Love Story Chapter 37

The drive home had been tedious strained with tension. Between the wipers hitting the windows and the occasional bump from the SUV hitting the drifts of snow across the ground there was little said within the car except for Ian who has used colorful language from time to time. Bridget has found him classless. Ian however didn’t give a shit. He wasn’t sure who was relieved when they finally arrived, himself or Deacon who was dying for a smoke break. Once Ian parked Deacon quickly excused himself and got out before taking out a cigarette, lighting it up immediately. Brooke gave her son-in-law a slightly disapproving look. Bridget caught her.
“ He’s tried giving it up.” Bridget explained.
“ I didn’t say anything.” Brooke said.
Bridget blew into her hands hoping to keep them warm against the bitter cold.“ I saw the look.”
“ I’m sorry.” She didn’t mean anything. “ I’ll try.”
“ Good because Deacon came all this way to make sure you are okay. You’ve got to give him a chance.”
“ I expect the same treatment for Ian.”
Bridget turned to see that Ian had wandered into his little cottage. Bridget scrunched her nose up in distain. “It doesn’t look like much.”
“ You’d promised that you’d try..” Brooke admonished. “ Besides it is cozy and quaint once you get inside.”
Deacon who wandered over toward his mother-in-law and wife pulled the lapels to his leather coat closer to him. “ You had better not tell that to him. I don’t think that he’d like the word quaint.”
At that time Ian came out of the house followed by a big dog that came racing toward Brooke. Bridget tried to warn her mother but it was all for naught as a scream got caught in her throat. Ian looked at her frightened appearance and cracked a smile before he took Brooke’s suitcase along with Bridget’s expensive Louis Vuitton luggage. He knew what those things cost and the girl had three bags alone. He was right. Spoiled and rich.
The big golden dog jumped up on her Brooke who instead of looking scared laughed and petted the dog as if they were old friends. Brooke nuzzled the dog still laughing looked at her daughter.
“ Bridget this is Sam.”
Brooke led the dog toward Bridget. Bridget who had always wanted a dog but had been told no by her mother was surprised to see her mother so playful with the dog. She looked at the beautiful animal and knelt down. “ Hey boy.” Sam nuzzled Bridget recognizing a slight similar scent that Brooke wore. He wagged his tail.
Ian noted that Sam didn’t bark or turn away. He seemed to like Bridget and she him. That was a least something. They said that dogs were good judges of characters, hell, who knew if that were true. After all, if Sam were allowed to do it, the dog would lick his own butt. Turning back around he headed back to the house. Brooke’s eyes followed him for a moment wondering if he were distancing himself again. The silent treatment had started up again in the long drive over. The only positive sign she had was when he had taken her hand in his and kept it for most the outer half of the trip.
“ He likes you.” Brooke turned her attention back to her daughter bonding with Sam.
“ You think?” Bridget said scratching him behind his ears.
“ Yeah. He doesn’t like everyone. He’s a lot like Ian. Kind of stand offish at first but when he gets to know you he’s all over you.”
“ Eww Gross.” Bridget’s jovial mood was ruined by her mother mentioning Ian being all over her.
“ I didn’t mean it like that.”
“ Come on you two I’m freezing my balls off.” Deacon said grabbing a box full of food from the trunk of the SUV.
“ Deacon.” Bridget scolded.
He shrugged turned and headed toward the cabin. Brooke quickly followed with Sam.


