two twin sons, the first born Dante will no doubt be his heir. Dante is more like his father than young Dom . He wants to make his own path. The young man has a brilliant mind.”
“ And a set of brass balls to go with it.” Caspian remember how the young man had a knack of saying whatever he wanted regardless of the danger of the situation. Dom and Dante not only looked alike but they had the same debonair attitude but Dom always had brilliant mind. He was always good at school, had a computer science and engineer degree along with one in business.
“ He does have that…”Grayson chuckled. “ He needs someone he’d look up. Someone he could respect to be in charge of him. Other wise he wouldn’t be able to be controlled. No doubt he’s get into trouble. Restraint isn’t Dom’s strong point though he shows more than he brother.”
“ Companies have offered for him?”
“Yes. Made very good offer for him from what I hear. He did extremely well with his internships, has all those fancy degrees. Did it all in record time.” He said clearly impressed. But we won’t allow him to accept any of the offers.”
Caspian knew the danger that Dom would be in if he were allowed to go and work for any company without the protection of the family. Dom no matter what was a D’Marco therefore he was family and could be a target if he weren’t properly protected.
“You want him to come and work for me.” Caspian not thrilled at the aspect of being roped back into a family obligation.
“ Your business is doing very well. I’m sure you could look at his file and find a position for him. A real one in which he can learn to work in business world and maybe one day start something of his own.”
“He’s also be under my protection.”
“ Background checks can sometimes be a problem. But with Microtech it won’t be questioned. You own your company. And yes…” Grayson lit another cigar. “ He’d be under your protection. Nobody would dare to touch him or use him in some way.”
“What you are asking me to do…”
“ Is nothing more than looking after a nephew of sorts. He isn’t involved with any of our activities. He never has, you know the rules. Not until you reach manhood.”
Caspian scoffed at that particular rule. It was too bad that that rule didn’t apply to him His father unlike Dom’s father had died thus the responsibility was given to him whether he was ready or not. “ You’ve been planning this for a while, haven’t you?”
“ It was an option that I had been considering. That is why we allowed him to get his degree in the States. I made sure that Stefano kept him away from any of the activities that Dante was involved in.”
Things were really changing.“ Stefano agree to this?”
Grayson was quiet for a moment as if he were in deep thought before he answered. “He doesn’t have a choice. The brothers are close but it is clear that their paths are different. It was be a danger for Dante and Dom to live under the same roof and be so close as twins are. Twins sometimes have deep bonds with each other especially the identical ones. Caspian wondered if that were true. Brooke had mentioned a dream about riding a horse that may have belonged to Lark while Lark had dreamed of a family so similar to Brooke. An uncomfortable feeling spread through Caspian. More and more things looked grim. He turned his attention back to Grayson. “Dante is being primed in a position of power. His brother would be an Achilles heal for him. It is best to separate them now. Dom would never be able to take orders from his twin.”
“ Other would questions Dante’s ability to lead if he didn’t demand allegiance from his brother.”
“ Yes. You see the possible problems as I did. Allow Dom to have his own success.”
“ Away from the family.”
“ Yes.”
“Besides. We’ve seen what you could do. You’ve made a name for yourself in the area of business making immense amount of wealth. Stefano wants Dante to follow in his footsteps but wants his other son to make a different kind of mark on the world. With, your guidance and protection.”

Brooke handed her brother a plate of hot pizza and a cold beer. “ I thought that you’d like the Heineken instead of Merlot.”
“ You do know me.” He opened the bottle and took a big gulp. He enjoyed the flavor. “Ahh. That’s good.”
“ If you start burping…I’m kicking you out.”
“ That’s the problem with you, little sister. You’ve spent to much time with those fancy folks that you dress that you forgot what it’s like to live with the basics.”
“ This coming from the man with the fancy condo in the heart of San Francisco who charges his clients what? At least 5,000 to have a sit down consultation.”
Storm clinked this sister’s wineglass as an act of submission. “ Yeah but I do probono work. Besides, I’ve earned it.”
Brooke lay down on the lounge chair. “Yes, you have. I know that I don’t always say it but I’m proud of you.”
“ I know you are.” Storm quickly finished off his pizza. “ So you want to tell me how you really are doing through all of this.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “ You DO know me don’t you.”
“ Yes. I do and I’m worried.”
“ I’m going to be alright. It’s Bridget I’m worried about.”
“ How is she handling this?”
“ I don’t know. It hit her hard. She doesn’t believe that Stephanie had anything to do with changing the test.”
‘ She doesn’t want to believe it. Can you blame her?”
“ No. That’s why it is good that she is away with Ridge.”
“ It’s about time that he did something.”
“Storm…” Brooke winced at his comments. “ That isn’t fair. Ridge suffered just like Bridget did. Even more. He thought that he lost his daughter.”
“ He didn’t have to.” Storm said. “ If he had stayed married to you all those years instead of dumping you it wouldn’t have been so traumatic for her.”
‘ That’s not fair.” Brooke said sitting up and standing. She walked over to the edge of the pool that overlooked the lights of the city far away.
Storm sighed. “ Listen.” He followed her. “ I don’t mean to make this any harder on you than it is. But it bothers me the way he treated you. Especially because if his mother hadn’t gotten away with so many things in the past than maybe she wouldn’t have been bold enough to do something like this. It’s criminal.”
“ I know. I plan to see Stephanie pay.”
“ Do you think that’s possible?”
Brooke turned to her brother and saw the slight worry lines around his eyes. “ What do you mean by that?”
“ This is her town Brooke. Her city and she’s got power. She’ll use it all to escape this if she can. The legal game isn’t always black and white; there are lots of shades of gray. ”
“ Well, I’m doing everything in my power to see that she doesn’t.”
“ Like what?”
“ Well, I have some old finical records that Stephanie had.”
“ How did you get those?”
“ Caspian.”
“ Oh. I should have know.” He shook his head in disdain. “ Brooke that’s not legal.”
“ That doesn’t matter.”
“ How did he get them?” Brooke shrugged. “Doesn’t that worry you just a little that he’s able to get his hands on things he shouldn’t?”
“ No.”
“ But it worries me. I know that you care for him but Brooke there is something about Caspian that doesn’t sit right with me.”
“ You sound like Connor.”
“ For good reason.”
“ No. It’s because you are lawyers. Well, I don’t care about black or white and for your information, he got this when we were dealing with Stephanie and Eric trying to steal Bridget from me. If that information can help us then I’ll use it.” Brooke’s face became steely with determination. “ I mean it. Legal or not. I’ve got to fight fire with fire. Stephanie was paying someone off and I want to know why. Before I tried to fight fair, give her a chance and where did it get me.” She grasped at the iron ironing. “ But this was about Bridget. Whatever she felt for me shouldn’t have transcended to Bridget. She should have opened her arms and embraced her grandchild. Instead she turned her away, stole her father and ruined her grandfather. I won’t forgive that. I can’t let that go. So… I’ve taken certain precautions.”
“What did you do?”
The light wind blew Brooke’s hair around but she didn’t care. “ I’ve ordered a study of the letter that Ridge found in that book all those years ago to be done.”
“ What kind of study?”
“ Matching handwriting.”
“ You think Stephanie wrote it?”
“No. She’s two wise to do that but that doesn’t mean that she wouldn’t use the same resources.”
“ Resources?” Storm was confused by what Brooke was saying.
“Years ago, way back when I was married to Eric. I received a letter. This letter was from him asking me for a divorce because he was still in love with Stephanie. I was in love with Ridge and he with me so this letter freed us. We ran away together to Big Bear and spent a glorious weekend together planning our lives together. But when Eric got back, he acted strange. We didn’t understand why he was acting like he was in love with me and not her. That when we realized that we had been tricked. There was no letter. Stephanie had paid some handwriting specialist to copy Eric’s handwriting to write the fictitious letter.”
“ My god… Is there nothing that woman won’t do?”
“ She what she’s capable of? That’s just the tip of the iceberg with that woman. She is willing to anything it takes to get what she wants. Back then she needed me to be with Ridge so Eric would go back to her. She didn’t care who she hurt. She just lied.” Brooke turned her gaze back to the huge lighted house. “ If I can prove that this is the same man who wrote the letter by the doctor than I can connect him to Stephanie. That will be more proof that she had Bridget’s test changed.”
“ Whoa. My god. Who is running the test?”
“ John Quian.”
“From highschool right?”
“ He leads the leading forensic labs here in L.A. He’s running the test. In fact I should be hearing from him soon. I know that he can trust him. He’ll tell me the truth no matter what the results say.” Brooke turned back to the horizon, she could tell that a storm is coming. “ I just want this to be over.” She said honestly. “ I want Stephanie behind bars. I want to focus on Bridget.”
“ Donna told me that Taylor decided to get the kids tested.”
Brooke nodded. “They are going to be tested Tuesday.”
That’s good. I knew that she’d come around.”
She laughed bitterly walking back closer to the house. Picking up a glass she poured herself a glass of wine. “ Don’t give your old friend to much credit.”
“Listen. I know that you don’t like her. But she does have some endearing qualities.”
“ I hate to burst your bubble but your friend only changed her mind because she was pressured to do so.”
“ Pressured by Ridge?”
“ No.” Brooke took a sip of wine. “ By me.” She admitted. “ She did something that I found out and I blackmailed her.’
“ You did what! Brooke that isn’t like you.”
“ Well. It’s new me. Let’s give a toast to the new and improved Brooke Logan. The one who doesn’t take shit from anyone.”
Storm didn’t like the sounds of things. “One who blackmailed Taylor.”
“ She wasn’t going to change her mind and maybe Thomas or the twins may be a match for Bridget.”
Storm sat down on the chair. “ You know this is something Stephanie would do, not you.”
Brooke blinked. The remark hurt her but she didn’t let on to Storm. “ I’m sorry if I disappointed you but this is the life of my daughter. I’d do just about anything, including making a deal with the devil to ensure that she lives.”
Storm sighed. “ I’m not a parent…”
“ So you don’t understand what it’s like to face the possible death of a child. You don’t know the fear that eats you alive a night. Wondering if every moment will be the last moment.” Brooke turned away from her brother’s disappointed eyes. “. I don’t want to hurt Taylor, believe it or not. She isn’t my favorite person but I don’t want to hurt her.”
“ What did she do?”
“ She had an affair.”
“ No.” Storm shook his head wouldn’t do that. “ She’s loves Ridge.”
“ But years ago, she was going through a difficult time.”
“ Figures with that pig of a husband of hers.”
Brooke rolled her eyes but continued her story. “ She was trapped in Big Bear when there was an earthquake. She and Ian were trapped together and one thing lead to another.”
“ How did you find out…” Never mind.”
“ She actually wrote a letter to Ridge about it but then there was the plane crash.”
“ The one in which they thought she died.”
“ When she came back she wanted Ridge back.”
‘ Who had married you.”
“ The last thing she wanted to do was to tell him the truth.”
“ But you knew?”
“ Not until years later when Amber stumbled upon the letter and gave it to me.”
“ What a story.”
“ Yes it is.” Brooke stepped in the house and was surprised to find a shocked looking Charlie standing by the doorway with Dylan. Brooke sighed at her fax pas. “ How much did you hear?”
“ Everything.”

