Ridge checks with Constantine hoping he has more information on this French lady sexy voice so they can find out who Rick's other woman is. Rick grills Ashley about her night with Ridge and guesses they slept together. She wonders why he would care? Is it because he's jealous, or that she is having sex and he's not? When Ashley demands that she tell Ridge, Rick wants one more day to soften it for Phoebe too. Donna laments about Stephanie pouncing on Brooke and taking her kids away when it was her fault, not Brooke's. Alone, Thorne has a liquid lunch plus some pills when Stephanie tracks him down, worried about him. She does manage to take his keys so he can't drive and tells him she loves him then leaves. Donna marches over to Stephanie's and tells her off. She informs her Stephanie will not break up her family again. Rick apologizes to Phoebe for pushing her for sex the other night. She's okay with it, but in the back of her mind she has figured out that Ashley is that other woman. He can promise her that he is happy and is in love with her and if that is the way he can prove it is by not having sex, then he is alright with that. Donna runs into the last person she wants to see, another Forrester needs a ride. Ashley models her new earrings for Ridge, now they need to go show them off. But, she has something to tell him first. Phoebe quizzes Rick about the other woman in his life, she's ready to hear it. If he can accept her, then she can accept his past. He squirms when she says she knows is it Ashley and he admits it.
Ridge: She had a French accent? You said she signed off saying, "Au revoir." Oh, God, I wish you'd kept that message, Constantine. It may be over between this woman and Rick, but I want to know who she is. All right. You know how to find me. Phoebe: You were late. Ridge: No, I wasn't. Phoebe: Well, late for you. So were you out, or did you stay in? Or am I prying too much? Ridge: How would you feel if your boring old dad had a new woman in his life? Phoebe: Dad, I love Ashley. She's great. I respect her and she's classy. Good for you. I'm happy for you. [SCENE_BREAK] [Knock at the door] Ashley: Yeah? Hi! Rick: Hey there. You look all cheery. Is Abby okay? Ashley: Yeah, why wouldn't she be? Rick: Well, you missed the dinner with marketing research. You told Molly it was personal, so I was assuming -- Ashley: Yeah, it was personal. Rick: It didn't have anything to do with Ridge? Ashley: How was the meeting? Rick: Like watching paint dry. How was your evening? Ashley: Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to. Rick: What the hell is that supposed to mean? You slept with him. Ashley: And I'm getting the third-degree because? [SCENE_BREAK] Donna: No, if you just let me explain to you what happened that night, I can tell you -- no. Okay. Okay, fine. That woman from child protective services. She tells you to have me call her, and then she tells me she can't discuss the case! I'm the one who left them alone that night, but will she listen? Brooke: Stephanie's got her brainwashed. Donna: How many times have you drilled me about doing the hand-off with the kids? How I wait till you look me in the eye and tell me they're with you now. Brooke: Donna, you've apologized enough already. Yes, you made a mistake, but nothing horrible came out of it. Donna: Until Stephanie decided to pounce. Brooke: There's not much I can do about that. I just have to focus on my work and prove that I'm not a threat to my children. Donna: At least you'll be a threat to the Forresters, working here again. Brooke: But you know what I really hate? No, forget it. I'm not going to dwell on it. Donna: No, what? Tell me. Brooke: Stephanie really has no official business in any of this. Ridge is the one that was granted temporary custody. So, I go over to her house last night to say good night to the kids, and Stephanie wouldn't even let me see them. Donna: She what? [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Hi. Thorne: Who let out the bloodhounds? Stephanie: Your cute secretary told me you would be here. Thorne: I'm just having lunch. An early lunch, okay? Stephanie: Why here? Thorne: Because no one I know comes here. Stephanie: So -- blind date last night didn't go so well? Thorne: I wanted her to be Darla. But nobody can be Darla. Because Darla's gone. Stephanie: I'm sorry, sweet -- Thorne: No, don't, okay? Because I really should be over this and I'm not. Working and traveling and crying on other people's shoulders, it doesn't cut it. So I'm trying something different. Stephanie: Drinking your