Tuesday, April 01, 2008, Episode #5280

Ridge tells Brooke that he feels trapped.

Brooke is still in Ridge's office. She asks Ridge if he's reconsidering their engagement. Ridge tells her that he still loves her, but he feels like they're trapped in a difficult situation by her feelings for Nick and Jack, so he doesn't think this is the time to rush into a marriage. Brooke asks if that means he'd rather be with Ashley, especially since she overheard him talking about their problems with Ashley earlier. Ridge explains that he just needed to sort out his feelings about her attachment to Nick and Jack, and Ashley just helped him do that. Brooke responds that she doesn't have feelings for Nick, although she is connected to Jack through their biological bond. Ridge reminds her that he begged her not to get involved once they found out that she was Jack's biological mother so they could focus on their family with Hope and R.J., but she insisted on infusing herself into Jack's life. Brooke assures him that her connection to Jack doesn't change how she feels about him or their family. "No matter what obstacles we face, I still believe that you are my destiny," she proclaims. Ridge says that he loves her, too, but he needs to be sure. Brooke tells him that she's sure and kisses him.

Thorne talks with Ridge about Ashley.

After Brooke steps away, Thorne drops by to discuss the plans for the new "Belief" fragrance. Phoebe comes in and asks her dad and uncle if they know what's going on. She was called down for a last-minute photo shoot, but no one was around when she arrived. Thorne tells her that the shoot was cancelled and apologizes for not notifying her. Phoebe bemoans that she rushed down here for nothing, but Ridge suggests she stick around while he and Thorne meet with the fragrance department. Phoebe tells him that she'd normally be happy to help, but she was in the middle of dinner when they called her down, and she takes out her cell to text a message to "him" to say that she's done. Ridge advises her that they won't be long and suggests that her guy will be waiting for her when she gets back if the guy is really worthwhile. After Phoebe leaves a while later, Ridge and Thorne discuss the success of the fragrance line. Ridge attributes that to Ashley, who wants to advertise the fragrance line in the online component of her brother's new RESTLESS STYLE magazine. Thorne says he'll run the idea by Katie and agrees that Ashley has been a real asset to their company. "She's one incredible woman," Ridge affirms.

Ashley tells Brooke to make a choice.

And downstairs, Brooke confronts that "incredible woman" in the lab. "I know what you're doing," Brooke tells Ashley, who sarcastically retorts, "You know that I'm extracting an essential oil by evaporating the organic solvent? Who told you that?" Brooke brushes the quip aside and states that she knows that Ashley is still in love with Ridge, since she overheard Ridge and Ashley talking earlier. Ashley insists that she and Ridge never once mentioned "love" in that conversation, so Brooke asks, "So you didn't tell him that I was sick and that he should cut his losses?" Ashley admits that she told Ridge that, since she thinks he deserves better than Brooke. Brooke orders Ashley to stay away from Ridge, since she can tell that Ashley still hopes to get Ridge back if things fall apart with her [Brooke]. "I don't want you to set yourself up for heartache," Brooke warns, since she of all people knows how amazing Ridge is. Ashley asks if she's supposed to respect Brooke's engagement the way Brooke respected hers. She finds it funny that Brooke herself is disrespecting her own engagement to Ridge by involving herself in Nick's life. "Just pick a man," Ashley states. Brooke thinks Ashley is hardly one to talk about respect, although she admits that she respects Ashley's talent, and she suggests that she and Ashley might even be friends if it wasn't for Ridge. "I want the best for you and your daughter," Brooke tells Ashley, but she feels that what's best is not Ridge.

Brooke tries to recreate the old magic for Ridge.

Brooke returns to Ridge's office, where he tells her that everything is set for the Belief fragrance but the name, which still hasn't been cleared by legal. Talking about the name reminds Brooke of when they created the original BeLieF fabric treatment and celebrated their success by making love in the lab. Ridge recalls how his mother had a camera in the lab at the time, but Brooke would rather focus on what she was wearing at the time. Ridge recalls her wearing the "famous Logan lingerie," so Brooke decides to take off her dress, revealing a sexy red teddy. She asks if he thinks she still looks good in her "famous" lingerie and decides to find out the answer by doing a little less talking and a little more feeling. They start to kiss and sink down to the floor. When the intercom buzzes, Brooke tells Ridge to ignore it. Ridge tries to ignore the buzzing, but when it doesn't stop, he finally picks up the phone and tells the person on the other end that he'll be right there. Brooke asks why he's leaving. He tells her that he has a meeting with Ashley and Henry in the conference room and has to go. Brooke tries to convince him to stay in his "meeting" with her right here, but Ridge says he's sorry and turns to leave. On the way out, he tells Brooke that she looks outstanding in that lingerie before heading to is meeting.

Storm asks Brooke what's going on.

Brooke is still standing in the office in her lingerie when Storm comes in with two cups of coffee in his hands. As Storm puts the coffee down, he explains that he had some papers for Ridge to sign. As Brooke puts her dress back on, she tells her brother that Ridge probably won't be back tonight, so Storm offers her one of the cups of coffee. Seeing the look on Brooke's face, Storm asks if she's OK. Brooke says she was doing fine until Ridge had to rush out to a meeting with Ashley. She fumes that she has to deal with Ashley, who is trying to steal her fiance away - and she thinks she knows how to do that with a little help from Storm.

Taylor tells Rick that this has to stop.

Still in Taylor's bedroom, Rick tells her not to deny her feelings for him. Since Phoebe left for her photo shoot, he sees nothing to stop him and Taylor from making love now. Hearing her daughter's name, Taylor urges Ridge to stop, but he reminds her that he and Phoebe broke up months ago. Taylor looks Rick in the eye and tells him that she can't be with him knowing that Phoebe has feelings for him. Rick agrees that Phoebe is beautiful and smart, but he's not in love with her. He's in love with Taylor, and he can't suppress those feelings, no matter how hard he tries, Taylor tells him that as much as she appreciates everything he's done for her, this can't go any further now that she knows of Phoebe's feelings. She refuses to be like Brooke and take the man her daughter loves. Rick argues that this is different, since he and Phoebe have been broken up for months. He came here tonight to make love to Taylor, so he intends to tell Phoebe the truth so she can let her down easily and get her to understands how he feels. Taylor, however, feels that her loyalty to her daughter has to come before her own feelings and asks him not to tell Phoebe the truth.

Phoebe talks to her mom about Rick.

Just then, they hear Phoebe's voice calling from the hallway. Hearing Phoebe approaching, Taylor tells Rick to go, so he hides in the closet. When Phoebe comes in, she asks if someone else is there, since she heard Taylor talking. Taylor lies that she was returning a message from a patient and asks how the photo shoot was. Phoebe tells her mom that the shoot was cancelled, but then she wonders how Taylor even knew about the shoot. Before Taylor can answer, Phoebe decides it doesn't matter, since she'd rather talk about her night with Rick than about work. She tells Taylor that dinner was amazing, even though it was cut short, since it reminded her of why she fell in love with Rick initially. But she hadn't matured emotionally when she and Rick dated, so she had to date other guys and learn more about love to see just how much she has to offer Rick. Seeing how supportive Rick was of her mom's issues with Jack showed her that, and she thinks Rick feels the same way. (Of course, she doesn't know that Rick is listening to this whole conversation in the closet.) Looking a bit uncomfortable, Taylor tells Phoebe that she's happy for her, but she also doesn't want to see Phoebe hurt. Phoebe thanks her mom for being there for her and leaves.