Friday, April 06, 2007, Episode #5033

Rick has an idea about winning Taylor over.

Rick finds Phoebe surfing the web in Ridge's office; she's shocked to find a photo of the two of them, barely clothed, in Sydney and fears what will happen when if her dad sees this. Rick tells her to relax, since they agreed not to keep their relationship a secret anymore. Phoebe still fears her dad will freak out. Ridge frets that it's pointless to try winning Ridge over; however, even though he knows Taylor has reservations, too, he thinks he might be able to convince her if... Phoebe asks what he has in mind. Rick replies that he'll tell her when he returns. But before he leaves, he wants her to know how happy he is that they can be open about their feelings now. He kisses her just as Ashley passes by outside. Ash peeks in through the open door and sees the kiss; she briefly pauses before heading for her lab.

Ashley gives Phoebe some advice.

Phoebe goes to meet Bridget in the lab, where Ashley has some fragrance samples for they to test. Bridget asks Phoebe to try one sample she likes; Phoebe likes it, but Ashley thinks it might be a bit too powdery. Before Bridget can respond, she gets a call from the hospital on her cell and steps outside to take it. Phoebe notes that Bridget is always so busy as a doctor; she just hopes Bridget will find a guy as wonderful as Rick someday. Speaking of Rick, Ashley asks where he is, since this fragrance was his idea. Phoebe explains that Rick went to talk to her mom about their relationship. Phoebe again shows Ashley the fragrance sample she likes, since it sees like it would appeal to their young target audience - not that a woman Ashley's age wouldn't like it. She apologizes in case she offended Ash with the age comment. Ash says it's fine, but Phoebe is still bothered that she said it, since she'd like to be as together and talented as Ashley. She just wishes her father could see that's what she wants. Ashley tells Phoebe that Ridge just wants to protect her, but Phoebe thinks Rick's the guy for her. Ashley doesn't want to sound like a parent, but she thinks Phoebe's too young to settle on just one guy. Phoebe says she could understand if some random guy was after her, wanting to take advantage, but Rick's not that way. He's an amazing guy, and... Ashley nods in agreement.

Bridget asks Ashley if anything is going on with Rick.

When Bridget doesn't return from taking her call, Ashley and Phoebe decide to reschedule trying out the other fragrance samples. Phoebe leaves. Alone in the lab, Ashley goes into her files and takes out a photo of her and Rick in Paris. Looking at the photo, she flashes back to romantic night she and Rick spent together there. Rick asked if he was moving too fast. Ashley replied, "I'll have to tell you in the morning." Just then, Bridget returns to the lab, startling Ashley. Ashley drops the photo of her and Rick together. When Bridget bends down and picks the photo up, she looks at it and asks Ashley, "Is something going on with you and my brother?"

Taylor expresses her concerns.

Taylor is in her office when one of the other doctors brings in a package the pharmacy sent over for Taylor. She hopes Taylor's not sick. Taylor assures the doctor she's fine. Once the doctor leaves, Taylor opens the bag and takes out a home pregnancy test kit, but she puts it aside when Rick comes in. Taylor hopes Rick's not here to get her help in bashing Ridge; even though she doesn't condone what Ridge did in Sydney, she has to admit that she's concerned about her 18 year old inexperienced daughter being involved with someone with Rick's history. Rick promises that he would never take advantage of Phoebe and suggests Taylor looks at his experience as an asset, not a problem; since he knows what it's like to have his heart broken, he won't let that happen to Phoebe. He also respects that Taylor fears Phoebe becoming intimate with him, which is why they agreed to take things slow. That's why what happened in Sydney was totally innocent. Taylor admits Phoebe said the same thing, but she fears that with Rick, the "acorn" didn't fall from the "tree," especially after the way Brooke disrespected her engagement to Nick. Rick asks Taylor not to be swayed about him by her history with his mom. He assures her that he and Phoebe won't be intimate until their committed. Taylor wonders if he can do that after his history with Amber, and possibly with other women. Rick promises that no one means more to him than Phoebe, and he asks Taylor if that kind of commitment is what any parent wants for their child. He promises to honor and cherish Phoebe, now and forever.

Phoebe hopes Brooke stays away from Nick.

Phoebe is back in Ridge's office when Rick returns. He's pleased to report that he made some headway with Taylor, but he sees that some of Taylor's concerns are rooted in her issues with his mom. Phoebe asks what he means; he explains, "She's just afraid that I'm going to hurt you, like my mother hurt her in the past." Phoebe thinks that's crazy, but Rick points out that their mom's share quite a history. Phoebe thinks Brooke should respect Taylor's engagement to Nick. Rick tells Phoebe that's especially true because Taylor is trying to give Nick the child he always wanted. At the same time, he knows his mom still has feelings for Nick, and he thinks Nick still loves his mom. That's why he hopes his mom tells Nick how she feels, before Taylor makes the biggest mistake of her life and has his baby. I mean, I truly believe that nick still loves my mom. Phoebe thinks Broke has no right to go near her mom's fiancee, and she fears her mom will have Brooke's head if Brooke tries to take Nick.

Nick tells Brooke that their relationship is in the past.

In the CEO's office at Forrester Creations, Nick tries to pull away from Brooke, who tells him that she wants him back. She doesn't think it's too late, unless Taylor is already pregnant. Nick hopes Taylor is pregnant. Meriah buzzes Nick to remind him of an upcoming call; Brooke takes the phone and tells Meriah to hold all Nick's calls. Nick tells Brooke that they don't have anything more to say after the other night, so she should leave. Brooke tells him not to be afraid. Nick says he won't do this again. Brooke doesn't want him to, since what they had wasn't secure. But they could be happy together if they focus on the good times he spent with her and her kids, especially since he's like a father to Hope. Nick says there's no going back. But there is, Brooke says, reminding him that he wrote a song called "Going Back Again" for her in which he said he'd "take it to the end." Nick says that's in the past, because he's in love with Taylor and wants to marry her. Brooke asks if Taylor can make him happier than she can. Nick says they had their shot at happiness, but Brooke says they can have it again, since she's through with Ridge after he struck her son. Nick thinks she will forgive Ridge, especially since she works with Ridge at Forrester Originals. In that case, Brooke promises to resign so she can come work here with Nick.