Ian had started setting the kindling on fire to heat the cabin in order to get rid of the chill in the air. The cold didn’t bother him but he surmised he was used to a lot more than the others who would no doubt find the cabin too cold for their liking. Truthfully the fire was only an excuse he needed to get away. He had needed a few minutes to get himself together. God, that drive was hellish. Instead of spending time with Brooke and planning the various ways he’d take her on the floor, bed, not to mention shower, he was playing host to her very spoiled and rich daughter and her husband. He hoped that this would be a very short visit. He wasn’t in a very hospital mood and wondered what drugs he must have been on to agree to the invasion of his sanctuary when the door opened. Deacon came in, followed by Brooke and Bridget. Sam hurried to his side.
He noticed that Bridget has turned her attention to his cabin’s comforts. “It’s a bit chilly” She said rubbing the chill off her arms.
Deacon put his arms around Bridget. “ I’ll keep you warm.” He whispered, as she turned slightly red.
Ian watched her seeing her frown turn into a warm smile for her husband. “ I’m getting a fire started, it will take time to warm the cabin up. The heat’s already on but it gets pretty cold easily around here.”
“ It isn’t that bad Bridget. Just think about the cabin at Big Bear.”
“ But that has all the comforts, the Jacuzzi, the steam room. Not the mention the fireplaces in every room.”
“Sorry but this place isn’t built for all those comforts. Your room is upstairs, he nodded.” Ian rubbed Sam’s head absentmindly as he looked at Brooke. She looked damn good in those tight jean. He wanted nothing better than to take them off with his teeth. . “Although, there are some other comforts.”
Brooke gave him a knowing smile. “ Bridget. This is a wonderful cabin. Don’t act as if this is basic when it’s very much like Big Bear, only smaller. Bridget looked around. Well, if she were to be honest it wasn’t that bad. She noticed the coziness of small kitchen. Not to mention how nicely the table adjacent to the huge bay window were dressed. The room itself was very nice a sense of home. It wasn’t anything she’d expected.
“ What’s in there?” She pointed to door to the right of the room.
“ It’s Ian’s office. Brooke opened the door. Inside the office were a laptop, fax machine and lots of what looked to be homemade file cabinets. Folders were neatly stacked on the desk in a fastidious manner. It didn’t seem to suit the man who was bending over the fire.
Brooke then opened another door. “ This is the bedroom.”
Bridget stepped in. She was amazed how huge the room was. She turned her attention to the inserted shelves that was created inside the wall. They were filled with books from Dante’ Inferno to Memoirs of a Geisha. There were books on carpentry and old classics like A Tale of Two Cities. She also noted that there were quite a few books from her favorite authors John Ghrissim and I.A Mac. She ran her fingers along the spine of Memoirs of a Geisha. “I can’t believe that he has this book.”
“ Why not?”
Bridget turned to find Ian standing in the doorway of the bedroom. He had been so silent sneaking up on them it was scary. Putting the books down as if it were on fire she turned to look at the rest of the room while she addressed him. “ It doesn’t seem like your cup of tea.”
“ What does?” He inquired.
“ I don’t know. I don’t know Wildmen in the Wilderness who stalk and Prey on Rich Women.”
“ Bridget.”
“ No. It’s okay honey. Bridget has a lot of growing up to do.”
“ I beg your pardon.”
Ian took the book, which she had placed, in the wrong section on his shelf. “ Don’t beg sweetheart it doesn’t suit you.” He stated as he passed her to place the bags on the huge bed. Bridget’s attention turned from the comfortable sofa, flat screen TV, toward the huge bed in the middle of the room. Hell it looked as if five people could sleep on it.
Ian noticed and smirked. “ Lots of room to do lots of things. Maybe you and your husband ought to get one of these.”
Brooke frowned. “ Ian.” He was deliberately baiting her daughter when he said that he’d try to get along with Bridget.
Ian pulled her into his arms. Nuzzling her neck he whispered. “ I said that they could come. I didn’t say anything about being good. Besides, you like it when I’m bad. Don’t you Princess?” Brooke could feel his erection pressing against her bottom. It instantly made her wet. She was appalled. God, why in the hell was he doing this to her? Why did he have this kind of affect on her?
“ Hell, I wouldn’t mind.” Deacon answered honestly as he stroked the headboard. “ Where did you get this thing?”
“ I built it with my own hands.”
“ A lot of time on your hands with no job?” Bridget smirked.
“ It’s really nice. I love the craftsmanship.” Deacon added ignoring her wife’s remark.
“ You do?” Brooke asked.
“ Yeah. Just look at the lines. The native American feathers. It’s almost like a dreamcatcher.”
“ I didn’t know that you knew anything about art”
Deacon wasn’t sure what to say. “ I just read a couple of books here and there. Besides Bridget been taking me to some of those art shows. At first, I hated it but over time some of it wasn’t too bad.”
Brooke eyes searched Deacon’s. Unlike the past where he held a defiant look on his face. He looked slightly embarrassed as if he were caught doing he shouldn’t. “ That’s wonderful that you are learning to appreciate art it can be a wonderful thing.” She said with a small smile. Deacon wasn’t sure what to make over this change. The woman hated him. Or at least she used to. Boy, things were certainly changing. Just looking at her in this setting. It had none of the comforts of a 5 star hotel which she was probably used to however Brooke looked more at home in jeans and a sweater than she had in all of those fancy dresses she owned.
“ Why don’t we go upstairs and take a look at your room.”
Bridget nodded. “That’s fine.” She looked at Ian. “ Does your sofa pull out?
“The one in the living room?”
“ Yes?”
“ Yes.”
Bridget looked relieved. “ Oh good. Mom, I was feeling bad about taking your room.
Brooke stopped.“ Honey. You aren’t taking my room.”
“ But if we sleep in the other room where are you going to sleep?”
“ Cut the crap Bridget. Your mother may have the patience to deal with this bullshit but I don’t.”
“ Hey.” Deacon cut in. He didn’t like anybody talking to his wife like this.
“ Hey nothing. She’s acting like a peculate child. You damn well know that your mother and I weren’t sleeping in two rooms. We were sleeping here together. Shit, we weren’t doing much sleeping.”
“ Ian.” Brooke warned. “Please.”
“ Don’t Ian me. Princess.” He turned on her. His face directly in front of hers as he bent down. “You are a grown woman. I’m a grown man. We don’t have to make excuses in what we do in our bedroom. Hell we don’t have to make excuses for anybody. We are lovers. I’m not ashamed of it. I’m not going to act like I am!” He bellowed before storming out of the room. The slam of the front door indicated that Ian had left the cabin.
“ Our bedroom” Bridget’s eyes widened. “ He said our bedroom. As if this were your home. Is there something else going on. Do you plan to live here?”
“ Bridget. That’s enough.” Brooke said at the end of her rope. She had such high hopes that things would be better between Bridget and Ian but that just wasn’t the case. Her daughter didn’t like him and as it looked he didn’t seem to think much of Bridget either. Brooke sighed heavily.
“ I’ll show you to your bedroom.”
“ Mom. We aren’t done.”
“ Yes, Bridget, we are.” Brooke looked at her daughter with pure disappointment in her eyes. “ I honestly thought that you wanted to make this trip out here because you wanted to learn more about Ian. You wanted to get to know him. I hope that you haven’t gone all this way to break us up. Because like it or not. There is an us. And I don’t have to defend my relationship with Ian to you or anybody else.