Jackson opened the door to his mother’s home in the upper eastside of Manhattan.
“ Mother?” He pushed the door open when a massive Saint Bernard came barreling toward.
‘ Down. Ruford!” He bellowed at the dog. Ruford stopped in midstream and jaunted toward him. Jackson ruffled him behind his ear. “ There. You are a good dog.”
“ Jackson.” A raspy voice called out down the hallway. “ Is that you?”
“ Yes. Mom.” He moved down the perfectly furnished home. Pictures of his father and mother graced the hallway as well artwork from various artists, mostly African American. He moved into the dinning room to place his briefcase and laptop down. Checking his palm on the burro next to his great grandmother’s porcelain serving platter he headed to the kitchen.
‘ Hey honey.” His mother stood over the stove of what smelled to be her famous chicken and dumplings. One of his childhood favorites. His mother knew he was coming.
Gloria looked over her shoulder at her son and smiled slightly at herself as he came over and kissed her on the cheek. “Something sure smells god.”
“ Mmmm.” She murmured look at her son with one eyebrow raised. ‘ Well, I knew you were coming. So I threw a little something together. Now go on now and wash your hands.” She pointed a wooden spoon.
“ Yes mam.” He pulled up the sleeves to his dark jade colored shirt and washed his hands.
It was late but Gloria didn’t mind staying up late to cook for Jackson. Since her husband, Harold had died the house had been lonely at nights. Gloria spent most of her day busy, as a retired educator she often helped at two of the elementary schools. She also was in two church groups, one book club and a Delta not to mention that she traveled extensively. Her son had paid for most of her cruises and other jaunts saying that she deserved the best. She happily accepted it after all she had worked hard and deserved to be rewarded for the fruits of her labor. She even had a new boyfriend, Larry whom she enjoyed, sex after fifty was still very goo. Fiery, spunky and a say it like it is woman, Gloria, a woman in her late fifties was the epitome proud black woman. She was beautiful, witty and had more than enough common sense to get her through live. Hard knocks, hard work, family, church and God had seen her through some difficult times. Wearing a green satin blouse with stripes of yellow, a pair of dark black pants, she finished setting her table with her fine china. Her hair was pulled back and swept up pinned carefully. She finished pulling the hot bread out of the oven feeling content with the time she was sharing with her son.


Charlie put Dylan into his sleeper cooing softly at the baby before she turned toward Brooke and her brother Storm. “ I wasn’t trying to ease drop. I just wanted to get his blanket. He just ate.
Brooke looked at Charlie.“ I know that you didn’t mean to but what I need to know is what you plan to do with what you’ve just heard.”
Charlie tilted her head the side. “ Brooke. Your family dynamics is unpredictable. You’ve been through a lot. I have no right to judge you or even Taylor for what you do. It’s your secret and hers. I don’t plan to tell anyone what happened between her and another man. After all look at what Ridge being married to Ridge can’t be an easy chore for anyone, including her.”
Brooke breathed a sigh of relief. “ Thank you. Thank you so much.” Brooke said hugging her. Charlie looked over Brooke’s shoulders to find Storm standing with his arms crossed in front of him with an expression that she couldn’t read.

Rick watched as the waiter poured he and Eve a glass of champagne. “ Thank you.”
“ Your order will be ready soon. Mr. Forrester.” Rick nodded sparing a glance at his beautiful date. “ Wow. You take my breath away.”
Eve blushed. “ It’s the dress.”
“ No.” He fingered her knuckles before he kissed them. “Now, taste.” He forked the appetizer of ________ and fed it to her.
“ Mmm.” Eve chewed slowly tasted the chef’s perfection. “ This is so good.”
“ That is only the beginning.” Rick looked deeply in her eyes loving her more and more.

Isabelle was feeling restless. More than that, she was feeling hungry. She wanted; no she needed a sexual release. Never being one to deny herself she wondered why she had done so? The answer to that lay across the street in the house not far from hers. Damn him. Damn Pierce. She thought to herself. The ringing of the doorbell pulled her from her thoughts. Moving down the hallway she opened the front door.
“ What are you doing here?”
“ Now is that any way to speak to a friend of yours?”
She crossed her hands over breast. “ I asked you a question.”
“ I don’t know.” He leaned on the doorframe. “After today, I thought that I’d look you up.” Deacon grinned. He wore all black tonight. Black shirt, suede jacket and pants. He studied her from the almost see through black robe and a pair come-fu(k-me heels. “So, tell me. ” He used his finger to widen the gap of her full breast lightly caressing the full globes.” His mouth salivated at the thought of her, naked expect the heels. “So, are you going to ask me in?”
Isabelle backed away from the door turned and walked down into her living room. Deacon grinned as he walked in and closed the door behind him. She untied the so-called robe and dropped it leaving her full breast naked for him to feast on. Wearing a thinly tied skimpy thong and nothing else.
“ Are you going to leave the heels on?”
“Strip and find out.”
He threw off his jacket and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Grayson was trying to read Caspian however it had become difficult. He had been very silent and intense in his thoughts. However, Grayson was sure his request wouldn’t be denied. It was the opening that he needed. Finally Caspian spoke.
“ Dom has had no part of the family business.”
“ None.” Grayson quickly answered.
Turning to his mentor Caspian finished. “ I want full autonomy with him. Stefano can not interfere.”
“ He wouldn’t dare to question your judgement.”
Caspian nodded. “ He’s to have protection from my personal bodyguard services.”
“ Terry might have a problem with that.” Terry had been Dom’s personal bodyguard since he had been a teenager. He had formed a special bond with the man.
“ Terry will have to get over it. This is the legitimate business world which means that I don’t have any connections with the local police.”
“ I’m sure you do have certain influences.”
“ But not for when Terry decides to pull his weapon at the wrong time. L.A is very different than Italy. I won’t have my face or Dom’s face splashed all over the news because of an error. Dom wants to learn how to play it in the legitimate world, he’ll play it straight.” Caspian’s eyes became dark as if they almost changed color. “ He’ll do things my way.” Grayson was secretly proud of Caspian. His godson still had the alpha male instinct. He was a fighter willing to call the shots. He needed him back. “ Agreed.”
“ Fine. Dom will work with me.” Caspian consented.
Grayson nodded. “ I knew that you’d agree.”
Caspian’s facial expression changed. A mask come over him as he pulled himself up to his entire height of six-four. “Now. It’s time for you to complete your part of the bargain. I want to know what is it that my sister and you have been keeping from me.”

Thorne hung up the phone, scribbled a few notes in the file and closed it. Stretching he looked at his watch. It was getting late. It was time for him to go home to his wife. His wife who was up to something but he wasn’t sure what. Still had had something he hadn’t had before, an address. Picking up the phone, he called Steven the private investigator that he had hired to watch his wife. Other than going to lunch with a woman named Honey Malloy and going to Spectra, Kimberly hadn’t done much for the day. It just didn’t make sense. Thorne had given Kimberly credit cards and a bank account but other than raking up clothing bills for the finest clothes and spa treatments she hadn’t spend it as crazily as she would if she needed money. “ Millions. Why.” He banged his fist on the desk. It didn’t make sense. But nothing in his life did at the moment. All he knew was he didn’t trust Kimberly anymore.

Storm handed Charlie a cup of steaming hot cup of expresso. “ Mmm.” She said as she sipped. “This taste really good.”
“ My mother taught me to do a lot of things. You should taste my baked zitti.” He said with a smile.
“Really? A man who can cook? Tell me do you clean.”
‘ Well, I have to admit to having someone come in once a week but I keep my house pretty neat.” Charlie nodded and smiled. Storm just stood back and watched her. She was very beautiful woman her face was flawless as she wore with nothing more than a touch a lip-gloss on her lips. Gone was the killer bikini and in it’s place a soft cream colored off the shoulder sweater with pair of cream colored pants. He noticed that she didn’t wear a wedding ring.
“ I want to thank you for what you did earlier.”
“ What did I do?” She said picking up Dylan.
“ Being there for Brooke. She was really worried…about the situation with Taylor.”
“ Brooke is a good person. I can see that. Besides, like I said. It isn’t any of my business.”
“She’s not used to having people stand up for her without wanting something in return. I think that it was all those years being with those Forresters. Those people don’t know how to do anything but lie and manipulate the situation with their money and power.” He said handing her the baby blanket with yellow ducks on it.
“ I don’t know. All Forrester aren’t too bad. Just look at Dylan here. He’s a cutie.” She said ticking the now giggling baby.
“ Dylan?” Storm looked down at the baby. Storm’s charismatic face turned stoic.
“ Yes. Dylan is a Forrester.”
“ How?”
“ He’s Ridge’s son.”
“Ridge’s son?”
“ You had a baby by Ridge?”
“ Me.No. Dylan isn’t….” She smiled as she inhaled the baby’s soft scent. “ I guess that we spend so much time together that it seems like he’s mine. But no. I don’t have any children.” She said with regret. “ Dylan’s my nephew. My sister, Morgan is Dylan’s mother. She had the baby by Ridge.”
“ Morgan. Oh..”
“ You’ve heard the story, I take it.”
“ Yeah. I heard all about it.”
“ I’m sure a lot of people did.”
“ Well, Forrester or not he is a cute kid.” Storm said caressing Dylan’s cheek.
“ Yeah.” Charlie looked up at Storm. “ He isn’t the only one.”
A grin formed on Storm’s lips. Yes, he certainly liked this woman.

