Brooke is pleased that Ridge is worried about her.

In Eric's office, Brooke's still on the phone with Ridge, who says that he still wants her to come to the beach house. He just wanted to warn her about the storm that's brewing, since the roads might be slick. Brooke thanks him for thinking of her and promises to be careful. Ridge says he'll see her tomorrow. Brooke says she loves him and hangs up. She then tells Eric and Stephanie why Ridge called. She thinks it's a good sign, but Stephanie thinks Ridge just didn't want her in an accident. Brooke tells her not to get ahead of herself. Eric tells them both to stop. He points out that Ridge will spend time with both women and make a fair, thoughtful decision -- he looks to Stephanie and adds, "without any outside interference." Stephanie looks back and says the only decision Ridge has to make is how to break the news to Brooke. Brooke reminds her that Ridge just called her, with Taylor there, to say he couldn't wait to spend time with her: does that sound like he wants her out of his life? Brooke asks.

Brooke asks Eric if she can leave early to get ready for her day with Ridge. Stephanie tells her not to bother packing, since it's only one day. Eric tells Brooke to go ahead; she thanks him, saying that she's glad someone realizes she needs time with Ridge and much as Taylor does. Stephanie says it's a mere formality. Brooke intends to make the most of her time with Ridge by being the fun woman he fell in love with and married. That, Stephanie says, is why Brooke doesn't stand a chance: she never grew up. Brooke says she's just what Ridge needs, and she intends to remind him of that. Stephanie bets that she'll try. Brooke retorts that Ridge only went to Malibu to get away from Stephanie's meddling. Stephanie says she was just putting things in perspective for him. Whatever, Brooke says: she says that Stephanie and Taylor have both had their turns with Ridge, and now it's her turn. She leaves, pausing outside the door with a grin on her face.

Stephanie and Eric disagree yet again.

Stephanie guesses that Brooke is up to something and asks Eric why he always takes Brooke's side. He's just honoring their son's request, he says, and he thinks she should do the same. He worries that she's become obsessed with pushing Brooke out of their family, to the point that she's not sleeping and her blood pressure is high. She insists she is fine and says she's just protecting this family from the tragedy that will ensue if Ridge chooses Brooke. The tragedy, Eric says, will be if something happens to her if she can't let go. She can't, she says: she makes no apologies for doing what she always does, protecting her family. But she's never been like this, Eric says. That's because she's swimming with sharks, she laughs - or more accurately, with one blonde man-eating shark that she won't let sink her teeth into Ridge. Eric says he can't stand it when she's like this and leaves the room.

Taylor thanks Ridge for their day reconnecting.

At the beach house, Taylor comes out of the bedroom. Ridge is surprised to see she's dressed. The storm is coming, she says, and the roads will be slick. Ridge starts kissing her. She says she doesn't want to leave, but she wants to play by the rules. She offers to tell Brooke about the storm when she gets home, but he tells her that he already called. Good, Taylor says, since Brooke careening into the ocean would be very, very bad. Yes, Ridge says, it would, hugging her. She says she wishes this day didn't have to end. Ridge agrees. As she goes to get her bags, he tells her that he wants to drink her in, since she nourishes him, intellectually and spiritually. He sits her on the couch and starts to kiss her again, but Taylor thinks they should stop before they get carried away. As much as she wants to make love to him, they have the rules, and she hopes he'll remind Brooke of that. She knows he hasn't said what he's decided, but she thinks his actions speak for his love for her, as they always have and always will. Ridge tells her that he loves her and gives her a hug. She picks up her thinks and leaves; Ridge walks out onto the porch with her and kisses her again before she turns and leaves.

Still in Eric's office, Stephanie calls Ridge and asks if she's interrupting. Ridge says she isn't, since Taylor just left. She asks how it went. Very well, he says. That's because Taylor's such an extraordinary woman, she says: that's why she doesn't even know why he's bothering... Ridge tells her to stop: Brooke is coming tomorrow, and after that he will make his decision... and it is HIS decision, he says again before ending the call.

The twins are upset that their mom isn't the only one spending time with their dad.

When Taylor returns home, the twins greet her. She asks where Jack is, but they want to know how her date was. She guesses that they can call it a date and says it went well. The girls look upset; Taylor asks what's wrong. They ask if it's true Ridge will spend a day with Brooke at the beach house now. Taylor says it is. But that's so not fair, Steffy says as Phoebe nods: why would their dad spend time alone with Brooke now that their mom is back? Taylor reminds them how fair and decent their father is; she tells them that Ridge just needs time to make the right decision. She has faith that he will, and she thinks they should have that same faith in their father. She then sends them to bed just as Stephanie arrives. Stephanie says that she heard that things went well. Taylor guesses that Stephanie spoke to Ridge and asks if she came for details. Actually, Stephanie says, she came to see it Brooke was there. When Taylor says she isn't sure, a suspicious Stephanie wonders if Brooke is up to something.