Ian heard the crunching of the snow behind him as he finished stacking up the wood. The scent of smoke filled the air. “ Make sure that you put the cigarette out completely. Snow or no. The last thing we want out here is a fire.” He said before Deacon approached him.
Deacon nodded as he stopped next to the man. “ So are you out here hiding or something?”
Ian raised his eyebrow and gave Deacon a look that had stopped the blood from running from many men. Deacon however only grinned before taking another puff. “ Alright. It isn’t that. Not used to all the fussing or bickering, are you?” Ian grunted. Deacon took that as a yes. “ It’s always like that with them.”
“ So your wife is normally a little…”
“ Hey. That’s MY wife. Don’t go there.” Deacon warned with a glint in his eyes.
Ian didn’t say anything but nodded. He at least respected a man who looked after his wife. “I know that right now Bridget’s being difficult. Hell, this surprises me because she normally isn’t like this. She’s really the most open, honest and kindness of the whole family.”
“ Really?” Christmas must be a real riot.”
“ No. Seriously. She’s got a good heart. The rest of them are a mess. Eric would actually be cool if his wife didn’t have his balls in a jar. Rick’s a boy playing at being a man. Queen Bitch, Stephanie manipulates them every chance she gets. She’s the one who rules the family with an iron fist. You should watch this woman work them all playing them like pawns on a chessboard. Then there is Taylor who likes the passive aggressive maneuver that keeps her in the good graces with monster-in-law. Ridge is an asshole and the rest of the brood suffers from being ignored by their mommy. Bridget’s a little spoiled. Hell, they all cater to her but she’s never been a snob. If she had been she’d never marry the likes of me. My mom was a stripper. My stepfather beat the shit out of me ever chance he got. Not to mention that I’m a manager for a club with no formal education than the streets. I haven’t got any of those refinement manners that they’ve got but she married me. Deacon Sharpe because she saw something in me. She’ll fight for me against them all. I won’t tell you how pissed off Brooke was when she married me. Brooke and I, well we had it out. Next to Bridget, she’s the only one with class in that family. But even then I understood. I was using Bridget when I married her. Brooke saw it for what it was. But, things changed. Bridget changed me”
Ian crossed his arms looking bored. If Deacon hadn’t been good at reading people he never would have been able to tell that it was just a mask. The man was listening deep down he knew it.” I guess I’m saying give her a chance. She’s really scared.”
“ I’d never hurt Brooke. She’s something….” Ian didn’t know what to say. “ She’s special to me.”
“ Hey. I can see that. But you’ve got to give Bridget time. She’s spent her whole life watching out for her mom. Brooke’s a cool woman. Real smart. Business savvy and everything. A real class act but she’s made some real mistakes when it comes to men.” Deacon looked back over toward the cabin where he could see Bridget and Brooke through a window on the top floor. “ She’s spent her life running after a man who wasn’t good enough to lick her shoes, if you ask me.”
“ Ridge.” Ian uttered.
Deacon nodded. “ The man’s a total prick. Arrogant, selfish, controlling. He likes to keep Brooke on a short leash. Oh, he knows what to say. What buttons to push for his little Logan.” Deacon mocked Ridge. “ You should see how he plays her. She doesn’t deserve this. Brooke deserves better than a man who’ll use her like a toy put her down and ignore her yet the moment that somebody decent comes along he’ll want her back. For years Ridge has played her. Bridget has seen it. It makes her nervous. She’s afraid that her mother will never get over Ridge. I don’t know ….sometimes I think she just hopes that they will get back together to be the family she never had.” Deacon pushed the hair back from his face. “ I guess what I’m saying is that she’s scarred. Bridget had to grow up hearing her mother cry herself to sleep at night. She had to watch as Ridge broke her mother’s heart and left. She had to watch as he walked away from their family all so Taylor’s bastard could have a father. She was only 13 when it happened but it broke something inside of her. So, she’s started the role of protector, which she takes pretty seriously. Hell it’s the only thing that I like about Rick. They try to protect their mother. Right now, she doesn’t know what to think about you. She knows that her mother just went through another round with Ridge, not to mention the Thorne issue. She’s just afraid that somehow Brooke’s going to get hurt.
“ I’d never hurt Brooke.”
“ Man. I know that. I can see the way that you look at her even when you think that nobody’s watching. I can also see that for the first time Brooke doesn’t look tense or stressed instead she looks really happy. Hell, she hasn’t even mentioned Ridge’s name. That itself is a blessing. I guess what I’m saying is give Bridget time. She’ll come around.”
Ian sighed heavily. “ I’m not used to having people around in my space. When Princess first came here. I couldn’t wait for her to get the hell out. She was driving me mad. All those fancy clothes. Not to mention those looks to die for. I hadn’t had a woman in a hellva long time. So I expected my sexual urges. But soon, it was more to it. She was different. Before I knew it she had smiling and laughing. Damn it, she had me feeling things that I haven’t allowed myself to feel in years.” His eyes found Brooke through the window. It was like she mesmerized him. “For Brooke. I’m willing to try to understand her daughter.” He broke away from his gaze.
“ But be warned. I’m not an easy man. I say what I mean and do what I say. I don’t have time for bullshit or manipulations from anyone regardless of the reasons. I’m sorry that Bridget had it rough. If I could, I beat the bloody hell out of Ridge. It seems that man doesn’t care if he’s hurting Brooke or his children. But I won’t allow Bridget or anyone to undermine my relationship with Brooke. Ever.” With that Ian stalked away. Deacon frowned. Children. Why did Ian mention Ridge’s children? What did Thomas and the twins have to do with this? Deacon dropped the matter thinking that maybe Brooke had shared something about Ridge’s kids that he didn’t know about.

