Monday, March 31, 2008, Episode #5279

Nick makes a point to Katie.

At the Marone mansion, Katie asks Nick what he meant when he said he's having unacceptable thoughts about her. Nick sits Katie down and explains how he said he said he was interested in her to make a point and to convince her that he's over Brooke. Supposing that he should be over his whole past, he tells Katie that there are other women in the world than Brooke and Bridget - like her, for instance. Katie points out that he doesn't even like her, but Nick extols her virtues and says that he doesn't want to make the same bad decisions in his life. "Maybe I should start with you," he suggests. Katie tells him to quit joking with her, but Nick tells her that he's serious and asks if she's put off by all men or just him. Katie tells him that she doesn't hate men and she's not a prude. She's just worried that he's going to hurt Bridget again and doesn't want to see that happen. Nick assures her that he doesn't want to see anyone hurt, especially Bridget.

Katie tells Nick she's worried about Bridget.

Katie tells Nick that she's glad, since she knows how worried Brooke is about his commitment to Bridget. Nick commends Katie for being such a concerned aunt, but she tells him that she really doesn't want to see him hurt Bridget given that she encouraged Bridget to hook up with him again. Nick burps as he tells Katie that this is why he warned her not to get involved. Katie is grossed out by the belch, which Nick casually just brushes off. He and Katie trade a few more barbs about his manners just before Bridget walks in and asks what's going on.

Bridget asks Katie and Nick what's going on.

Katie and Nick quickly cover and tell Bridget that they were just eating. Bridget explains that she snuck back over when things got slow at the hospital. Jack starts crying, so Katie goes to check on him. While Katie is headed upstairs, Bridget asks Nick how dinner was. He tells her it was good, but he still missed her. He's glad she caught a break at the hospital when things slowed down. Bridget tells him that she's glad, too, as she gives him a kiss. Neither of them notices Katie standing by the stairs looking at them.

Ridge confides in Ashley.

When Ashley drops by his office with some reports, Ridge asks how her trip to Genoa City went. She tells him that she was really impressed with what her brother Jack put together, and she guesses that Felicia was impressed, too, given her willingness to commit to a limited advertising run in RESTLESS STYLE. Ashley suggests that they focus some of their ads on the new fragrance. Ridge agrees and hopes that legal gets them the clearance to use the name Belief, just like their fabric treatment. Ashley tells him that she likes that name and thanks him for his support of their entire fragrance line; even though he's not as hands-on as he used to be, she's glad he still thinks about the line. Ridge tells her that he thinks about her all the time, since she's such an amazing woman who any man would be lucky to have. "Any man but you," Ashley qualifies. Recalling how he left her to go back to Brooke, Ridge tells Ashley that Brooke's promise of a 100% commitment to him has yet to happen because of her ongoing feelings for Nick, and he's been doing a lot of soul-searching as a result. Ashley tells him that she'll always care for him, but she has to wonder if she's the right person to be his sounding board where Brooke's concerned. Looking at the situation he just described, however, she thinks he'll just have to accept Brooke's involvement with Nick.

Ashley gives Ridge her opinion.

Ridge laments that he just wants Brooke to be honest. Ashley decides to be honest with him herself and reminds him how he expected things to be different with Brooke this time. She asks where the "happily ever after" that he's waiting for is, since she doesn't see it, and she doesn't think he sees it, either. She then decides to get off the subject of Brooke, but Ridge tells her that he wants to hear what she has to say. When Ashley points out that nothing seems to have changed in his relationship with Brooke, Ridge thanks her for her candor, but he really thinks things will be different this time, since Bridget has reunited with Nick and even Brooke is encouraging that relationship. Ashley wonders why they're even having this conversation, since it seems like he's staying with Brooke no matter what Brooke does. Ridge apologizes for upsetting her. Ashley tells Ridge that she's been struggling with her feelings since they broke up, but she's been keeping it to herself. But now she feels like she needs to tell it to him the way she sees it. Just then, Brooke approaches the door and is shocked to hear Ashley proclaim, "Brooke needs serious help." Continuing to listen, Brooke is shocked as Ashley tells Ridge that it's sick that Brooke has feelings for both him and Nick, not to mention that Brooke married both his father and his brother. "You need to cut your losses while you still can," Ashley advises. Ridge concedes that she might be right, since Brooke's heart has been divided. He wants the life he and Brooke always dreamed about, but he's not sure if that's even possible now.

