Wednesday, January 07, 2009, Episode #5475

Nick and Katie reflect on their life.

Nick and Katie make out on the sofa in his study. Katie tells him that her sisters want to throw her a bridal shower. Nick grins at the thought of eating finger sandwiches, but Katie teases that he's not invited. Katie beams as she tells Nick that she feels like the luckiest girl in the world because she has him and Jack, but Nick looks stressed out. Katie notes that she thanks God every day for Jack, but she can't help thinking about how Ridge is handling the loss of his daughter. They're interrupted by a call from a telemarketer; Nick quickly ends the call to get back to his fiancee. Katie likes hearing him call her his fiancee and tells him to call her that again. Nick repeats the word and gives her a peck on the cheek before sitting down by his laptop. Katie asks if she can use the computer for a minute to check something on the Forrester web site. Nick tells her to use her own computer upstairs since he's busy with some business stuff, much to Katie's dismay.

Pam tries to explain the art of crocheting.

In Eric's office, Pam tries to explain the art of crocheting to Donna, who thinks it can't be too complicated to figure out how to tie some knots. Pam quips that it's not the same as tying a lover to the bedpost, drawing a frown from Donna. Owen comes in and asks Pam if she has everything she needs to make her bikinis. Pam says that she'll need lots of supplies and eagerly goes to make sure she has everything. Alone with Owen, Donna laments that they have to endure the torture of working with Pam to make their new line a hit. She just wishes the whole line didn't depend on Pam's stupid bikini. Knowing how tense things are between Pam and her, Owen promises Donna that he'll be the one to work closely with Pam and just asks her to please not put up any roadblocks. Donna reluctantly agrees.

Owen pays Bridget a compliment.

Later, Bridget drops by and checks out the crocheted bikinis. Holding the red one, she asks Donna if she can be put at the top of the list to get one since she's family. Donna tells her niece that she'll have to ask Pam, who created the bikinis. Owen comes in and sees Bridget admiring the bikinis. He thinks she'd look great in the red one. Bridget thanks him for the compliment. Donna gets a knowing look on her face as Owen gazes at Bridget and tells her that it's good to see her. Bridget stares back and says that it's good to see him, too. Once Owen leaves, Bridget sees the look on Donna's face and asks what's going on. Donna tells Bridget that Owen is a good guy and is good-looking, too. She suggests that Bridget hang out with Owen some time, since they're both single. Bridget senses Donna playing matchmaker and asks if this has to do with her recent divorce from Nick. Donna tells Bridget that it can't hurt to have a good-looking friend. Bridget sighs that she threw water in Owen's face when she thought Donna was cheating on Eric with him. Donna assures Bridget that she loves Eric and guesses that Owen has gotten over that water thing by now. She assumes that Bridget doesn't have much of a social life with her work at the hospital and suggests that Bridget and Owen could both use a friend. Donna then gives Bridget the red bikini and proposes that Bridget stop by Owen's beach house on the way home. "You never know what could happen," predicts Donna.

A bikini-clad Bridget drops by Owen's place.

Pam comes over to Owen's beach house to work on the swimsuits and finds him wearing a bathing suit. She asks about his attire, since she thought they'd be working. Owen explains that he wanted to catch a few waves first, so Pam offers to whip up some food while he's out "hanging ten." Owen tells her that she doesn't have to do that, but Pam insists. When Owen returns, Pam tells him that she managed to scrounge up something to eat from the meager offerings in his fridge. As Pam goes to the kitchen to get the food, Owen hears a knock at the door. Peeking outside, he sees Bridget at the door and tells Pam to take the food upstairs and set up a place for them to work while he answers the door. As Pam heads up, Owen answers the door and lets Bridget in, noting that it's quite a surprise to see her. "It's a good one, I hope," Bridget chuckles as she opens her trenchcoat and reveals that she's wearing nothing but the red bikini underneath. Owen invites her in. Looking around, Bridget spots a candle-lit table for two across the room and apologizes for interrupting. Owen tries to explain that he was just grabbing a quick bite with a "buddy," but a flustered Bridget gets the hint from the candlelight set-up and turns to leave. Owen asks her to stay, but Bridget guesses that she shouldn't have stopped by unannounced and quickly walks out the door.

Steffy tells Rick about Marcus's plans.

On the executive floor at Forrester, Steffy flashes back to one of her kisses with Rick. Marcus spots her and gives her a kiss, suggesting that the two of them head up to Big Bear for a romantic getaway now that the fashion show is over. Steffy hesitantly agrees that getting away sounds like a good idea, so Marcus tells her to be ready to head up to the cabin tomorrow. After Marcus rushes off to take care of something, Steffy calls Rick and asks if they can talk. Rick tells her to meet him in his office right now. Steffy heads over to Rick's new office and admires his "presidential digs." Rick asks what she wanted to talk about, so Steffy tells him about Marcus's getaway plans. Rick tells her not to go, but Steffy is torn. She knows she shouldn't be questioning this, since she cares about Marcus, but she can't stop thinking about Rick. Still, she knows that there's still hostility between Rick and her dad and fears that Ridge would freak out if he knew about her feelings, and she can't do that to him. Rick asks if she's telling him that it's over. Steffy confesses that she has no regrets, since she felt things she never felt before when she kissed Rick. At the same time, she feels like they're caught up in something and thinks that this can't go on. She just wishes there was a way for them to be together without hurting the people they love.

Marcus tells Donna about his plans.

Marcus stops by Eric's office to see Donna. He tells his mom that he heard about Pam working there again and asks if she's OK with that. Donna says that she doesn't have much choice, since both Eric and Owen support Pam's work, but she thinks she'll be fine since Owen promised to take the brunt of working with Pam. Marcus advises her to be careful, especially since he'll be away for a couple of days on a romantic getaway to Big Bear with Steffy. Donna warns him to watch out for the bears, but Marcus reminds her that the bears are hibernating now. Donna hopes they have fun, especially since Steffy has been through so much lately. Marcus laments that he hasn't seen much of Steffy since she's been spending time with her family, but he thinks it will be good for them to get away for a while. Donna tells him that he and Steffy deserve to be happy. She thinks Steffy is lucky to have him in her life.

Rick tells Steffy to go back to Marcus.

Rick tells Steffy that he can't stop thinking about her, since the bond they formed since the accident makes him feel content, like she really understands him. Still, he knows it's not right, and he realizes that he should have just stayed away from her from the beginning. Steffy admits that she feels the same things when she's with him. Rick reminds her that they have to keep these feelings a secret, especially from her father and his mother. Steffy agrees and declares that she can't cause her father any more pain, so she'll have to get over Rick. Rick proclaims that this has to end, right here and right now, but Steffy points out that they've said that before. But they mean it this time, Rick asserts. Steffy tearfully asks why they have to do this and suggests that they see each other in secret while he patches up his relationship with her dad. Rick tells her that he never wanted to hurt her, and he thinks he never should have messed with her life by kissing her in the first place. He encourages her to go back to Marcus, because nothing good can come of her being with him. "Forget about me," Rick urges, reminding her that they'll still see each other at work. Still, he wants her to know that the night she came over to his place and told him she believed him meant the world to him, since he felt like she was his lifeline that night. Steffy sighs that she felt the same way and just wishes they could be together, and they end up in a passionate kiss.