Scott was working late. Mostly everyone had gone home but he had to final drafts to make on some designs. With Eric out of commission and Ridge out of town there was nothing but work to do. The lines in front of his eyes started to blur. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He was in the middle of putting his sketches in the folder when there was a knock at the door.
“ Come in.”
The door opened and a beautiful dark haired woman dressed in a simple off the shoulder brown jersey dress, dangling earrings and in a pair of killer brown leather high heeled shoe boots stood in the doorway. “ Scott Fenmore?”
“ Yes?”
“ I’m Sam.” She held out his hand for him to shake. “ A friend of Kristen.”
“Oh yeah. I think that I’ve seen you at the hospital when Mr. Forrester had his heart attack”
“ I think that we may have met there.”
Scott scratched his head. “ Can I do something for you?”
“ Actually, I have a couple questions for you.” She said as she moved to take a seat. “ I hope that you don’t mind.”
“ About designs?”
“ No. Believe me living with Kristen, I’ve hear a lot about fashion.”
“ So if it isn’t about fashion. What do you want to discuss with me?”
“ I want to know as much as I can about Kimberly Forrester.”
Scott turned away shuffling papers on her desk. “What do you want to know about her? I don’t know her too well.”
“ You dated her, so I hoping that you’d to know a little something about her.”
“ I didn’t date Kimberly.”
“ Not according to some of the models around here. They said that you did.”
“ Models? You should know that models are nothing but catty little gossips.” He finished packing up his tools. “All I did was have coffee once or twice. That’s all. Besides, there are certain rules around here. No dating models.”
“How about dating bosses’ daughters?”
Scott was getting annoyed. “ See what I mean about gossip. Not that it’s anyone’s business.”
“ Listen Scott. Right now I’m not interested in you and Bridget.”
“ You must be the only one.”
“ I just want to find out some information about Kimberly. Kristen’s really worried about her future niece of nephew. She’s really worried about Kimberly’s state of mind. She’s been acting strange of late. I’ve seen if for myself and I’m worried about how she’s going to deal with being a mother.
“ I feel for you. I agree that Kimberly is acting differently but what does this has to do with me. Why don’t ask Thorne, he’s married to her.”
“ I think that you have eyes enough to know that there marriage isn’t real.”
“ Considering that he was sleeping with her, he ought to know something about her. All I had was coffee at the time. True there was a little flirting going on at the time but nothing else. If you want to talk t someone who really knows her, ask Rick. He dated her.” Scott zipped up the rest of the sketches. “ If you don’t mind. I’ve got to go”
Sam nodded. “ Thanks. Sorry that I’m taking up your time.’
“ Listen.” He sighed. “ I don’t mean to sound uncaring. I can understand that you are worried about her.”
“ It’s not her. It’s the baby.”
“ Well, it’s a good thing that the baby has Thorne.”
“ Yeah. You are right. It’s a good things. Father are really important to their children. God knows what this baby would be growing up if he had just her.”
An Erie feeling came over Scott. He looked away from Sam. “ Well, like you said. This baby has got Thorne.”

“ I’m telling you things went really well today.” KC said to Connor as she slipped out of her skirt and panties. Standing naked in the bathroom, she turned on the double-headed shower allowing the water to run for the right temperature.
“ I knew it.” Connor stepped into the bathroom with two glasses of champagne. He gave her an appreciative smile. “Just what I like. You naked.” He leaned down and nipped at her nipple with his mouth.
KC cupped his head pulled it up to hers for a kiss. “You keep that up and I’ll never get to finish telling you about the interview.”
Connor put the glasses on the edge of the marble vanity table. “ I want to hear all about it but first…” He swept her up in his arms. “ I’ve got other plans.” He carried her into hot wet the shower.”
“ Connor you bad boy.” KC said as he stood her on the little platform on the back of the shower. He parted her legs and proceeded to kiss his way down her body.”

Caspian had been very silent as Grayson explained how his sister had orchestrated the break-in at his home and stolen his wife’s personal files. Too quiet but underneath, Grayson knew that there was hurt and betrayal.“ You must understand, Bella wanted to spare you the pain.”
“ How did she think that this was going to spare me pain? By lying to me. By trying to manipulate me.'
“ She didn’t see it like that.”
“ Don’t!” He said with seething anger. “Don’t act as if I don’t know manipulation when
“ Your sister wanted you to be happy. But she knew sooner or later you’d begin to wonder about the connection between the two women that you loved.”
“ So she decided to play me for a fool. Did she really think that I wouldn’t investigate?”
“ She knew you were enraptured with the woman.’
Caspian scoffed. Not liking the implication that he wasn’t able to separate his feelings from competent decisions. “ I’ve already started. I found the doctor who delivered Brooke. I went to London to talk to Pharren to see what she knew. Finally I collected samples of Lark’s….” He paused. “ Lark’s hair and Brooke’s hair. I planned to compare the DNA samples.”
“ But, I guess that I don’t need to do the test do I?”
Grayson shook his head in denial. “No, you don’t. They as you’ve figured would have matched.” Then Grayson had delivered the news that Caspian had suspected. “They are sisters.”
Caspian closed his eyes in reaction to Grayson’s news. It was a struggle not to sit down at the weight of this news hit him. The ramifications to this were horrific. “How?”
“ From what I understand. It all started when Beth Logan and Samuel Huntington had an affair almost forty years ago.”

Scott stepped under the spray of the hot shower. He worked his shoulders trying his earnest to remove all the tension that talking to Sam had caused him. The baby. God, he tried his best not think about it but the way that Sam had been talking. What if the baby wasn’t Throne’s? No, his inner voice said. It had to be Thorne. Had to be didn’t make it true. What if Kimberly lied? God knows the way that she acted she was losing her grip on reality. But what if something did happen and Thorne wasn’t the father. there? It could mean that Kimberly would be left alone raising his child. Scott thought about his mother, Lauren had done a good job of raising him on her own but that hadn’t meant it was easy. Lauren had been older, richer and a lot maturer than Kimberly. Fear swarmed around the pit of his stomach. What was he thinking? He had enough problems. Brooke was pissed with him. Bridget was counting on him. This wasn’t the time to go delving into this situation. But still, the question was eating at him more than ever. Was Kimberly well enough, mentally stable enough to take care of the baby if it were his?


Yvette typed away on her laptop formulating a schedule for the photo shoot. She had a meeting set with Thorne Forrester and KC in the morning to make sure that the schedule met with their approval. One of the shots would be with two of the Forrester models in some of their gowns. Smiling to herself she thought that about her assignment. More than that, she thought about her meeting with KC. She knew that she had liked KC’s style but more than that, she liked KC. There was something about the woman that reminded her of herself. Maybe it was her drive. It certainly wasn’t her taste in men, but truth be told, maybe it should be. Yvette never had dated outside of her race and wouldn’t think to but if she were to do so then it would have to be for a man like Connor. In that small amount of time it was clear that the man was crazy in love with KC Not only that, he was good looking. His pocket weren’t shallow either according to her sources. Having a client like Brooke Forrester only enhanced his appeal. Scripting some other notes down in her personal planner she noted that she had another wedding shower to go to when she got back to New York. Sighing, she thought about the wedding shower she’d love to have if only Jackson would consider settling down. What was wrong with the brother? She was smart, vibrant, intelligent, classy and a little nasty in the bedroom. She knew his likes and disliked. Honestly, she tried to please him a way that she’d never tried with any other of her boyfriends. Why wasn’t she enough? Why wasn’t he interested in settling down? She knew that she could be the perfect wife to him if he’d let her. Then maybe he’d take interest in something other than his plans for his magazine. Looking at the Ebony magazine that lay across her bed in her suite, she grimaced. “ Star Jones has gotten the man of her dreams, though some things he’s gay.” Shaking her head, she wondered why when black women got a good man people automatically thought something negative. Still, she wondered if there would be a time that black women wouldn’t settle. “What are you talking about? I’m not settling. Jackson is everything that I’ve ever wanted in a man. Just give him time and be patience.” She had heard this speech more than once from her mother. “Girl you just don’t let a man like that go. He’s a good back man. He’s got a good job and a family. Hell, he goes to church. Just give him time.”

KC lay in the Connor’s arm. Both were sated from their lovemaking. “ mmm.” She said. Kissing a languid trail up his neck. “That was wonderful.”
“Wonderful. That’s all I get.” Connor said caressing the fine hairs on her head. “ I must be losing my touch.
“ No. You aren’t.” She kissed his chest with her mouth. Smiling down at him she thought about what her life had become. How much she loved him. “ This is all wonderful. A dream come true.”
“ Somehow I don’t think you are just talking about me.”
“ I am.” She said rubbing her body against his “ It’s everything. You and I.” She took a hold of his hand and kissed it. “It’s our life. I’m happier than I’ve ever been before.”
It made Connor’s heart light with her acknowledgement. “ Do you know how it makes me feel to know that I can make you this happy?”
KC shifted herself into his arms. “ No. But I’m starting to. I know we don’t say it much but there is always a sense of pressure about our relationship from some outside forces because of our color. There are some of your most wealthiest clients who don’t like the idea of us being together.”
“ You are talking about aren’t you.”
“ She isn’t the only one.” KC admitted. “ I heard that you lost the Benson account”
Carl Benson had been Connor’s client for the last year. Benson had seen Connor and KC out recently for dinner and made it clear to Connor the next day that he was disapproving of Connor’s personal relationship. He was worried about what his so-called friends would think of him associating with a lawyer who was engaged to a woman of color. This coming from a man who no relationship with his children and four ex-wives and was constantly in legal turmoil because of his drinking problem not to mention his bad business decisions. Connor didn’t give a damn about what Carl thought and told him he so“ The man had old ideas about MY personal relationship. I told him what to do with his opinion. I work had and am one of the best lawyers here in L.A. If he wants to be foolish enough to take his business somewhere else it’s his lost.”
K.C smiled. “ It certainly is his lost.”
“Besides I picked up Katherine Robertson as a client.”
“ Really?” K.C laughed.
“ Yes, So, no harm, no foul.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “ Even if I lost a lot more accounts it doesn’t matter to me.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “ What would bother me is losing you.”
“ You won’t lose me. You’ve given everything that I could ever ask for. A beautiful home with horses.” She laughed. “ Who would have thought a city girl like me would love riding?”
Connor spent time teaching KC how to ride. “ You are getting pretty good at it.”
“ Yes, you are. But you are wonderful at anything you put your mind to. “ I watched you do that today when you were having lunch with Yvette. You have so much charisma and were so charismatic. Not to mention beautiful. You’ll do wonderfully in your interview. And you’ll be the most beautiful woman to grace the magazine cover. I know it and soon the entire world will know it.”