Bridget looked around the upstairs room that was like a big loft. There was a nice sense of comfort to the room that Bridget didn’t expect.
“ As you can see honey this will be more than comfortable for you and Deacon.” Brooke put Bridget’s bag on the large bed that was adjacent to the fireplace. “The bathrooms right in there. There is an old porcelain tub that is wonderful. The water gets really hot. It’s needed because it can get a little cold. There is a big difference in the temperature between here and L.A.”
“ You haven’t asked about anything dealing with home. Don’t you want to know how Rick is doing or anybody else?” Bridget asked.
“ I’m sure your brother is fine. Everything is alright with him, isn’t it?”
“ Yes. Rick’s doing well. He’s enjoying working at Forrester. Amber of course is lazy as ever and big with Rick’s baby. It seems that you’ll be a grandmother again before you know it.”
Brooke took out some of Bridget’s clothes and started hanging them in the closet. “ I had better prepare for having a baby in the house again.” Brooke smiled. “ It will be nice.”
“ It will be nice?” What has happened to you? You hate Amber. Now all of a sudden you are fine with her?”
Brooke closed the armoire door. “ No. I’m not. I don’t think that Amber is the right person for your brother but I can’t do anything about it. I’m through expounding my energies on trying to break she and Rick up. She is going to be the mother of my grandchild. Like it or not. I want to have a good relationship with Rick and my grandchild. So I don’t plan to say anything or do anything to get in the way of Rick’s marriage. If he and Amber make it, then at least he’ll be happy. If they don’t, then it won’t be of my doing.”
Bridget had never heard her mother talk this way. “ So. You are just going to give up. Amber’s at your house acting as if she owns the place and that’s alright.”
“ Why are you so concerned about my feelings for Amber Bridget. You were the one who wanted me to allow both you and Rick to live your lives, remember.
“ But…”
“ But nothing. I’m trying to do the right thing.”
Bridget turned to her mother. “ You haven’t asked about Thorne. He’s got a new girlfriend.”
Brooke paused for a moment. “ Does she make him happy?”
Bridget answered truthfully. “Yes.”
Brooke finished pulling out her daughter’s toiletries. “ Good.”
Bridget was surprised. “ Do you really mean it?”
“ Yes. I hurt Thorne. I didn’t mean to but I did. I love him. I’ll always love him. But I shouldn’t have married him. That was a mistake.”
“ You didn’t seem to think so when you did it. If I recall correctly. You fought everyone including me for approval. My god, I was the one who went to Stephanie to get her to accept you. Did you ever think about what it took for her to come? To walk you down that aisle to her son?”
“ Bridget, it was all a farce. Stephanie didn’t and wouldn’t accept me.”
“ Can you blame her? Look at what you did to Thorne.”
“Bridget, you don’t understand.”
“ No. I don’t. I don’t understand what you did.”
“ I make a mistake Bridget.”
“ Yeah but other people seem to always be hurt by your mistakes.” Bridget stated bitterly.
Brooke reacted as if she had been slapped. Hurt filled her eyes. Bridget was instantly sorry.
“ Mom, I didn’t mean…”
“ Yes. Bridget you did.” Brooke unfolded a blanket and put it on the bed. “ I know that I’ve hurt others. All I can say that I’m sorry.”
“ What about Ridge?”
Ridge. Brooke really didn’t want to talk about him. It was over. The love affair she had had for him was finally over. Of her own choosing. She had walked away. From her dream. From a marriage proposal but Bridget didn’t know that. She’s never know that. “Ridge is married Bridget. To Taylor. They have children together. I don’t fit in that equation.”
“ What happened in Paris?”
Brooke head snapped up from straightening the new pillows on the bed. “ What?”
“ Something happened in Paris, didn’t it?”
“ What did Ridge say?”
“ Nothing. But he didn’t have to. Mom, he’s been in a horrible mood ever since he’s gotten back. He’s very angry and can’t stand to utter your name. It’s clear that something happened. What did?”
“ Nothing Bridget.” Brooke answered turning away. It had been two months since she had left Ridge. She was sure that he’d go back to Taylor and his children going on with the life he had with them since he had always been able to do that in the past. “ He and Taylor. They are together, aren’t they?”
“ Why are you going to take another crack at him?”
“ No. Bridget. Ridge and I are over.”
“ You say that like you’ve been together recently. There was never anything going on other than your part mom. So there was nothing to do “over” about. But you’ve still haven’t answered my question. What happened in Paris?”
Brooke heard footsteps on the steps leading up toward the loft bedroom where there were. “I already answered that question Bridget. Nothing. Nothing happened in Paris.”

Amber found Stephanie in Eric’s office. Feeling the weight of her pregnancy she happily collapsed in the sofa that occupied the room. “ Thank god. I didn’t think that I was going to make it.”
“ Amber, are you alright?”
“ Just tired.”
“ I need your signature here and here.” Megan pointed to the x’s on the documents for Stephanie. Stephanie sighed. “ If you don’t need anything I’ve got to make some calls for Eric to Italy for the upcoming showing.”
“ Good. I think that it’s a wonderful idea to have the fashion show in Lake Como again. Who knows we can make it a family trip.
“ Ohh. I’d love it. Rick and I haven’t had so much time together.” Amber cooed. “ Megan, do you think that you could be a dear and get me some of those delicious tea sandwiches and scones you always have.
Megan paused. She worked for the Forrester, not some spoiled trash that slept her way into the family. It was on the tip of her tongue to let her know that she wasn’t her maid but she swallowed. “ No problem. I’ll see if someone can get them.”
‘ Do more than see. Get them.” Amber said with a fake smile before turning back to Stephanie.
When the door closed Stephanie frowned. “Amber, Megan is a very important member to our staff. You aren’t to boss her around like that.”
“ She gets on my nerves. Always looking at me as if I don’t belong here. Besides. I wanted her gone to give you these.” Amber pulled a folder out of her big plastic bag that she carried. She handed the folder to Stephanie before she pulled out a small bag of potato chips that she carried with her. Munching she looked at her mentor.” Stephanie ignored Amber and opened the files.
“She peered at them. They were documents detailing Brooke’s Will. Some of them were copies of Brooke’s investment. Stephanie noted that the woman was wealthier that she even knew. Brooke owned stock in major companies and even some Internet stock such as Google and Amazon.com. She owned three homes that Stephanie never knew about. “ Why do you think that I’d be interested in Brooke’s Portfolio?”
“ I don’t know. I just thought that she had the information locked in her safe, it had to be important.”
Stephanie took the files. “Thank you Amber. You don’t know what your loyalty to this family means to me.”

