An eventful night!

Taylor and Susan sat chatting on her terrace. Taylor talked about the store and the progress it made. Susan was a little surprised how deeply involved Taylor had become.

"You seem to be there a lot these days and helping out. Doesn't that feel strange?"

"Why should it?"

"Don't get me wrong. I think it's great that you're so generous in offering your support. But isn't it weird for you to see Ridge so often? I mean, it wasn't so long ago, you didn't want to see him, let alone talk to him."

"Oh no, that's okay. Ridge and I have found a good way. We now make sure that we keep a certain distance and are much more attentive to each other. Right now our contact is very pleasant. Besides, we are not alone and Rosa and I have become very good friends. It's fun to be with them and after all, you're the one who's always preaching to me, I should socialize more."

"Okay, it just irritated me. But if you say everything is alright, then great. Speaking of socializing, what are you doing on Saturday?"

"I don't know yet, I don't have any plans."

"Excellent! Then you can join me to the new cocktail bar. It's opening this weekend. I heard it's pretty great." Susan handed Taylor a flyer. She hesitated and wasn't really convinced.

"Come on! Please. It'll be fun."

"I don't know! Don't you think we're a little bit too old for this?"

"Oh don't be like that! Or do you want us to stay at home and knit some socks?"

"Admit it, you just want me to come along so you have a ride home. But fine, let's go."

"Cool. So we'll meet there around 8.30 okay?

"Yeah, fine."

Taylor had already arrived at the bar and was waiting. Curious, she looked around. She liked the place. The music wasn't obnoxiously loud and the ambiance was welcoming. Moreover, there was a long list of cocktails without alcohol. She ordered a Virgin Colada and kept her eyes firmly on the entrance. Susan, however, did not appear. Taylor began to wonder. She dug out her phone and discovered a message. Susan had texted her, she had suddenly gotten a very bad toothache and wouldn't come. "Great, what do I do now?" she thought. She felt pretty stupid, all alone. Slightly miffed, she drank her cocktail when she heard a man's voice near her.

"Hey, did your date just cancel on you?"

"Accordingly it looks that way."

"If you want to, I would be happy to offer myself as a replacement."

"Is this your way to find a date?"

"No! My speciality are women who have been ditched." Taylor couldn't help herself, she had to laugh. The stranger seemed sympathetic on the first impression.

"Well, if you really don't mind playing the substitute, please sit down."

"Not at all, I'm Michael by the way!"

"Taylor, Nice to meet you!"

After a while, the first good impression evaporated. The guy was a total jerk. Conceited and self-absorbed and a terrible pick-up artist in the worst way. While he talked incessantly about himself, she feverishly considered how to get rid of him. She tried to brush him off and say goodbye, but Michael wouldn't let her go. He was obviously the kind of a man who wasn't used to the word 'No'. Taylor glanced around in search for help. The guy was really starting to creep her out, though she didn't want to put on a scene either. All at once her heart made a huge leap. She spotted Ridge, who had just entered the bar. This was her chance to get away from this weirdo.

Ridge ordered himself a drink. Looking around, he saw Taylor sitting together with an unknown man. Ridge peeked over at the two of them curiously from time to time. They seemed to be in a livid discussion. Taylor gestured wildly with her hands. She stared in his direction several times and squinted with her eyes as if she was trying to tell him something. Somehow, he got the feeling that something was wrong. He watched as Taylor tried to turn away, but the man held her by her arm. That was enough, he decided to intervene. He already knew how he was going to do it. Nonchalantly, he walked towards their booth.

"Hey Taylor darling, sorry I'm late." He put an arm around her. Taylor immediately realized what Ridge was up to and jumped into the act gratefully.

"Oh, never mind, as long as you're finally here!" Ridge held out his hand to the stranger.

"Ridge Forrester, pleased to meet you!" However, he gave him an icy look as he did so. Michael didn't seem to like his appearance at all.

"I thought your date stood you up?"

"That was my fault, I texted her earlier I would be late or possibly wouldn't make it at all. But I tried my best to hurry up and be here as quickly as possible."

"Ohh, that's so cute!" Taylor snuggled up to him. Now that he was there, she felt much safer. Michael however made no move to leave the table. Taylor took the initiative.

"Come on honey, let's dance." She pulled Ridge onto the dance floor away from Michael's gaze.

"Thanks, you are a lifesaver."

"How did you end up with this sleaze?"

"Originally I planned to spend the night here with Susan, but she suddenly canceled, and at first he seemed to be nice."

"Didn't your father teach you not to talk to strangers?"

"Very funny!"

"At least it gives me the pleasure to dance with you again." They danced together in silence for a while, when Taylor noticed Ridge pulled her closer to him. She was irritated, but he whispered into her ear.

"Your admirer is watching us." Indeed Michael was now standing at the edge of the dance floor, not taking his eyes off them. Taylor sighed in exasperation.