Jackson wiped his mouth with the auburn linen napkin. “Mom, that was fantastic.”
“That was nothing.” She picked up his plate.
“ Mom, I’ll get that.”
“ You’ll do no such thing.” She snapped his hand with her own napkin. “ I’ll take care of it. Do you want dessert?”
“ Only if it’s your peach cobbler.”
“ With homemade ice-cream.”
“ You made homemade ice-cream?”
“ Hell no. I’ve got Edy’s.”
“ That will do.” Jackson got up and helped wash the dishes as his mother dried. He may be busy a lot and consumed with work but that didn’t mean that he didn’t love his mother. He did. Gloria heated up the cobbler while he scooped icecream over top the delicious concoction. They pulled stools up the island and started on desert.
“ So, what do I owe this distinct pleasure during the weekend?”
“ No don’t start mother.”
“ Don’t tell me not to start. You spend too much time at that business of yours.”
“ I’m building a magazine from the ground up. It takes a lot of time. I’ve only got one chance to see my dream to fruition.”
“ I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go over your dreams. Your father would have been proud, however you need time to relax and enjoy your success. The magazine is doing well.” Gloria ate another spoonful of desert. “Damn, this is good.”
“ Don’t toot your own horn too much.”
“ Honey I’m your mother and I can toot any damn thing I please. So, tell me where is Yvette tonight?”
“ She’s in L.A.”
“ L.A. You know that Nichelle’s girl is out there. KC is doing very well in the fashion industry. Forrester is a big name.”
“ I didn’t know that you were keeping up with K.C.”
“ Look just because you did a bonehead move by messing up a friendship with K.C all those years ago doesn’t mean that Nichelle and I aren’t still friends. We still have lunch about once a month. I just can’t talk about you without her getting that look on her face. Not that I don’t blame her.” Gloria went over to _______ cabinet in her kitchen and took out a tin box that held her cigarette. She ignored the disapproving look on her son’s face as she opened the window and lit one. “ Don’t give me that look.”
“ I’d wish that you’d stop smoking. It’s not good for you.”
“ Listen I walk everyday on that contraption you bought me for my birthday. I don’t drink hard liquor. So, don’t try to change me too much.”
“ Exercise is good for you. I run 5 miles a day and have a strenuous workout.”
“ What are you going to do show off? I’m not interested. And before you get all indigent with me just remembered who wiped your ass when you were a little boy.”
Jackson ignored his mother’s comments. She’s say just about anything. “ Well, you just count yourself lucky that Nichelle didn’t stop speaking to me when you backstabbed K.C the way that you did.”
“ It’s been years why do you keep brining it up?”
“ Because you lost out on the only woman you ever felt anything for and you did her wrong. Now before you interrupt me just remember that I can read you like a book”. She knocked some of the ashes in the ashtray under the sink. “These women that you parade in and out of your life may look all good but none of them ever could make you feel what you felt when you had K.C in your life.”
“ That was a long time ago.” However there were times that it didn’t feel that way. “ I do regret what I did. I never mean to hurt her.”
“ It was a selfish move. You thought that you could get it all. The stock and K.C” Jackson was quiet. There was no point going over this again. “ It’s in the past.”
“ Is it? Because if it were you’d be closer to getting married or at least settling down than you’ve been.”
“ Building a magazine from nothing isn’t easy.”
“ You’ve just started that magazine. Before you were working all over the place. Hours upon hours. Working like a slave, not really living. “ Gloria frowned. “Your father and I wanted more for you. We wanted you to be successful but not to forget the important things like God, family and true friendships with people you care about. We had that. We may not have had the type of money you have but we have that. Sometimes that the problem with some people. Confusing money, power with happiness. There are a lot of people who own things. Just things with lost of money, houses and all that shit. But….” She gave her son a knowing look. “They aren’t happy.” Gloria shook her head as she put out her cigarette. “ Look. I love you. I want you to be happy. If I thought for a moment that you were happy I’d keep my mouth shut but I don’t see that. You’ve got that fancy co-up and cars, clothes and whatever you want but you aren’t happy.” She pressed both of her hands on the sides of her son’s face. ‘ Not like you could be. Yvette is real nice girl. She’s beautiful, classy and I think that she’d make a good wife if she stood still a minute. God knows why she puts up with you at times but she does love you. BUT, I don’t think you love her. Not the way that you should love a woman. Jackson, you’ve done some things that I’ve been proud of and some things that I haven’t been proud of. Don’t play around with her. Let her go if you don’t want her.”
“ I’m not playing around with her.” Jackson patted her gently on the shoulder. “ I care for her.”
“ Caring and loving are two different things.”
He turned to put his dishes in the dishwasher. “Listen, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“ I bet you don’t.”
“ Let it go.”
Gloria raised an eyebrow at his steely tone. “Fine.” She turned around. “ I guess you had better get going.”
Jackson knew when he was in trouble. No matter how old he got or success he was his mother was the only one that could push his buttons.
“Don’t be like that.” He tried to kiss her on her cheek but she moved away.
“ When my own son uses that tone with me, he ought to get going.”
Jackson hid his smile. “ Mom. I’m sorry.”
She peeked over at him over her shoulder. “ You ought to be. I’m not one of the simpering assistance that you can scare with those cold looks.”
“ I know.”
“ I wiped your funky bottom. Not to mention all the times you used to get sick as a kid. I’d stay up all night tending to you. You OWE me respect.”
Jackson clasped her hand and placed it over his heart. “Mother. I am sorry for using that tone with you.”
Gloria’s eyes narrowed for a moment before she smiled. “ Good. You ought to be.” She sat down at the kitchen table. “ So tell me what Yvette’s doing in L.A.”
“She’s doing an interview of up coming designers in the fashion world for Bazaar.”
“ That sounds exciting.”
“ Yes. I suppose it is.”
“ Then what’s the problem?”
“ Problem?”
You have this look about you that is so calm and controlled that means that something is up and you are trying to play it off. SO what gives.”
“ It’s not really a problem.”
“ What is it?”
“ Yvette’s in L.A to interview one of the hottest designers in fashion.”
“ So, what she’s….” Gloria paused. Awareness hit her. “ She’s interviewing K.C isn’t she?” Jackson expected his mother to react but he didn’t expect her to let out a large throaty laugh. Only his mother would think this amusing.

Caspian stepped out of Grayson’s house. The air was thick with tension, his. How could things go so bad from worse in such a small amount of time? Faced with a mixture of emotions of betrayal, regret and anger he moved to the car that was waiting from him.
Once inside he gave orders to his next destination. Sitting back in the moving car closed his eyes and dropped his head trying his best to shut out the world. What he learned would no doubt change Brooke’s life forever. This wasn’t just about her looking like Lark anymore; it was about the lie that was played on both of them. Sisters, twin baby sisters who were each taken by a parent at birth. Stephen Logan, the man Brooke loved wasn’t her biological father, Samuel Huntington was. That alone would devastate Brooke. How in the world was he going to do that to her? Take her father away? Prove her mother to be a liar. Worse yet, he was going to tell her he’d been married to her twin sister. Feeling like the weight of the world was on him and there was nothing he could do to lighten the load.