Ian heard the footsteps behind him. He didn’t look up but kept on stacking the wood in the woodshed. It wasn’t until a cold sensation of ice hit the back of his head that he turned around.
“ What the…” Another snowball hit him. Looking up he gave Brooke a look that should have frightened her down to her cute little toes. She only smiled that secret smile of hers and launched another snowball at him. He caught it right in the middle of his hands.
“ Now. You are in serious trouble.”
Brooke screamed at he launched the snowball at her, catching her in the middle of her chest. She took off running he quickly followed her.

“This place is actually kind of nice.” Deacon said stepping out of the bathroom. “ I think that you and I could probably fit in that tub together. He teased. Bridget didn’t pay her husband any attention. She was focused on looking outside where her mother was being tackled playfully by Ian.
“ My god. What has gotten into her.”
Deacon came up behind her. He watched as Brooke laughed and rolled on the ground with Ian. Finally the two started to kiss. Wow, it was a pretty hot looking kiss.
“ Oh god.” Bridget turned away. “She’s acting like a teenager.”
“ No. I think that she’s acting like a woman in love.”
“ Don’t say that.”
“ Why not Bridget. I just don’t understand you. It’s okay for your mom to be miserable. But it isn’t okay for her to fall in love with a man who isn’t married or a Forrester.”
“ You don’t understand.”
“ No. I don’t. If it were me. I’d want my mother to be happy.” Deacon watched as Ian picked Brooke up and hauled her across his shoulder. She was a bundle of giggles. “ She looks pretty damn happy to me.”

Brooke lay astride of Ian leaning down to capture his wrist into the snow. “Look’s like I won this battle.”
Ian grinned. The snow was starting to fall around Brooke engulfing her.” What did you win?”
Brooke nipped his cold nose. “You.”
“ Now that you’ve got me, what are you going to do now that you’ve won?”
Brooke leaned down to whispered in his ear. Ian grinned. He certainly liked the way that she thinks. “What about your daughter?”
“ Bridget is upstairs with Deacon. Who knows maybe they are thinking the same thing.”
“ You don’t mind.”
“Bridget’s married. I’ve accepted that. This weekend isn’t just about her getting to know you but it’s about me getting a chance to know Deacon. He’s my son-in-law. He and Bridget have been married over a year now. He seems to care for her. It didn’t start off that way but I’ve seen little changes in him.”
“ I think that he cares for your daughter.”
“ Really?”
Ian slid his hands up and down Brooke’s back to keep her warm. “ He came outside to talk to me. He wanted me to try to be more patient and understanding toward Bridget. He says that she’s been very protective of you.”
“ She has. I know that she can be difficult but I want you to try. Promise me that you will. Also promise me that you won’t start pulling away from me.”
“ Does it look that I am.”
“ You were silent in the car.”
“ That was the car. This is now.” He pulled her head down toward for a kiss.

Ian groaned as Brooke clenched her tight vaginal muscles around his aching cock. “ God, you feel so fu(king good.” He groaned in her ear.
“ Shhh.” Brooke closed her eyes. She and Ian had come back into their bedroom under the guise of getting ready before dinner.
“ Don’t shh. Me. You are the one who wanted your daughter to come.
“ I do…” Brooke’s comment was caught up with a gasp as his teeth scraped against her hardened nipple.
He thrust inside of her harder. “ You like that don’t you.”
“ Oh god.” She moaned.
He slid his hand between their bodies and found her clitorious. Yes, she was already drenching him with her essence. But he wanted more. Stimulating her he continued his assault. Brooke started moaning. “ Shh. You are too loud.” He grinned turning her words back at him.


Ian lay in his bed with Brooke sprawled over him. “ This feels so right.” He whispered against her head.
“ Yeah. It does.” Brooke said kissing his naked chest. “Thank you.”
“ For what?”
“ For trying. I know that Bridget can be difficult but she’s normally a very sweet caring girl. She has a big heart.” Ian didn’t say anything. Brooke looked up. “ I’m afraid that because of my past she feels like she needs to protect me. It isn’t personal.”
“ I’m not sure about that Princess. She’s already made up her mind about me I think. Her opinion isn’t going to change. She doesn’t think that I’m good enough for you.”
“ Give her time.” Brooke sat up pulling the sheet around her. “ Just remember that I wasn’t exactly a fan of yours when I first met you. She’ll spend time with you and then she’ll see you as I do.”
“ What do you see?”
Brooke brushed her disheveled hair out of her face making her look more alluring with her swollen kissable lips and the fire in her eyes. “ I see a man who is very stubborn. Likes to live life on his own terms. He’s used to his silence and his own ways. I also see a man who is willing to put his life on the line for a friend in need. A man of honor. Who says what he means and do what he says. You are someone that I can depend on.” She answered honestly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve that if I ever had it at all.”
Ian wanted to beat up ever person who hadn’t been there for her. He laced his fingers with hers.
“I’ll always be here for you to depend on. As long as you need me.” He answered honestly.