lunch? Thorne: Asking everyone to just please, leave me alone. Please. Stephanie: I love you. [SCENE_BREAK] Donna: She had armed guards keep you from seeing your own children? Brooke: I can't wait to see how she's going to twist that around at the next hearing. Donna: Why aren't you up in arms about this? Brooke: How much outrage can I spend on that woman? I mean, on a good day, she chokes me with a telephone cord. That's a good day. Donna: You know what she wants, don't you? Her darling son is linked to you forever with R.J. and she wants to break that link, and not just temporarily. Brooke: I can't believe Ridge would let her do that. Donna: Can you give me an example of one thing Stephanie wanted, that Ridge kept her from having? You can't count on him. But you can count on me. Brooke: Where are you going? Donna: Lunch. [SCENE_BREAK] Ashley: Whatever we were to each other, we're not that now. Rick: I know that. I told you that. Ashley: So, what's this about? You're jealous because I'm having sex and you're not? Rick: Oh, please. Ashley: Look, I am not in the mood for a lecture from you about how bad you think ridge is for me. Because guess what? He's better for me in ways that someone hasn't been in a very, very long time. Excuse me. Rick: All right, you know what? I'm happy for you, really. I'm really happy for you -- Ashley: But? Rick: But -- don't say that I did not warn you about this guy. Ashley: Fair enough. Speaking of warnings though, I've got to tell ridge the truth about us. I have to. I cannot move forward with him while I'm holding back. And that's just the way it is. [SCENE_BREAK] [Knock at the door] Donna: I'm here to see my niece and nephew. Stephanie: Don't you have a plane to catch? Donna: That's right -- I'm the reason they were left alone that night, not Brooke. Which obviously you know damn well. Stephanie: Yes I do. Felicia has taken the children to the beach. And even if they were here, I wouldn't let you see them. Donna: Of course not. If you won't let their own mother see them, why would you let me? Stephanie: Oh, did little Brookey go running to little sister because she didn't have anybody else to cry on? Donna: Brooke did not send me. Stephanie: Why don't you stick to the subjects you know best -- cleavage and sex. Donna: You are the subject. You I know all about. Two generations of my family have been scarred by you. And I am here to tell you, there will not be a third. [SCENE_BREAK] Ashley: I really don't want Ridge to hear about you and I from anybody but me. And each day that goes by, it makes it harder to explain. Can you understand that? Rick: Yeah. Okay. Ashley: Thank you. Rick: I need a favor. Ashley: Oh no. Rick: No, just -- Ashley: Not if it's what I think it is -- Rick: Ashley, please just hear me out. Okay? Phoebe and I are -- we're going through something right now. It's very hard on her. All right? It's very personal. Ashley: Okay, I don't need to hear anymore. Rick: Well, just -- the point is, it's a very difficult situation for Phoebe. And maybe I can soften the blow by making her not feel threatened by you and me. So, I just need -- I need one more day. Ashley: Just one day? Rick: One day. Ashley: Okay. One day. Rick: This is not going to be easy. Ashley: I know. For either one of us. But then again, nothing good ever came easy, right? Rick: We almost did. Come here. Ashley: So, am I forgiven for missing that all-important dinner meeting? Phoebe: Yeah. Sorry, I just -- I checked in your office. Ashley: Come on in. You know what, I've got to take these ad samples upstairs, and then I may or may not go to lunch. I don't know. Rick: Hey, thank you. Ashley: Au revoir. Rick: All right. [Phoebe remembering] Ashley: Hi Rick. It's me. About last night -- umm -- call me. Au revoir. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: So, now you're the champion of the young and the innocent? Donna: Those children love me. Stephanie: Oh -- Donna: And don't speak to me that way! Stephanie: If you'd leave my house, I wouldn't even have to speak to you at all. Donna: You are not going to break up my family. Yes, Hope and R.J. are my family. The harder you try, the sorrier you're going to be. Brooke's hands may be tied, but mine aren't. Stephanie: Oh, I don't think I'm going to lose any sleep over the wrath of Donna Logan. Donna: Don't say you weren't warned. Pushing me over a balcony won't be so easy. Stephanie: I don't know, I think you'd bounce. You and your sister are exactly alike. You're both sluts with no genuine sense of responsibility. And there is nothing