Brooke found Eric in Little Eric’s playroom playing with his grandson. The two were engrossed in a big puzzle of Peter Pan. Eric looked up to find his ex-wife in the doorway and smiled.
“ How are you doing?” She moved over to the floor toward them sitting on the floor. Eric couldn’t help appreciate her beautiful she looked in a pink sweatsuit.
“ I think spending time with my grandchildren was a good idea. Thank you.”
“ Thank Charlie.”
“ It was so good to see Dylan. He’s a beautiful baby.”
“ I know. It must be those Forrester genes.” Brooke nuzzled her grandson’s hair. “Eric are you having a good time with granddad?”
The little tot nodded. “ Puzzle…”
Both Eric and Brooke laughed. Brooke smiled at Eric. “ It’s good to see you smile.”
“ I really wouldn’t be if it weren’t for you. Today your mother I spent time talking. I’ve really missed Beth.”
“ She’s a good listener.”
“Yes she is. She’s also a nurturer She cooked me lunch. She wanted to make sure it was healthy. Tomato soup and a salad.”
“ I heard that your nurse came by.”
“ Yes, we had a session and I’m doing better.”
Brooke paused for a moment to put a puzzle piece down that Little Eric handed her. “Did you do much designing?”
“ Not much. I think that I just need time.”
“ We all do Eric. Don’t worry in time it will come. Designing is in your blood.”
“Thank you.”
“ Now Eric don’t start that again.”
“ I want to say this Brooke. You’ve taken me into your home and made me a part of your family. With open arms. After everything I’ve done.” He paused to collect himself. “ I just…ah…I really appreciate it.”
“ We are family. That’s what families do. No more thanks needed. You are going to give me a swelled head.”
They played with Eric a little more. “ I thought that you were going to have dinner plans tonight.”
Brooke’s smile altered. “ Caspian is still out of town.”
Seeing the disappointed looked on Brooke’s face Eric turned to her. “ Are you alright?”
“ Yes.”
“How about your relationship, is it all right?”
“ It’s fine.”
“ The look on your face doesn’t say that it’s nothing.”
“ I’m just a little worried about something that I heard in his voice. That’s all.”
“ What did you hear?”
“ It’s nothing.” Brooke said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“ It’s none of my business but you’ve moved pretty fast with him.”
“ You sound like my mother.”
“ She’s got a point.”
“ He’s been there for me like nobody ever has. Caspian doesn’t turn away when things get tough. He loves me for who I am including my flaws.”
“ Brooke a lot of men have loved you with your flaws.”
Brooke stopped playing with Little Eric. “ I’m not so sure about that. Ridge wanted me to be a certain way. When he found out in some cases that I wasn’t perfect that was always a look in his eyes. A disappointment. I always felt like I was taking a test and if I failed then he’d be gone.”
“ That isn’t true.”
‘ Yes it was. It wasn’t that he didn’t love me, he did but there was always the indication of the lure of a perfect woman. Like Caroline or Taylor. Stephanie sensed it. She pounced on it. How many times did she lament about integrity and honor? Taylor had it but not me. Please she knows exactly what kind of person Taylor was.”
“ Ridge loved you regardless.”
“ Yes but not enough to stay when things got rough.”
“When things got rough he turned to Taylor.” Brooke moved her grandson into her lap. “But I guess I can’t complain to you because I hurt you. It’s easy to point fingers but we all make mistakes. Ridge and I both have made them. Maybe it’s been good for me to be on both ends. Maybe I needed to go through the pain of losing love even the pain of losing Thorne to Kimberly because that meant that I ended up with Caspian. I never thought going through the heartbreak would mean that I would get the type of love that I always desired.”
“ What was that?”
“ A strong committed relationship with no strings or contingency plans. I know that Caspian isn’t exactly the type of person to instill warm and fuzzy feelings in people. I know that he’s intense. I know that he seems secretive at times. He even a little dangerous sometimes. But there is so much more to him.” She kissed the top of Little Eric’s head. “ He loves. He really loves. Deeply with a passion that I’ve never felt before. Not even with Ridge. Ridge and I had history, we chemistry but there is something more with Caspian. I know that I can count on him. I know that he’ll never let me down. I feel it deep within in my soul.”
Eric was fully aware of Caspian’s past connections and what his family business. Nor did he like the way he bullied Eric into giving him his Forrester stock. “ Brooke, I know that I have no right to tell who to be involved with especially after that Venice plot with Thorne.” He looked embarrassed. “I’m not proud of that.”
“ I’ve forgiven you.” Brooke looked down as her sleepy grandson started to close his eyes. She picked him up and put him in his bed. Kissing him one more time she pulled the blankets around him making sure he had his teddy.” Eric kissed him once and followed Brooke out of Little Eric’s bedroom.
“ Brooke, wait.” He stopped her from heading down the hall. “I’m just concerned about you.”
“ I thought that you out of all people would be happy for me to be involved with a man not a Forrester.”
“ I am. But we don’t know much about Caspian.”
“ Then get to know him. Once you do. You’ll see what I see. A man who is caring and committed to me.” Brooke paused. “ I love him Eric. I know that I’ve used that word before. Lots of times and I meant them. But not the way that I mean it now. With you, my love with more of a content love. I wanted a life a family and you were a wonderful husband to me. But it lacked something. With Thorne, it comfort, a wondrous kind of love with man I’d known all my life. We were friends, we shared so much and I believe we would have had a successful marriage but it wasn’t meant to be. Things got in the way. I thought we were happy but there must have been something because to Kimberly.”
“ None of us saw that coming.”
“ It was a mistake and now he’s paying for it. I don’t think it’s fair. Throne’s a good man. He’s deserves much more than to be shackled to Kimberly.”
“ I’ve tried to talk to him. I just makes me furious to know why he married her.”
“ Stephanie has a way of playing people like chess pieces. She knew what buttons to push. She’s been pushing them since the day she met me. I remember the young girl I was full hope and promise. So in love with Ridge. All I wanted was him. If Stephanie hadn’t of interfered, we probably would have made it. But it wasn’t mean to be.”
“ Do you think that you and Caspian are?”
“ I don’t know. Ridge and I had a passion that nobody had ever touched. He had a place in my heart…” Brooke smiled. “ He still does. But somehow things changed. Caspian was able to make me forget about Ridge. Nobody has ever made me do that. Being with Caspian was like being freed of the shackles that loving Ridge had given me.” Brooke bet her head slightly. “ I never knew what it was like to be free of Stephanie’s harassment or need of her approval. I learned what it was like to admit my flaws and not be ashamed of them. I learned to wake up and not be afraid that something or somebody was going to take away the man I loved.” Brooke moved down the one of the chairs sitting in the alcove in the next room. “I’ve had a lot of relationships in the past with some very good men. I ruined all of them. With you, Connor and James. It wasn’t meant to be. I’ve accepted that. Look at Connor, if he had married me I would have made him miserable because I still loved Ridge. He would have missed out on the opportunity of the love he has found with K.C.”
“ They are pretty happy, aren’t they?”
“ Happy isn’t the word for it. For that I’m grateful. Because I didn’t hurt him the way that I hurt you and James. I’ve brought a lot of pain to people. All because I was trying to find love. The type of love that would allow me to get over Ridge.” Brooke looked up into Eric’s eyes, tears were in them. “I could never do it. I tried again and again. I kept asking myself why I couldn’t get Ridge out of my system? It took years for me accept that he was going to stay with Taylor forever. But, it was Caspian who finally erased that feeling deep inside of me.” Brooke wiped away the tear that slipped down her left eye. “ From the moment we met, we had this connection. I tried to ignore it because of Thorne. But whenever I needed him, he was there. Saving me, helping me, supporting me without asking for anything. All he wanted was me. Just me. I didn’t have change anything or prove anything. Even with all the drama around us when he holds me the entire world fades away.”
Eric didn’t know what to say to Brooke. In all the years he had seen her put up a good fight for Ridge. She never wavered in her belief that she’d be with him. In fact, he joined on as a member of her rooting team. He had never known the emotional toll that loving and losing Ridge had done to Brooke. Yet he was still conflicted about what to tell her about Caspian. He knew that Caspian’s father had been involved with the Mafia but to what extent? Eric had never asked. He never really wanted to know. Clearly Caspian couldn’t have been too involved and free to run his own business however there were still so many things that he didn’t know about him. With his own heart attack and the plot to get Bridget he hadn’t given Caspian much thought. But now Eric saw the error in that. What if he was some sort of danger to Brooke? What about Bridget, Rick and even his grandson? They were his family. He loved them. Right now he’d a least get to know Caspian as a man. See how he related with Brooke and others. Find out about his past and then he’s make a decision. For years he let Stephanie make the decisions for him. He let her guide his opinions. He’d never let anyone do that ever again. Eric had gained his freedom. He’d never allow anyone to think for him again.

“ He’s asleep.” Charlie whispered.
“ You are really good with him.” Storm whispered as she looked up at him. Nice eyes, she thought.
“ I try.”
“ So, you don’t have any children of your own?”
The light carefree look in her eyes faded. “ No.” She looked away.
Storm wondered what made that look come into her eyes.“ You haven’t found the right man?”
“Why is it that men only think that women live to find the right man? We do have fulfilling lives without being married.”
“ Hey” He put both hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry. I guess that I can be…”
“ Old fashioned?” Charlie gave him a wry smile. “ I guess that I’ll forgive you. This time. The truth is that my job keeps me pretty busy.”
“ What do you do?”
Her soft lips curled up into a smile.“ I’m a doctor.”
“ A doctor. Oh..” He took a step back to study her. “ I’ve seen you before at the hospital.”
“ Sorry, I don’t remember you.”
“ You were busy. I was coming in from Bridget’s hospital room and I think that you were coming out. You certainly look different in normal clothes.”
“ Normal clothes.”
“ Am I doing it again?”
“ Doing what?” She smiled.
“ Putting my foot in my mouth.”
“ I thought that lawyers were supposed to have the gift of gab.”
Storm stepped closer to her. His finger ached to touch her cheek to see if it was as soft as it looked. “ Well, most of the time I do but I happen to be a little overwhelmed when I’m in the presence of beautiful doctors.”
“ You’ve been waiting all night to say that.”
“ Maybe. That doesn’t make it any less true.”
“ You know. I’ve heard all the stories about your sister’s charm but I see it’s a family trait.”
“ I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“ I’m sure that you would.”
Storm poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. “No.”
“ Come on.”
“ I’ll have home.”
“ I could always drive you.” Storm suggested.
“ No. I couldn’t.”
“ Why not?”
“ You just got here. You’ve had a long flight.”
“ It’s not problem. There is nothing like taking a beautiful woman home to make the trip here worth it’s while.”
“ You are a charmer, aren’t you?”
“ I do try. After all, I am a Logan.”