"Argh, that guy never gives it a rest, and he's not my admirer."

"Well at least he was very smitten with you."

"Like hell he was. He just needs a woman to stroke his ego and boost his self-esteem."

"Is this the psychiatrist talking now?"

"I don't need to study psychology to see that." Ridge grinned and started to laugh very badly. Taylor gave him a stern look. "I get the impression this whole situation seems to amuse you a lot?!"

"Well I could imagine worse things than twirling around the dance floor with you, or is it such a torture for you?" Now Taylor had to chuckle, too.

"I've definitely suffered worse!" They laughed and goofed around with each other, trying as best they could to forget they were being watched.

They sat down in a booth and both ordered a drink. Ridge raised his glass.

"Cheers to an unexpected evening!"

"Cheers! I hope I didn't spoil it for you. Surely you had other plans than to play my protector."

"To tell you the truth, actually not. I just didn't want to sit around at home alone, and I heard this bar was opening today. So I thought I'd come here and have an enjoyable evening. Though I didn't expect to find you here."

"Well, as I said, it was Susan's idea. I just let myself be persuaded. Anyway, I hope you will not miss out on the time of your life because of me." Ridge looked around the bar.

"Doesn't look like it, besides, my womanizing days are long over."

"Oh yeah, since when?"

"Hey you're pretty sassy to your lifesaver." They continued to talk and tease each other until Taylor discovered horrified Michael was now sitting right across them, staring incessantly in their direction.

"This guy is playing with my patience, I go over there and give him a piece of my mind."

"No, Ridge please don't. It will only spur him on furthermore. Stay here."

"But the guy is bothering you!"

"I know, I wish he would finally go away. But I don't want to put on a scene."

" Okay if you say so. You know what? In some way I can understand him. I also wouldn't give up such an attractive, beautiful and charming lady so easily." Taylor turned red all over her face. She prayed he wouldn't be able to notice it. She didn't want him to realize that his charm still gets her so easily. The waiter came over to them and brought Taylor a cocktail.

"With best regards from the gentleman over there." Now Taylor was getting really upset.

"Please take it back and tell the gentleman I'm not interested." Irritated by her brusque tone, he took the cocktail with him again.

"It's not the waiter's fault."

"I know, but this whole scenario is really getting on my nerves. I just want him to leave me alone." Ridge moved closer to her and took her in his arms.

"Hey, don't be scared. Nothing's going to happen to you. I'll take care of you." Taylor gave him a thankful smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Michael in a heated debate with the waiter. He glanced over at her. She could see the anger and frustration in his eyes. This gaze frightened her. In her distress, she could think of only one way out of this mess.

"Kiss me! Please!"

"What?"

"This may sound totally crazy, and I really don't want to take advantage of you. Please don't take this the wrong way. But please kiss me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, or do you have another idea?

Ridge hesitated, he really wanted to help her, but he had serious doubts if this was a good idea. But when Michael approached their table, he didn't think twice about it. He pulled her to him and kissed her gently. When they opened their eyes again, they were pleased to see that obviously Michael was gone. They were both a little distracted. Both avoided looking at each other. Finally, Taylor gave herself a jolt.

"Thanks. I..I hope I..didn't ask too much with my request."

"No..no..not at all. It's okay and it seems like it worked. So mission accomplished. How about I order us another drink? To overcome the shock."

"Gladly!"

Taylor and Ridge left the bar. They both were in a good and relaxed mood. Once at the parking lot, she froze again.

"Oh no, this can't be true!"

"What is it?"

"See that car over there with the lights on?" Ridge glanced toward said car and spotted Michael behind the wheel. This creep really never gave it a rest.

"What do we do now?"

"I guess there is only one way, get into my car. I'll drive you home." They walked together to his car and drove away, as expected, Michael followed them at a safe distance. Taylor was really starting to get scared now. Ridge noticed how anxious she was.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be fine. I'll just cruise around a while to get rid of him."

So they drove around, turning down one street rather than down another. After a while, they couldn't see his car behind them any longer. Taylor was more than relieved.

"I think we lost him, but I have no idea where we are." She turned on the satnav and punched in her address. They must have ended up in a completely different neighborhood. As they drove, she calmed down. She knew she was safe now. She was just tired and wanted to climb into her bed. When they arrived at her house, Ridge first made sure no one was following them before parking the car. Taylor hugged him closely.

"I don't even know how to thank you, I really don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you."

"That's okay, thankfully nothing happened and at least we had some kind of an enjoyable evening together. Next time, just give me a fair warning if you plan to go man-hunting again. Then I'll be prepared." She gave him a light punch, but grinned.

"Don't worry, it won't happen again anytime soon and I'm not setting a foot in that bar again." They said goodbye to each other. Ridge waited until she had disappeared into the house and the lights went on in her apartment. He wanted to be sure that she arrived safely at her apartment and was secured.