you can do to hurt me. I'm finished with both of you Logans. [SCENE_BREAK] Rick: I guess we have something to talk about. Phoebe: I guess we do. Rick: Phoebe -- I'm sorry. Phoebe: Is it okay if I ask for what? Rick: I wanted to make love to you, the other night. You said no, and I kept pushing you. I'm just sorry. Phoebe: I didn't take it that way, Rick. Rick: It would be nice to think that -- Phoebe: No, I mean it. I mean it. It's not that I don't feel safe with you. I mean, you were confused. And so was I. I thought that I wanted that, too, but -- Rick: And that has to be okay. Now and always. Phoebe: Is it? Will it be okay? Rick: I have to be honest with you. All right? I've been thinking about this for a long time. Even before that night. I've been asking myself a lot of questions. Questions like -- "Can I do this?" You know, I'm a grown man. I have sexual feelings that I am not ashamed of. And can I do this? "Can I be in a relationship with you, indefinitely, and not act on those sexual feelings?" Despite how strongly I feel about you, you know? Phoebe: I understand -- Rick: Phoebe, that's just the thing. It's that -- you made me realize that I've been asking myself all of the wrong questions. I should be asking myself -- "Am I happy?" Yes. "Am I in love with you?" You know I am. And, if the only way that I can show you, prove to you how much I love you is by not having sex -- by not making love to you, then that's what I want to do. That's how I feel. Phoebe: Okay. Well, while we're being honest. Um -- there is one other thing we can get out of the way. You and this other woman you were seeing when we were broken up. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Caught you. Caught you. Ashley: Look. Ridge: Beautiful. And the earrings, too. [SCENE_BREAK] Donna: A shot of Bourbon and a beer chaser. Is there anywhere you people aren't? Thorne: What people? Donna: People with your last name. Thorne: One of them is in heaven, that's for damn sure. Donna: Your mother driving you to drink, too? Thorne: Speaking of driving -- I'm callin' a cab. Donna: Whoa, easy. Easy. Darla: You've got more than car trouble, is my guess. Thorne: Don't look at me like this. [SCENE_BREAK] Ashley: Well, I couldn't help myself. Ridge: They look beautiful. Ashley: They're exquisite. And I have absolutely no place to wear them. Ridge: We'll make sure you have a place to wear them. Ashley: Well, you can't take me to just any stupid restaurant. I mean, maybe Buckingham palace would do. Ridge: We can do that. I mean, the queen could use a fashion makeover, that's for sure. Ashley: Then, I have to learn how to curtsy, and I don't know -- Ridge: I love this. Ashley: What? Ridge: Catching you when you think nobody's looking. It's so great. I mean, you really do have a sneaky side. I can see it. Ashley: No, I don't. Ridge: Yes, you do. You have a sneaky side -- Ashley: I'm not sneaky. Ridge: Sneaky. Ashley: No, it's maybe private. It's not sneaky. Ridge: Private from me? [SCENE_BREAK] Rick: I didn't think that was important to you. I didn't think you wanted to talk about it -- Phoebe: I know. I know. I know, that's what I said. But it's always there, you know, it's something that we don't talk about. Maybe I was so scared that I would think that she was better or more right for you than I was. That she could give you what you wanted or needed -- Rick: No, Phoebe -- no one -- no one could be right for me than you. You know that? Phoebe: I never -- I never doubted that you loved me, okay? And you just proved to me that you can accept me for me, for who I am, everything about me. And I want you to know that I love you that way, too. I do. Rick: Thank you. Phoebe: This other woman -- okay, she had to have been someone that you knew or friendly with, or else this couldn't have happened so fast. You know, someone -- someone you talk to who knew about us. Who knew how you were feeling. And so, you asked her out to dinner a couple of times, and neither of you really thought anything would come of it. I mean, how could it? We were only apart for a couple of days. She's here, isn't she? She's in this building. I know who she is. [SCENE_BREAK] Ashley: After last night, there's not much I can keep private from you. Ridge: Good. Because I want to know you. I want to know all your secrets. Ashley: There is something I want to talk to you about. Ridge: Okay, good. Not right now. Ashley: Now? Ridge: Huh-uh. [SCENE_BREAK] Phoebe: You've been hiding something from me. And now I know your secret. It's Ashley, isn't it? Rick: Yes, it's Ashley.