Bridget rolled over in bed trying to get a comfortable spot. Deacon of course was fast asleep. It didn’t take much for him to sleep at all. It never did. She thought about dinner earlier that night. Ian had surprised her by making a dinner that was actually delicious. She hadn’t wanted to like it especially after hearing those tale tell signs coming from the bedroom that he had shared with her mother but after they emerged from their “nap.” He had put the grill on grilling some salmon steaks while Brooke made a robust salad and wine. Dinner had been quiet. Deacon had scarfed down his meal. Bridget has used that time to broach certain subjects that he had evaded. “ So, Ian. How long have you lived here?”
Ian had chewed on his food before throwing some to his dog Sam. He didn’t say a word. Bridget looked at her mother. Brooke nudged Ian under the table.
“Around 5 years.” He answered.
“ So, what brought you here.” Bridget looked around. “ It’s clear that you liked to be alone. There doesn’t seem to be anybody around for miles.”
“Bridget, let the man eat.” Deacon said.
Ian swallowed some wine. He wiped his mouth. Then looked over at her. “ I wanted to be by myself. I like solitude. That way you don’t have to deal with people or their questions.”
“ What did you do before you moved here?”
“ I worked.”
“ As what?”
Ian looked at Bridget. “ Does it matter?”
“ It’s a simple question.”
“Nothings ever simple. Not even a question.”
Brooke finally spoke up. “You know that you didn’t like answering my questions when I first arrived. They are nothing more than I asked.” Ian looked at Brooke with a frowned before he sighed heavily. He turned to Bridget. “I wanted to make s new life. I retired from my old job. I wanted to make a new start so I built this house.”
“ What do you do for a living now?”
“Work.”
“As what?”
The man was so silent for such a long time Bridget wondered if he were going to answer her. “ A writer.” Ian picked fork and began to eat, ignoring her and the rest of her questions during the rest of the dinner.
A writer. He didn’t seem the type. What kind of writer? How could he just live there in the wood with no other means of income. He retired from his job. He was too young to retire. Probably let go to be honest. Who were his friends? Did he have any family? She had way too many questions.
Bridget got out of bed. She pulled on a robe to ward off the chill. Maybe a cup of tea and her molecular chemistry textbook would help her sleep. She left the room and started down the stairs to the living room. She went into the kitchen looking for a teabag for some tea when she heard a door to Ian’s bedroom open. Bridget stepped into the shadows of the kitchen when Ian strode into the living room followed by Sam stark naked. Bridget’s breath caught in her throat. His body was magnificent. There was no an ouch of body fat on his body. Muscle nicely bulged on his arms and thighs. His abs were like a washboard. Tanned all over, he no doubt sunbathed nude. But that wasn’t the only thing to get his attention. It was what was in between his massive thighs. My god, the man was hung. Seriously. Bridget couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him. He was only semi-hard and yet he was bigger than most men. No wonder her mother was captivated my him.

Ian stood at the cabin door while he allowed Sam to run free outside for his nightly bathroom trip. The cold air chilled his naked body. He couldn’t wait for Sam to finish his business so he could crawl back into bed with sleeping Brooke. Ian waited for a moment before he whistled for Sam to come back. Sam came back in and Ian shut the door. He headed back toward his bedroom when he called out to Bridget. “I hope that you looked your fill. Night Bridget.” There was a slight gasp from the kitchen.. He had known that she was standing in the shadows of his kitchen. He has whiffed her scent, her perfume when he had walked out of the bedroom however it had been too late to turn around and put clothes on. Honestly, he knew that it was the devil in him. But he figured that it was his house. He could walk around buck-naked if he wanted.

Bridget could only stare at his fantastic tight naked ass as he closed his bedroom door. She’s never seen a man with an ass so perfect. She colored. The man had no class. He knew she was there yet he chose not to cloth himself. Forgetting her tea. She hurried upstairs and slammed her own bedroom door. How could her mother be attracted to such a man? His naked image swam before her. How could she not?

Stephanie was under the guise of working late at Forrester or so she had told Eric when he had wanted to take in a dinner or a movie. She has spent hours going over all the information that she collected from Amber from Brooke’s files. Stephanie thumbed through the files. Brooke’s will was no more to be expected then usual. She left stock equally divided between Rick and Bridget. Money to charities, a few even surprised Stephanie. Her parents, sisters and brother were taken care of. Even Little Eric was taken care of. Brooke has left him .05% of her stock in Forrester. “There isn’t anything that I can use here. I already know that Brooke…” Stephanie paused. She read something that didn’t make much sense. Surely Brooke couldn’t have been so stupid. It seemed that although Brooke’s will was updated her living will and power of attorney wasn’t. Stephanie began to laugh. Brooke was a stupid bitch. Always following her heart. This time it could cost her. If anything were to happen to her, Ridge was her power of attorney. He had full voting proxy of her stock.“ Well, Amber. I think that you may have something after all.”


The Next Morning
Ridge was eating his eggs and toast when he heard the doorbell ring. Taylor was busy with the twins who had been up all night with earaches. She looked tired and haggared. Ridge had hardly noticed. “ Ridge, could you please get the door. I’m too tired.” Taylor said sipping her coffee.
He sighed as if he were annoyed before getting up to get the door.
“Mother. What are you doing here so early?”
“ Ridge. I’ve finally got it.”
“ Got what?” Stephanie handed his some files. “ What are these?”
“They are Brooke’s files. Information about her will, her stock, her divorces settlement from Eric, annulments and so on.”
Taylor perked up. “How did you get them?”
“ Amber. She got them out of Brooke’s safe.”
“ For what?”
Sometimes Stephanie didn’t understand how Taylor could have become a doctor. She wasn’t very bright about certain things. “ To find any information that we could use to get Brooke out of the company.”
This intrigued Taylor. Ridge was silent for a moment. “ Did you find something?”
Stephanie pulled out a bottle of champagne. “ Let’s make room for Mimosa. You bet your sweet ass that I found something. I found something that will allow you my son to bring the power of Forrester Creations back to us.”
Taylor looked at Ridge and then perked up at this new scheme to get rid of her adversary once and for all.

