Friday, February 01, 2008, Episode #5240

Rick is surprised by Ashley's suggestion.

In Eric's office, Rick and Ashley's discussion of Taylor's dinner party gets Rick wondering what Ashley thinks of the whole thing with his mom being Jack's biological mother, since Ashley was going to marry Ridge once. Ashley assures Rick that she moved on and admits that deep down, she knew getting involved with Ridge might have been a mistake, especially since Rick tried to warn her about Ridge. Rick agrees that he tried to tell her that she was fighting a losing battle, even though the thought of his mother being with Ridge irks him so much. He's just glad Ashley has moved on. Ashley changes the subject and asks Rick if the two of them might have another shot at a romantic relationship. Rick is shocked to hear her ask that, since he's waited so long for her to say those words. But even so, he confesses that he'd be lying if he wasn't feeling a little gun-shy about getting back together with her. Ashley admits that she hurt him, but she reminds him that he hurt her, too, so maybe they both have reason to be a bit gun-shy. Yet here they are, both available at the same time. Rather than say anything else, Ashley decides to let her actions speak for themselves and pulls Rick into a passionate kiss!

Ashley assures Rick that her feelings for him are sincere.

Surprised by the kiss, Rick pulls away and tries to understand what's going on. Ashley tells him that their feelings for each other never went away. Rick reminds her that she dumped him for Ridge, but she counters that he dumped her for Phoebe. Rick concedes her point and explains that he's torn between going to take a cold shower to forget this is happening and making love to her right now. When they both agree that his latter choice might be fun, they remember some fun times they had on a weekend trip to Saint-Tropez when they were in Paris. They agree that they had fun drinking lots of champagne and making love, but Rick still isn't sure about starting over again with Ashley and asks for a little time to think about it. Ashley tells him to take all the time he needs, assuring him that her feelings for him are sincere. She asks for a chance to prove that to him.

Brooke is taken aback by Taylor's offer.

At the Marone mansion, Brooke is taken aback by Taylor's offer to marry Ridge right here, tonight. Taylor doesn't see the problem. She knows Brooke and Ridge postponed their wedding plans in part because they found out about the egg mix-up, so she wants to rectify that and give Ridge and Brooke the chance to move on, just as she's moved on herself. Sensing this might take a while, Nick suggests the minister excuse them for a while. The Reverend agrees and goes into the kitchen to grab a bite. Once he's gone, Taylor asks Brooke why she doesn't want to marry Ridge. Brooke answers that she can think of a million reasons why she shouldn't marry Ridge here tonight, and first among those reasons is that they don't have a marriage license. Taylor thinks they can find a way to get around such issues, but to do that, Brooke has to agree to say "I do" to the man she's claimed to love for all these years. Ridge chimes in that he, too, was caught off guard when Taylor suggested they get married here tonight. But the more he thinks about it, the more he sees that Taylor might be right. "I say let's do it, Logan," he declares. While Nick quips that he needs another drink, Brooke asks Ridge if she can speak to him alone for a moment and takes him aside.

Ridge tells Brooke that they should get married tonight.

In Nick's study, Brooke asks Ridge why he's considering going along with Taylor's ridiculous stunt. Ridge doesn't think it's a stunt or it's ridiculous, since the two of them planned to get married anyway. Brooke argues that Taylor is only doing this out of her own insecurities, to make herself feel better, but Ridge thinks Taylor's motives for planning this are genuine. Brooke argues that she wants her wedding to be something special, but Ridge points out that they've been to the altar so many times that they don't need some big, fancy wedding to prove their love to each other. "Come on, Logan," he enthuses, "let's get married now." Brooke states that Taylor's living room is the last place she'd want to get married, especially when this is all a ploy that allows Taylor to relieve herself of her fears and worries. Ridge asks if she's saying that Taylor fears losing Nick to her. Brooke hates to admit it, but she thinks that's exactly what Taylor is afraid of. Ridge suggests that their getting married might wipe away Taylor's fears, but Brooke thinks those fears are so absurd to begin with. Ridge hates to disagrees with Brooke, but he thinks their getting married here will make a statement and prove exactly where things stand.

Nick expresses his concerns about this wedding to Taylor.

In the living room, Nick expresses his concerns about this wedding to Taylor and asks why she didn't consult him about it first. Taylor admits she should have told him what she had in mind, but she really thought that this would be a simple gesture that would show Brooke that she's trying to be sincere. Nick puts forth that most people would find a surprise wedding to be a little weird, but Taylor thinks the whole idea of making it a surprise should prove that she cares about Brooke and wants to make her happy. She just wants to put this difficult chapter in their lives behind them and thinks Nick should want that, too - that is, unless he doesn't want Brooke to marry Ridge for some reason? Nick reminds her that he's never been crazy about Brooke marrying Ridge. Taylor says that she knows that he's never been a fan of Ridge's, but she also knows that he wants Brooke to be happy, and Brooke has said many times that she wants to marry Ridge. Nick still doesn't see why it should be their place to make this wedding happen, since Brooke and Ridge are perfectly capable of planning their own wedding. Taylor knows Ridge and Brooke can plan it, because they've done it so many times. But no matter how many times Brooke and Ridge try to say, "I do," something always seems to happen to come between them, and Taylor thinks it's time to end that cycle, especially since Brooke and Ridge have a son together who needs his parents. "How many times has Brooke told us both that Ridge is her soul mate?" Taylor asks, wondering why Nick wouldn't want to make Brooke happy.