Eve couldn’t eat another bite. “ I’m stuffed.” She had ordered the flank steak salad. It had been delicious, grilled flank steak, Gorgonzola cheese, mixed greens, strawberries, walnuts and homemade raspberry vinaigrette.
“ You’ve hardly eaten half of it.”
“ With the grilled sweet and hot tuna chutney was filling. It’s enough.” She wiped her mouth.
“ It was wonderful.”
“ You are.” Rick nodded to the violin player. “ How about a dance?”
Eve wanted to cry. Tonight was so special and Rick so sweet. How could she be enjoying his company when she was holding a secret that could destroy her relationship and his family?
“ No..”
“ Nonsense.” Rick stood up to take Eve’s hand. He pulled her into his arms. Together they swayed to the music. Rick looked down into Eve’s eyes. “You have no idea, do you?”
“ Idea about what?”
“ You have no idea that you were the most beautiful woman in this room.”
“ Rick…” Eve looked away. He gently turned her face toward him. “ You are simply wonderful. You are kind and loving toward my son. You are intelligent. The work that you did to help me was simply amazing. More than that, you are beautiful, sensual and everything that I could want. I love you so much.”
“ Rick …”
“No. Let me finish.”
“ In my life has been in chaotic since the moment that I met Amber. She meant well but she lied to me. She didn’t know how to tell the truth. She piled lie on top of lie.” Eve looked away. She couldn’t bear to listen to him. Rick didn’t notice how Eve’s body stiffened against his. “ Then there was Kimberly who was sleeping with my own brother. She pretended to be something she wasn’t. I could have given up on love but thank God that I didn’t. Because I never would have found you. Eve I love you. I love the person you are. I love your kindness. Your ability to make me life. I love the way that you can silently stand in the background but contribute so much without ever wanting the credit. One thing that this situation with my sister has taught me is that life is unpredictable. You can’t see where it it’s going. So, take the love that you can and hang on to dear life.” Rick grasped her hand. “ That’s what I’m doing with you. I love you so much.” Rick got down on one knee.
Eve look startled. “ Rick what are you doing?”
He smiled up at the woman he loved. “ I’m making sure that you are in my life forever.”
Rick reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. The people around them turned to stare at them.
“ Rick please…” Tears slipped out of Eve’s eyes.
“ No it’s me who should say please.” He opened the box to display a beautiful 1-caret princess cut diamond ring with tiny diamonds along the platinum setting. Eve was speechless. “ I hope that you like the ring. I wanted to get you something more substantial but I knew it wouldn’t be you.’ Eve didn’t say a word. “ If you want we can go right now and get a new ring. Any ring in the store. So, what do you say? Eve will you marry me?”
“ Rick…I didn’t expect any of this.”
He smiled broadly. “ I know. I wasn’t expecting this but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to marry you. I love you. I want you to be my wife.”
Eve shook her head. “ Rick…”
“ Say yes.” He said interrupting her.
“ Rick…I…” She wanted to say yes more than anything. She wanted to be a wife to him. A stepmother to Eric. She looked around her feeling so sick inside. Tears filled her eyes. “Rick more than anything I want to marry you but I can’t…I’m so sorry.” Rick sat back stunned as Eve ran out of the room. She bumped into a woman. “Excuse me.” She looked at the stunned woman and fled the restaurant. Rick looked around him seeing the pity of the faces of people all around him. He was embarrassed. What in the world was going on? He thought that Eve loved him. He thought she wanted to be with him. Why did she say no to him? Rick got up and slid the box back into his pocket. He was going to get to the bottom of this. Rick threw money on the table and headed out of the restaurant.

Olivia walked back into the restaurant a little dazed. She headed over to the honest.
“ There was a young woman who just ran out of here in the rush. Do you happen to know her name?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t. But she was here with Rick Forrester.”
“ Rick Forrester. Thank you.” Olivia headed over to Andre who was paying the bill.
“ My dear you missed all the drama. Rick Forrester, one of the Forresters, just asked a beautiful young woman to marry him and she said no.”
“ Do you know Rick personally?”
“ No. But I do know his father. Why?”
“ The girl.” Olivia couldn’t get the girl who had ran into her out of her mind.
Andre saw the preoccupied look on Olive’s face. “ Olivia. What’s wrong?”
“ I think that I just saw a ghost. But…it couldn’t be possible.”

Brooke cradled Dylan in her arms. “ You are the sweetest little baby aren’t you?” She inhaled his wondrous baby scent. Starring down into the baby’s eyes she saw Ridge’s eyes. “You’ve got your daddy eyes, don’t you.” He was adorable and so sweet. It was amazing how something wonderful could come from the messed up situation as how Ridge and Morgan. Rocking the baby she looked out of the window to see Charlie and Storm taking and smiling at each other. She noted the look in Storm’s eyes. He was certainly smitten with Charlie.
“ Are they still out there?” Beth asked coming from the kitchen carrying her nightly herbal tea.”
“ Yes.”
Brooke turned to her mother who had come home a half an hour before.
“ Move away from the window and stop spying on them.”
“ I’m not spying. I’m just looking.”
Beth peaked outside. “ She is very beautiful.”
“ Not to mention smart and kind.”
“ And a doctor.” Beth said sipping her tea. “ I always wanted my son to marry a doctor.”
Brooke laughed. “Every woman’s dream for their son.” She sat down next to mother careful not to jiggle the baby too much.
Her mother looked at her with her brown kind eyes full of compassion. “ How’s Eric doing tonight?”
“ He spent time with Little Eric and Dylan. I think it was good for them.”
“ The entire situation has been so difficult for him. It’s not fair. Eric has always had a love for family, even when we were in college. He’d tell me stories about his family’s Christmas celebration.” Beth wore a slight smile on her face remembering. “That’s one of the things that I loved about him back them. Eric always had a sense of family and duty to the people he loves. It’s so sad that’s he’s gone through all of this at the hands of his own wife. It’s not just about what she’s done to Bridget but what she’s done to Eric. He’s lost right now. He should be basking in the care of his family instead of feeling cut off from the world he knows.” Eric’s grief effected Beth. “ I’ll never forgive Stephanie for doing this to him.”
Brooke heard the intensity in her voice. “You still care a great deal for him, don’t you?”
“ Of course I do. Eric’s always been a good man. I just hope that being here will help him to begin to heal. That was kind of you to invite him here.’
‘ I couldn’t leave Eric to his own devices. He has a lot to deal with. Nobody should ever lose a child.” A mixture of pain and a look that Brooke couldn’t read crossed Beth’s face. “Mom, are you alright?”
Beth forced a smile. “ Yes. Its just….I’m sure that it’s hard to lose a child.” The memory of handing over her crying baby to Samuel flashed through Beth’s head. “I know that Bridget isn’t entirely gone from his life. He still has her. Just in a different manner.”
“ That’s why it’s important that we keep his mind focused on the positive and not the negative. I’m hoping that he’ll start designing again” The doorbell rang. Brooke looked down in the now sleeping baby’s face. Beth put her tea down and opened the door to find a woman standing in the doorway.
“ May I help you?”
The redheaded woman looked upset. “ Yes. Is Charlie here?”
“Morgan?”
Brooke walked toward the door. Morgan looked down to find Brooke holding on her son.
“ Give me my son!” Morgan demanded.
Brooke was startled at the anger in Morgan’s tone. “ Morgan, I’m not hurting him.”
“ You have no right to hold him. Give him to me now!” the baby woke up from the noise and started to cry.
Brooke handed the squirming baby to his mother. Morgan snatched the baby not paying attention to the way that she was holding his head. “Morgan be careful about his head.’ Brooke whispered concerned.
“Don’t you dare tell me how to hold my son.” Morgan bounced her son.
The French door opened and Charlie came inside. “Morgan.” She noted the commotion. “ What’s going on.”
“ What’s going on?” Morgan stormed over to her sister. “ I should ask you the same thing.”
“ Morgan, I left you a message to let you know where Dylan and I were.”
“ Oh. I got the message.” Morgan turned to Brooke. “ I can’t believe that you’d bring my son to this bitch’s house.”
“ Hey. You ought to watch that mouth of yours.” Storm said stepping in front of Charlie as if to protect her. “You are upsetting Dylan. Not to mention disrespecting my sister in her home.”
“ I don’t care about your sister.” Morgan spat at who must be Brooke’s brother. “Not after what she did to me.”
“ It wasn’t personal Morgan.”
“ Oh Please. I know that isn’t the truth. I know why. It’s about Ridge. It’s about your feeling for him. You didn’t want him to work with me because you were jealous.”
“ Morgan, you’re delusional. I don’t want Ridge.”
“ Brooke, you can lie to all of these people but not me. I made your company a great deal of money.”
“ Which you were paid very well for. Morgan you are the one who resigned.”
“ I’d never do that.’
“ You did. I have the letter. I’m sorry Morgan. But I made a decision not to hire you because of Ridge. Ridge and Taylor were trying to get their marriage on track. He knew working with you would be difficult because of Dylan. It was a hard and regrettable decision but…”
“ It wasn’t hard for you Brooke. You just use people. How do you think that Taylor feels about Ridge working with his ex-wife, not to mention the mother of his daughter Bridget? What about Thorne or Eric.” Morgan spat.
“ Morgan please stop this.” Charlie asked.
“ You have no right to talk to me. My own sister doesn’t have any loyalty to family. This woman wouldn’t give me my job back because of personal reasons. It’s about Ridge. It’s always about Ridge with Brooke. I’m not a fool… God why can’t you see her for what she is. She will always love Ridge and now she has a chance at him now that Bridget is his daughter. I thought that Stephanie was manipulative but you’ve got that woman beat don’t you.”
“Morgan, that’s enough.”
Morgan looked up to find Eric at the top of the stairs. “ Eric…”
“ You’ve had your say and now it’s my turn.” He moved down the stairs. “ First of all, it was my decision not to hire you back. Both Ridge and I went to her. Yes, the reason was personal but it’s a family business. We knew that your severance package was substantial and we knew another company would pick you up. You are talented, but this was my son’s marriage that was at stake. We made a difficult decision. If you want to blame somebody then blame me. Now, as far as your sister. She is very loyal to you. She brought Dylan to spend some time with me, his grandfather. We’ve been through a lot, especially Brooke. We have a family crisis. Bridget’s sick and because of my wife’s deeds, she’s very confused about who she is. We really don’t need any more drama.”
Morgan opened her mouth but shut it. She shot a furious look at Brooke. “ You’ve got them all snowed, don’t you.” She angrily put Dylan down in his carrier.
Charlie moved forward to help straighten his blanket. “Be careful…”
“ Don’t!” Morgan shoved Charlie’s hand away from her son. “ I trusted you with my son.”
“ He’s in good hands.” Charlie said hurt by the way that Morgan was treating her.
‘ I don’t see that.’ Morgan picked up carrier and walked out of the house giving Brooke a long hard stare.
Charlie looked around the room at the stunned look on the Logans’ faces. “ I’m sorry. She’s…just really upset.”
“ She’s a brat.” Storm added.
Brooke walked over to Charlie seeing how upset she was. She placed her hands on Charlie’s shoulders. “ You aren’t to blame for what just happened. She’s really angry with me, not you.” Storm saw the pain in Charlie’s eyes and it touched him.
“ I had. Better get going. She’s driving and really mad and anything could happen.”
‘ Wait.” Storm took a hold of Charlie’s hand stopping her as she searched for her purse. “You are upset to. Please don’t drive alone.”
“ If she sees you she’ll be even more angry.’
“ So. I don’t care. But I do care about your state of mind.”
“ I’m fine.”
“ No you aren’t. You’ve given up a lot for your sister and for Dylan based on our conversation we had earlier. It must have hurt for her to question your loyalty. So please let me do this for you. I won’t be able to rest unless I know that you got home safely.”
“ You had better listen to him. He’ll just follow you home if you don’t let him.” Brooke added. “ He’s pretty stubborn. It’s one of his many flaws.”
Charlie saw that his was determined. “ Alright then. I’ll let you drive me home.” Charlie left to get her coat and returned. While Storm got the keys for his rental car.
“ Thanks for tonight.” She told Brooke. “Other than my sister’s meltdown. It was really fun.”
Brooke hugged Charlie. “I hope that I haven’t caused any major problems between you two.”
“ No. She’ll calm down. She’s always been like that. Going off like that.”
Brooke nodded and watched as Storm came back, kissed his mother and walked out with Charlie. So turned to Eric. “Thanks.”
“ No need. It’s time that somebody took to protecting you and not hurting you.” Eric said hugging Brooke before kissing her on the top of her head. Beth watched the two of them and a look of concern appeared on her face.

