"Going on?" Tad stood and began pacing Liza's office. "What do you mean, going on? There's nothing going on."

"Don't lie to me, Tad," Liza said as she approached him, stopping him from pacing. "You look like a tiger in a cage."

"A tiger, huh?" Tad grinned.

"Don't get cute with me," she said. "Don't you realize that just makes it more obvious that something's up?"

"There's nothing..."

Liza grabbed his shoulders. "Can you look me in the eye and tell me that?" she asked. "Look me dead in the eye and tell me there's nothing going on."

Tad stared right at her, grabbing hold of her arms now. "There... is nothing... going on," he said slowly. Liza didn't say anything. "Oh, come on , Liza," Tad said, moving away. "Why would I lie to you?"

"I don't know," Liza said. She walked back to her desk and sat. "Why are you?"

Tad stared at her. "You're really not going to give up on this, are you?"

"When have you known me to give up on anything?" Liza smiled.

Tad took a seat again, slouching back, his arms folded across his chest. "Good point," he said. "But can we just drop this conversation? Take my word for it, Liza. Please." Liza didn't answer him. Tad saw that as a good thing. "So... what did you end up doing about the show? Who'd you get to host?"

"Leo."

Tad laughed. "du Pres? Last minute? How did that work out?"

"Don't underestimate him, Tad," Liza said. "He's got talent... a real knack for television."

"So... what?..."

"So... If you don't show up for another show, it will no longer be The Cutting Edge with Tad Martin."

"I'm not going to make it that easy for Leo du Pres to get this job," Tad said.

"So what are you waiting for?"

"To work," Tad stood. "I've got a show to plan."

Tad turned and started to leave the room. "Hey, Tad?" Liza called. Tad looked back at her. "If you ever need to talk..."

"I know where to find you," he said. "Thanks."



The house was quiet. Just as quiet as it usually was on a Friday, but the silence of the night was really getting to Brooke. She looked at the clock - 7:45- as she tossed a bag of popcorn into the microwave. She set the time for four minutes before she walked out of the kitchen. She made her way to the television and clicked it on. Brooke kicked off her shoes as she walked over to the sofa and fell back on the seat.

Her hands raised, first rubbing her eyes and then running back through her hair. She took a deep breath, eyes closed, head leaning back against the soft cushions behind her. The silence was only masked now, by the voices on the television and the soft humming of the microwave.

The doorbell rang, causing Brooke to jump. She slowly stood, making her way to the door and easing it open.

"Sorry I'm late," Tad said, walking inside, a medium sized bag in his arms. "The Valley Inn screwed up the order."

Brooke followed him into the kitchen, where he put the bag down. "You're the last person I expected to see tonight," she said.

"Why?" Brooke turned and walked a bit away from him. "Is it about before?"

She stopped, looking back at Tad. "If I stepped over the line earlier..."

Tad paused, lightly taking her arms. "It takes two last time I checked."

"I'm just saying. You were here, and I was dishing out my problems onto you and..."

Unexpectedly, Tad pulled her into him, kissing her deeply, before pulling away. They didn't say a word to eachother. Tad looked down into Brooke's eyes. He lifted his hand and brushed a loose piece of hair back off of her face. She tilted her head back, a look of bliss painted on her face, just as Tad brought his head down again. She threw her arms up over his shoulders, welcoming his romantic advances.

As he swept her off her feet, Brooke erased all of her worries from her mind. Right now, nothing else mattered.