Deacon opened one eye and winced in pain as the light from the windows flooded into the bedroom. Groaning he turned over pulling a pillow on top of his head to try to get back to sleep when someone pulled the pillow off his head. “ I’ve been waiting for hours for you to get up.”
Deacon groaned once again before opening one eye to look at his beautiful annoyed looking wife.
“ What time is it?”
“ It’s nine o’clock.”
“ In the morning.”
“ Yes.”
Deacon turned back over. “Wake me when it’s noon.”
“ Noon.” Bridget reached to turn hi back over. “Come on I’ve been waiting hours for you to wake up.”
“ Hours. God, Bridget it’s early in the morning.”
Bridget knew that she ought to let her husband sleep typically Deacon didn’t get up before 11 am but this was different. “ I need to talk with you.” Please honey.
Deacon opened his eyes. Bridget sounded distressed. “What’s wrong? I hope that this isn’t about your mother again.” His wife had spent half the night huffing and puffing about the fact that her mother was having sex with Ian. Deacon didn’t want to hear a dam thing about anyone else’s sex life when right now his wife wasn’t giving him any.
“No. I’m not about mom.” Bridget frowned a bit. “ It’s about him. Something happened last night.”
“ Last night.”
“ Yes, when you were asleep. I couldn’t sleep and I went downstairs and…”
Deacon sat up. The cold air hit his naked body. He pulled a fully clothed Bridget closer to him.
“ And what.”
“ Ian. He was naked.”
This Deacon like. He had thought the guy was pretty cool but if the man had touched one hair on his wife’s head he was going to see just how trained Deacon was in Karate.“ Bridget did something happen. Did he…”
Bridget’s eyes grew wide and blanched “No.” She shook her head. “Nothing like that happened. It’s was just. That I wanted some tea and he came out of his bedroom stark naked.
“ And…”
“ And he let the dog out for a run.”
“ Bridget it’s the man’s house. He probably didn’t know that you were downstairs.”
“ But he did. When he finished letting Sam out he said goodnight to me. He knew that I was there and he let me see his…”
Deacon held his smile as his wife blushed. “ His what?”
“ Deacon.” She said hitting him. “It’s not funny.”
He kissed her on top of her blonde hair. “ No it isn’t.” It amazed him that Bridget was pretty innocent even after sharing his bed. “ I’m sure that Ian was goading you slightly. I’ll have a talk with him honey. I don’t want you seeing anyone’s pecker besides mine.”
Bridget got a flash of Ian’s naked body and turned a little redder. “Thank you honey.”

Thorne walked into his father’s office to find his dad adjusting the straps to a charcoal gray and silver chiffon frock. Jamesha, the lean artistically beautiful black model smiled at him. He returned the smile. “Dad. Have you seen Ridge? He was supposed to meet me in my office over an hour ago? Thorne had a new office along with a new position. He didn’t have time for any of his brother’s antics today.
“ I haven’t seen him.”
“ That’s odd.”
“ Last night he went on and on about going over these figures and now he doesn’t even show up for the meeting. It’s totally unprofessional.”
Eric finished and nodded giving Jamesha her leave. He stood up to face his son. “ Thorne, please don’t start up with Ridge when he gets here.”
“Why not? He’s been acting like a jerk.”
“ I know. But right now he’s in charge until Brooke comes back.”
“ Dad, he’s been running rough shoot over anyone. Yelling at the models, bullying Rick and anyone who tries to stand in his way.”
Eric knew that Thorne was right but he honestly didn’t want to take over as CEO in Brooke’s absence. “ I know that things are tough but you’ve only got to hold on for a while and then Brooke will be back.”
“ Do you think that is going to make things better?”
“I can only hope.” Eric was becoming more and more frustrated with his son’s erratic behavior.
“ Honestly I just don’t know. Brooke has always sided with Ridge.”
“ There was the time that she was mad at him and with me over the issue in Italy.”
“ But her anger with him didn’t last long. I just hope when she comes back home she’ll be able to control him.”
“ Brooke’s the CEO. Ridge will have no choice but to comply.”
Thorne shook head. “ I don’t know. Ridge has a liking for Brooke’s position. I’m not sure that he’s going to be giving that position up so easily.”
Eric was stunned. “Thorne, what are you saying? Ridge doesn’t have a choice. Brooke owns the majority stock of this company. She’s the CEO, Brooke isn’t going to allow Ridge to take over this position even if she does still have feelings for him.”
“ I hope you are right dad. But I’ve got a feeling that when Brooke does come back, things aren’t going to be as easy as it seems.”