Caspian opened the doors to Lark’s bedroom. He hesitated for a moment before he stepped in. Right now he didn’t want to be alone. Normally he’d call Bella but after what he learned tonight the trust between them was broken. If he knew one person who’d always be loyal to him, it was her. She should have come to him. His mother, he’d expect that from but not Bella. Pushing those feelings of anger aside he thought about Brooke and Lark. What they had lost. Each of them had something missing in their lives and he was certain that it might have been each other. Fate has a way of stepping in. They were both so different, Lark like Beth, Brooke, like Samuel. Now he saw it. Sitting down on Lark’s bed he sat in the dark. He remembered how he’d come here after her death and sit just to be close to her. Now he was doing this again but for a different reason. When he lost Lark he hadn’t seen it coming. But he did see the writing on the wall. He could see Brooke slipping away. He had destroyed lives before but he never thought he’d be the one to destroy Brooke’s world.

Deacon moved his slowly as he moved in and out of Isabelle’s body. She arched her back against him as he took her nipple inside of his mouth. “ You taste so good.” He murmured. Her only response was her tightened her wet mound on his pen*s. then she moved fast flipping him over onto his back. She moved harder grinding herself against him. Her body lean yet lush in the right places. She was going to kill him. He loved it. “God, woman.”
A wicked smiled escaped her lips. “ Shut up and finishing pleasuring me.” She roughly grabbed his head for a searing kiss. She bit him, later.

Eve burst into the house startling Trudie who was lying on the sofa. “ Eve.” Trudie rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “ What’s going on?”
Eve’s hair was disheveled while tearstains streaked down her face. “ It’s Rick.”
“ Oh god.” Trudie got up. “ You told him?”
“ No. I wouldn’t do that. Not to you.” Eve turned away.
“ Then what’s wrong?”
Eve covered her trembling mouth. Trudie was alarmed. She took her by the shoulder and lead to her the new couch. “ Sit down honey.” She brushed the fallen hairs out Eve’s face.
“ Tell me what happened?”
“ Rick took me out for a romantic dinner.”
“ I can see that. It’s a beautiful dress.”
Eve touched the gown. “ It had a matching dress coat. Oh god.” Her eyes widened. “I left it. It was pretty expensive.”
“ What happened tonight?”
“ We had dinner. It was romantic, extremely romantic.”
“ Flowers, dinner, jewelry?” Eve nodded. “ What the problem. You deserve
A night like tonight.”
“ I couldn’t enjoy it.”
“ Because of me, right?” Trudie got up not wanting to see the damage that she done. “It’s because of Bridget’s paternity.”
“ I don’t want to lie to Rick at least not more than I’ve already lied to him. Tonight he was really special.”
“ I’m sorry for what this is doing to you.”
Eve nodded. “ I’ve been thinking of a way to try to get out of this. But at the moment, I can’t think of anything. Eve wiped a tear with the sleeve of her gown. “Rick asked me to marry him tonight.” She whispered.
“ What? Oh my god. Eve that’s wonderful.” Trudie’s face lit up with delight but then she saw the look on Eve’s face. “ It isn’t wonderful?”
“ Oh it was. It was so romantic. Everything I would have wanted. But…I couldn’t say yes to him.”
“ Why not?”
“ Come on Trudie. After everything that going on how can I say yes? How can I marry Rick knowing what I used to be.”
“ You aren’t that woman anymore. Look what you’ve done with your life.”
Eve shook her head. ‘ Rick deserves better.”
“ Better than what? Better than you. There is no one better than you are. Eve you’ve been through so much.”
“ I was a prostitute.”
“ So what? That’s in the past. You really need to let it go.”
“ I’ve tried.”
“ Not hard enough.” Trudie kneeled in front of Eve and gently clasped her face between in hands. “ You’ve been through enough. You’ve lived a life that nobody would ever be able to live through and not be damaged yet you are one of the kindness sweetest persons that I’ve ever met. If anybody deserves to be happy it’s you. Let go of the past. Let go of who you used to be.”
“ Even if I could. How can I marry Rick? His family is always in the spotlight. There is always a chance that somebody would find out.”
“ You can spend your life hiding in the shadows. You deserve to bask in the sunlight.”
“ There is still your situation.”
“ It’s MY situation, not yours.”
“ We are in it together.”
“ I took the risk. Me, not you. You shouldn’t have to pay for it. I knew what I was doing was wrong but I thought no harm, no foul. But wasn’t the case. I lose big but that doesn’t mean you have to. Marry Rick. He loves you.”
If only it was that easy. It wasn’t. Eve knew that she couldn’t turn her back on Trudie ever. “I can’t. Not right now. I have to find a way to get you out of this mess.”
“Eve…”
“ No Trudie. My mind’s made up.”

Sophia was quiet as she watched her Grayson undress for bed. He looked so weary tonight.
“ How did it go?”
“ Huh?” Grayson turned toward his wife. Sophia reached out to take his hand. “Tonight with Caspian. How did it go?”
“ The match making? Not well. His heart with Brooke.”
“ It may not be her. It may be that she looks like Lark.”
“ He says it isn’t. At first I thought so but even Bella says that he’s fallen in love with her.” He sat next to his wife on the bed they had shared for so many years. “ I may not like this woman but he’s happy. I can see it. I didn’t want to ruin it for him.”
“ What did you do?”
“ Told him the truth about Lark and Brooke.”
“How did he take it?”
“ Honestly, I’m not sure. He was very quiet. Very angry.”
“ At who?”
“ Bella right now.”
“ Oh Grayson. After all that she’s been through I don’t want her relationship with him to suffer.”
“ She’ll be fine. I made him promise to take care of Dominick first. He won’t be going straight home. That will give his anger time to abate.”
Sophia nodded. “ How did the other part go? Has he accepted the idea of mentoring Dominick.”
“ Yes.” Grayson said wearily.
“ I know you don’t like this.”
“ I love him. I don’t want him hurt.”
“ I know.”
“I don’t want to use Dominick like this either. But he’s the only way that we can get Caspian back into the family. Grayson kissed his wife on the cheek. She was so beautiful, just as beautiful as the day they had met. Time had given her more than a few gray hairs and a few wrinkles but she was still his beautiful Sophia. He didn’t want to leave her. But he had no control over what was going to happen.”
Sophia smiled softly at the look of love in her husband’s eyes. She loved him so much. It would kill her to lose him but God had blessed her by allowing her him for so many years. In front of him she put on a brave face but privately she cried. However she’d never show it. Not in front of him. She’d be the strong woman she was. She’d help her husband put his affairs in order, namely Caspian. Caspian would at first be angered by the events but in the end his loyalty to his family would win out. It always did.

“You didn’t have to do this.” Charlie said to Storm.
“ Yes, I do. I’m not going to let you walk up there alone.”
Charlie nodded as Storm helped her out of his car. She put in the key to elevator as they rode up together in silence. Getting to her floor, she took him to the condo and opened the door. “Morgan?” Charlie hung her coat in the front hallway. “Morgan.” She headed down the hall.
Storm looked around the condo, which had a Native American flare to it. He noticed pictures of Charlie and her nephew hanging on the wall. Hearing footsteps he turned.
“ Is she giving you the silent treatment?” Charlie stood looked pale and ashen.
“ Charlie? What’s wrong.”
Tears filled her eyes. “ I can’t believe that she’d do this.”
“ Do what?”
He took Charlie’s hand and led her over to the sofa. She handed him a piece of paper. It was a letter from Morgan.
“ Her things are gone and so are some of Dylan’s. I can’t believe she’d do this. She took him. She’s taken Dylan and disappeared.” She covered her face and started to cry as Storm took into his arms stunned by the turn of events.