Brooke asks Ridge if he's having second thoughts about her.

After Ashley leaves, Brooke comes in. Ridge offers to go over the fragrance projections he discussed with Ashley, but Brooke is more concerned with Ashley's projections regarding her and Ridge. She reveals to Ridge that she overheard and asks how he could talk to Ashley so candidly about their relationship. Ridge fires back that he can't believe how she's so involved in Nick's life. Brooke asks him not to question her commitment to him, but Ridge can't help it given how involved in baby Jack's life she's become. Brooke tells him that she can't help it, since Jack is her flesh and blood, but Ridge worries that Jack's father is Nick, who Brooke was married to and can't seem to get out of her heart. "That's what I can't live with," he states. Brooke asks Ridge if he's saying these things because of the conversation he just had with Ashley. "Are you beginning to have second thoughts about having left Ashley?" she asks.

Phoebe tells Rick how she's changed.

Rick and Taylor stand under an umbrella outside her house as the rain pours down. Rick kisses her, but Taylor pulls away and tells him that they can't do this. Rick refuses to let her go, but Taylor reminds him that her daughter is in love with him. Rick begs Taylor not to walk away from him, but she gets into her car and pulls away, leaving him to contemplate his feelings in the pouring rain. A soaked Rick goes back into the house, where Phoebe thanks him for being so supportive of her mother. Rick seems uncomfortable as Phoebe tells him that seeing him support her mother made her realize how much she still cares about him. Rick reminds her that a lot has happened since they were together. Phoebe agrees, which is why she wants to prove to him tonight how much she's changed. "Prepare for an evening you'll never forget," she warns as they sit down to dine on some Orange Chicken she made. Rick compliments her on her menu choices and asks what inspired her to make this dish. She reminds him that they ate this very dish at a downtown restaurant on one of their first dates. Rick is surprised that she remembers. "I'll never forget our times together," Phoebe responds. Rick says he'll never forget, either, but he can't help but recall the obstacles in their path last time. Phoebe assures him that her dad won't interfere this time. She explains that she tried to move on, but she kept being reminded of the magic that they shared, which has made her determined to get that back. "I wasn't ready before to take our relationship to the next level," she states, "but I am now."

Rick is torn.

Taylor goes to Cafe Russe and heads for the bar. The bartender offers her some wine, but she orders sparkling water instead. Sitting by the bar, Taylor thinks about how it could never work for her and Rick, but she's challenged when a newlywed couple in the dining room celebrates their nuptials with free champagne for everyone! Taylor politely refuses the champagne. Taylor continues to sit there and gets a call on her cell from Rick, who informs her that Phoebe is in the kitchen. Rick tells Taylor that he needs to tell Phoebe the truth, but Taylor begs him to stay silent. She tells him that she loves him for everything he's done for her, but she knows that Phoebe loves him, and she refuses to sleep with her daughter's boyfriend the way Brooke did. Rick assures her that he and Phoebe have been over for months now, and in fact, Phoebe was the one who dumped him. Taylor tells Rick he's sorry and hangs up. At the Bel Air mansion, Phoebe returns from the kitchen with fortune cookies for dessert; Rick opens his and sees it's one of the ones he made promoting him and Phoebe for the Boldface Challenge. Phoebe laughs that she saved them because they showed that he loved her so much that he wanted to win. Now, she wants to prove to him how much she loves him.