Brooke laid down the plates to set the breakfast table. She had already made the batter to make hot waffles and the bacon that she had fried was staying warm in the oven. Footsteps down the stair made her look up. Seeing her daughter looking fresh in a tight knit sweater and jeans Brooke gave her a hug when she reached her. “Good morning Bridget.”
“ Morning mom.” She smelled the breakfast cooking. “ You are making breakfast?”
“ Yes. Hot waffles and bacon.”
“ Where’s Deacon?”
“Taking a shower.” Brooke poured her daughter a cup of hot coffee. Bridget took the coffee and found a seat at the table. Brooke wet to the waffle maker and poured the batch of waffle on the iron. Bridget watched as her mother effortlessly made one waffle after another as she sipped her hot coffee. Brooke turned to see the look of bewilderment on her daughter’s face.
“What?”
“ I guess it’s been a while since I’ve seen you cook breakfast.”
“ I cooked for you.”
“ When I was little but in high school you were hardly home let alone have the time to make dinner like you did when we were younger.”
“ I guess that I was busy a lot during that time. I’m sorry.”
“ Forrester took a lot of you time mom but we knew that you loved us.” Bridget told her mother honestly. “ Besides most of our friends hardly even spent time on the same continent with their parent.”
Brooke turned away from the growing plate of waffles toward her beautiful young daughter. “But it doesn’t ease the fact that I was busy a lot.”
“ It was your coping mechanism. You got like that when you were depressed. Times were rough when you and Ridge broke up.”
“ Well those days are over. You don’t have to worry about that anymore.” Brooke said with all honestly. “How many waffles do you want?”
“ Just one mom. I don’t want to overdo it. Besides, where is Ian? I certainly hope that he doesn’t have you doing a lot of cooking and cleaning.”
“ No. He doesn’t. I like cooking. As you’ve stated it’s been a while since I’ve done it. To tell you the truth I’m having fun.”
“ Being domestic.”
“ Domestic? Maybe. But I’ve do more that cook and clean honey.”
“ What are you doing? Or do I have to ask?”
Brooke left the kitchen and went over to the coffee table sitting in front of the sofa where a notepad was sitting. She took it to her daughter. Bridget opened the notepad and was surprised to see notes and formulas written in her mother’s handwriting.
“ Chemistry notes?”
“ Yes. I’ve been thinking of going back into the lab.”
“ Really? This is new.”
“ It’ my background. I loved to create things. I’ve missed that. Right now I’ve been working on something to keep a scent within bed linen or clothes.”
“ Really?”
“ Yes. Just think of it. Having sheets or an entire bedroom set that have a specific scent locked in within the fibers that will stay fresh when you have them dry cleaned.”
“Is that possible?”
“ With chemistry anything is possible. You’ve just got to do the test and take a chance.”
“But you can’t do that without a lab, can you?”
“No honey but when I get back I plan to go back into the lab and start working.”
“Mom, this is fantastic Why don’t you go home and get started. You are obviously excited about this.” Bridget hugged her mother looking relieved.
The serenity on Brooke’s face faltered slightly. “ But it’s the peace around here. Have you taken a look around and seen the beauty. Just look outside at God’s Beauty. It has a way of calming you at making you see the things that are important. It makes you look at your life.” She reached out to touch her daughter’s hand. “I know that I haven’t said it but I’m glad that you are here.”
Bridget saw the glow of happiness around her mother. She did seem to a sense of calmness that she didn’t have before yet Bridget was naturally concerned. Her mother didn’t belong here. She belonged at home with her family running her company. Forrester was her family’s legacy. Her mother had spent years taking Forrester to International Heights.
Bridget took both of her mother’s hands in her own. “I’m glad to be here as well but I have things back at home like school. I’m not the only one with something waiting for me at home. Why not come back. Take your notes, get into a lab.”
“ I want to believe me but just not right now. I need time honey.” Brooke took her daughter’s face in between her hands. “ I know that it is hard for you to understand this but I need this time.”
Bridget was disappointed. But she wasn’t about to give up. ‘ Alright mom. If you say that you need time. I’ll try to understand that but running away from your problems aren’t going to solve them.”
“ I’m not running away from any of my problems Bridget.”
“ Are you sure because where I’m standing. Coming to Colorado and getting involved with an ex-Navy S.E.A.L turned writer looks like your way of running away from your problems.”
“ Well, you are wrong.” Brooke said disappointed that Bridget really heard a word that she had said. “Why don’t you set the table for three. Deacon, I’m sure will be hungry.” Brooke said wanting to end the conversation.
“ What about Ian he isn’t going to have breakfast with us?”
“ Ian isn’t here.” Brooke took the bacon out of the oven.
Bridget stopped folding the napkins. She turned to face her mother. “ What do you mean that he isn’t here?”
Deacon came down the stairs into the kitchen. “Morning ladies.”
“Good morning Deacon.” Brooke answered.
“ Mom, answer me.”
“ George and Annette’s heating system has blown out. He got a call around 5:00 this morning. He’s helping with the engine. I’m not sure what time he’ll be back. So, it looks like it will be just you, me and Deacon for breakfast.” Brooke put a carafe of orange juice on the table.
Deacon pulled his wife in his arms for a morning kiss. “ Stop frowning, you’ll create lines.”
Bridget turned toward him. “ I wanted to get to know this man and he isn’t even here. I just think it’s a little too convenient.”
“Let it go Bridget. The man is helping someone out. It’s cold out there.” He caressed her face. “Come on honey you are always helping people who are in need are you really upset that he’s doing the same thing. Give the guy a chance, okay?”

Deacon finished off another waffle before grabbing another with a fork. Brooke watched him pour heaps of syrup over it before he devoured it just like the three others before. “I guess you were really hungry.”
“ I never did like food going to waste beside these waffles are better than the store bought ones we have at home.”
Bridget glared at her husband. “Deacon…”
“I wasn’t criticizing you honey. You’ve got school. It takes a lot of work to be at the top of your class the way that you are. Besides I can’t do more than boil water.”
Brooke took another bite of her breakfast watching as her daughter had beamed under her husband’s praise. Could it be that Deacon was starting to grow on her?

Ridge sat in his dark office contemplating the file over and over again. There it was in black and white. A chance to get the company back. A chance for him to take charge. To get Forrester back into the hands of the Forresters again. He was the acting CEO but to make the changes needed to bring Forrester back into greatness he had to have the power. He didn’t want to be head designer anymore. His father didn’t want to job as CEO he was willing to let Brooke have it. Well, Ridge wasn’t going to allow that to happen. Brooke had crossed him. She had taken his love and commitment for her and thrown in all away. Ridge took out a warn photo of he and Brooke in Paris. Now he was going to take everything that she wanted, starting with her company.

HOME