.Deacon put on his shirt. His tongue traced a spot of blood on his lip. “ Damn, you drew blood.”
“ Are you complaining?”
“ No. I kinda liked it. You like it rough, don’t you.”
Isabelle shrugged. “ It has its usefulness.”
Deacon caressed her cheek. “ You’ve never been that…how do I say it. Forceful in bed. I’m going to have scratches for a week. You want to tell me what’s gotten you in such a mood.”
Isabelle poured her self a drink of Absolute Vodka. “ No.”
“ It isn’t young Rick, is it? Has he gotten all hot and bothered? I thought he might be a little to green for your taste.”
“ Deacon, stop trying to read me. You can’t.”
“ Stop using me as your personal stud.”
“ I didn’t hear you complaining before. Instead you screaming.”
He didn’t like the way that she mocked him.“ Look lady, I don’t know who you think you are but nobody treats me like shit.”
“ I’m not treating you like shit. It’s an adult relationship. You like to fu(k, so do I.”
“ I don’t like being used.”
“ Then don’t come.”
Deacon watched the fire in her eyes. So cold yet full of fire. “ That’s the problem. I love to come…when I’m with you.” He moved to stand in front of her, his body tight from constant karate. “ What is it about you?” He fingered the mouth. “ Have the time I’m not sure that I like you but…the sex. My god.”
“Really?” Bella whispered so close against his lips. “ My God what…”
“ You could kill a man.” He whispered.
“ Don’t, I know it.” She moved to rub her nipples against him. “ It’s time.” She whispered against the shell of his ear.
“ For what?”
“ For you to go.” She walked past him, naked all but the shoes.
“ What?” That’s it?”
“ I’ll see you later.” She opened the front door only to find Pierce standing there with a bottle of wine and what looked to be a bag of sugar. “ Pierce…”
Pierce looked her Isabelle. Naked body and felt himself become hard. “ If this is an invitation then I’ll accept.”
“ Isabelle…” a male voice called out. Pierce looked to find a young handsome man wearing his pants with his shirt opened. It only took a moment for him to realize what was going on. Isabelle quickly put on her robe. His eyes full of pain bore into hers. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I can see that you are busy. I wanted to give you some sugar and wine say thank you.” Pierce handed Isabelle the wine and sugar. He stalked off into the night. Isabelle watched him until he disappeared. He never once looked back.
‘ Hey what happened?” Deacon asked about the man.
“ I think it’s best for you to leave now.” She turned away from the door.
“ Is everything okay.”
She turned her face away. “ Yes. Just go Deacon. Please.”
He kissed her quickly and left. Isabelle closed the door. For the first time in a long time she felt sick about her actions. She made her way into the living room she had just finished having sex with Deacon in. Sitting down on the sofa she stared out into the night. A phone rang in the distance but she didn’t answer it. She hasn’t meant to hurt Pierce but she knew that she did.

Eve looked at the dress lying on her bed in her new bedroom. It was beautiful just like tonight was beautiful. It was going to have to last her for a lifetime. The door to her bedroom opened. “ Trudie I …”
She paused to see Rick. “ Rick.”
Rick looked disheveled. “ I just want to know why? Why would you say no to me.”
“ Rick it’s complicated.” Eve turned away.
Rick stopped her. “No you don’t. I’m not going to let you turn me away or out. I want to know why you won’t agree to marry me. Why?” Rick was hurting. “Don’t you love me?”
“ Of course I do.” Eve didn’t want to hurt him. “ I love you more than anything.”
“ Then why Eve? Why did you humiliate me.”
“ I didn’t mean to humiliate you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Tonight it was so surprising. I didn’t expect it. I wanted to say yes.”
“ Why didn’t you?”
“Because…”Eve looked up at Rick. “ Because I’m so scared.”
“Scared of what honey?”
“ Your family. They are so influential. Not to mention powerful. I’ve seen what it’s doing to Bridget. How would the press take it if you were to marry somebody like me.”
“ Somebody like you?” Rick shook his head. Didn’t Eve realize how much he loved her.
He took both of her hands in his. “Eve, don’t you understand how much I need somebody like you. I need somebody to keep me honest and grounded.” He rubbed her cheek gently. “ My son loves you. Hell, my mother is crazy about you.”
“ That’s not enough reason to get married.’
“ No it isn’t.”
“ I’ve been married before. Hell, I almost didn’t escape it when I married Amber.”
“Then why would you want to do it again?” Eve asked.
“ Because of you. You make me want to commit to you. I love you. I want you to be with me forever.”
“ Rick, we are pretty young. There are so many things that we haven’t done.”
Rick looked confused. “ Things that I haven’t done or you haven’t done. This is about you isn’t it?” Rick was hurt. He thought that she loved him as much as he loved her.
“ I love you Rick. I love you more than you know.”
“But not enough to marry me.”
“ It’s not about that. My deepest wish is to marry you to be your wife or part of your family. Your family is terrific.”
“ You just told me how difficult it would be. Make up your mind.”
“ I’m scared Rick.”
“ Scared of what?”
Tears formed in her eyes. “ Scared of what? How about not being good enough or not measuring up. You are asking me to change my life to become a part of a world that I’m not sure I’d fit in.”
“ You’d fit baby.” Rick caressed her hand. “ You’d fit perfectly. In fact you’d teach us how to be honest, caring and think about others. Just look at what you’ve been doing at the shelter.”
Eve was surprised. “ You know about that?”
Rick took Eve over to the bed pulling her into his lap. “ You disappear for a couple hours for three times a week of course I noticed. I also asked Trudie. I figured that you’d tell me when you were ready.”
“ I wanted to. But…”
“But what? You didn’t think I’d appreciate what you’ve been doing. I respect you so much for helping others.” He laced his fingers with hers. “ See, you don’t even want people to know the good you do.”
“ I’m not saint Rick. I just want to help.”
“ That’s what I love about you.”
“ I love how you help people to need it. Look at what you’ve done for the kids at the shelter.”
“ You know about that?”
“Of course I do. You disappear for about three times a week for a couple of hours. Of course I was going to ask where you were. Trudie told me. I just don’t understand why you’d want to hide it from me?”
“ I don’t know. It’s just I wasn’t sure you’d understand me hanging around a bunch of run-aways.”
“ Who used to be like you?”
“Yeah. Who used to be like me? Someone who didn’t have a family or someone to turn to.”
“ That’s what I don’t understand why you turned me down. Eve, I want to give you’re a family. Mine.”
“Rick…I would love that but I just need time. You know. To used to the idea. Marriage is a big step. When I do it, I want it to last. There is no rush, is there?”
“ No. there is no rush.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “ I’ll just put the ring in my dresser drawer and wait for when you are ready to wear it.” Rick hadn’t felt like this about anybody the way that he felt about Eve. He loved her. Her goodness. Her kindness. He loved the way she looked at him. And damn it the sex was fantastic. More than that he wanted to give her everything. Everything she’d given up for him. She had a job offer an internship that she passed up. She hadn’t told him about it. But when she had helped him she had left her bookbag on the floor. He had picked it up and found the papers. She had given up an opportunity for him. She loved him enough to say but he didn’t understand why she didn’t love him enough to marry him.

Brooke stepped out onto the balcony of her bedroom to feel the night’s air. There was a slight chill however she embraced it throwing her head back to allow it to cool her body. She had tried to sleep but it wouldn’t come. She was restless when she ought to be exhausted. A knock sounded at her bedroom door. Surprised since it was 2 am in the morning. She padded over to the door sliding a white silk robe over her the matching nightgown. She opened the door to find Eric on the other side. “ Eric.” She was surprised that he was still up.
“ I saw your light come on. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright.”
“ Yes.” Brooke tightened the sash of her robe. “ I’m fine I just couldn’t sleep.”
Brooke stepped away allowing Eric entrance. ‘ You are having the same problem?”
‘ Yes and no. Actually. Eric handed her a sketchpad where he had drawn a beautiful gown’
‘ Eric. It’s stunning.”
‘ It’s a start”
. No, it’s more than a start it’s beautiful.’
“ Thank you. At first it was hard to concentrate but I just closed my eyes and willed myself to do it. Plus I had a little inspiration.”
“ Inspiration?”
“Tonight with Morgan. It was the first time that I’ve felt like a man in a really long time. For such a long time…” Eric colored.
Brooke sat down at her vanity. “ For such a long time what?”
“ I…ah. Well..” Eric scratched his head. “ For such a long time I let Stephanie make my decisions about the business and about the family. Tonight was the first time that I felt like a man.”
“ Well, I’m glad that something good could have come out of Morgan’s outburst.” Brooke handed him the sketch. “ It’s a good start.”
“ I need to start designing again. You were right and so was Beth.”
“ About what?”
“ About living again. Doing something that I enjoy. I loved working for Forrester. It’s time that I go back.”
“ Are you sure? I don’t want the stress to get to you.”
“ No. It’s what I need to get my mind off of things.”
Brooke nodded. ‘ I know what you mean.”
Eric noticed the book lying across Brooke’s bed. “ Catching up on reading?”
He looked at the book on holistic healing. “This is different.”
“ It’s one of the many books that I’ve read about Bridget’s illness. Lately I’ve been reading so many of them. I guess I’ve been looking for anything to give me insight to her illness.” Brooke rubbed her arms as if a chill had come over her. “The one thing that I want more than anything is for Bridget to get well and happy.”
“ She will. You’ll see. Taylor will have the twins and Thomas tested and they will match.”
“ I hope you are right. She’s my little girl. My baby. I won’t let this beat her.”
“ We won’t let her go through this alone.” Eric said hugging Brooke.

Charlie paced back and forth on the phone with her father. After her tears dried, she had moved into action. Storm admired her strength. “ Well?”
“ Dad hasn’t heard from her. But he’ll let me know if he hears from her.”
“How about any friends?”
“ I’ve called Sharon and Jaxon in New York. They are friends of hers. But until then. I’ll just have to wait until she calls. I knew she was angry but not that angry with me. To take him.” Charlie closed her eyes as a wave of pain hit her. She loved Dylan so much.
“ Charlie.” Stormed moved behind her putting his hands on her shoulders.
“ You should go.” She turned to look at him.
“ No. I can’t leave you in this state.’
“ You can’t do anything about it. I can’t either. After all Morgan is Dylan’s mother.”
“ But he’s more than a nephew to you, isn’t he?”
“ I love him. Morgan would never hurt him but I’m used to being there for his nightly feeding. The best part of my day is when I come home to see him.’ Charlie’s hands shook slightly. “ Oh god. Why did she do this? I know that she was angry with me but to take him. Why?' Storm didn't know the answer to her questions. So he did the only thing he could think of. He held her.

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