Ridge is still the same!

Taylor was still asleep when the doorbell rang. At first she tried to ignore it, then scowled and got up. It was Susan asking if Taylor had any more pain killers, she was out of hers. Taylor took pity, Susan's pain was plain to see, so she let her in and handed her a tube of painkillers.

"I hope you plan to go to the dentist tomorrow, though. The pills are not a permanent solution."

"Of course, I'll go first thing in the morning. But now tell me. Were you at the bar yesterday?"

"Yes, I was and believe me, I'm sure I won't forget that night for a long time!"

"Oh, that sounds interesting!" Taylor didn't want to talk about it at first, but Susan didn't give up. In short words, she described what had happened and how Ridge had shown up at just the right moment.

"Wow, so Ridge was the shining knight?"

"Indeed, I was so glad he was there. Without him, I wouldn't have known what to do."

"And this creep just took off when Ridge showed up?"

"No, he was chasing us and watched us the whole time. It was really sick the way he kept staring at us. At some point I got

really scared."

"So how did you get rid of him!"

"At the end, I could only see one possible way."

"And that was?" Taylor stared sheepishly at the floor and fussed, but Susan looked at her impatiently. Finally, she murmured with a soft voice.

"We kissed."

"You what?" Susan's eyes got as big as plates. "Who came up with that glorious idea?"

"That was me, what else could we have done? He wouldn't have left, on the contrary. It looked more like he was coming to our table. Who knows what might have happened then. Besides, I was really at my limit. I just wanted him to leave."

"And you snogged your ex-husband for that?

"I didn't smooch him off, it was a little kiss, that's all. It didn't mean anything." Susan looked at Taylor forcefully. "Really, it was totally innocent!"

"Well, if you say so. Does Ridge see it the same way?"

"Of course, we talked about it and everything is fine. All right, first it was a little awkward. But then we just dealt with each other like before."

"If things are settled between you, then it's okay. And that kiss scared the guy off?"

"Pah, you would think so." Taylor recounted the odyssey all over the town until she finally made it home safely.

"Wow, that was really an eventful night. A real adventure."

"Yeah but I definitely don't need an experience like that again anytime soon."

"Even if it results in a kiss with your ex-husband?"

"Susan, if you don't shut up right now, I'm going to take those painkillers away from you." Even though she said it as a joke, Susan looked at her in shock.

"I'm already quiet."

"The question is, for how long?" Just then, her phone rang.

"Hey Ridge...That's sweet of you, I'm fine. Susan is with me right now...Yeah everything is ok, that means is it still on for us to go to the bar tomorrow morning and pick up my car?...Okay, thanks. Oh by the way do you have any plans for tonight?...I was thinking, what would you say about a self made dinner at my place as a reward...No I insist, it's the least I can do to return the favor...Okay so let's say around half past seven?...Yeah I'm looking forward too, see you then Ciao." Susan gave her a critical stare.

"Now don't give me that look! It's just a little dinner between friends."

"I'm not saying anything, I guess you'll know what you're doing. I'll be on my way. Thanks again for the pills. I assume you certainly have a lot to prepare for your ' Reward dinner' " With a final grin, she disappeared out the door. Taylor was glad to be rid of her at last. As much as she loved Susan, sometimes she could get on her nerves. She was looking forward to the dinner. She already knew exactly what she would cook.

Everything was prepared and Taylor had just finished getting ready. She was dressed casually, wearing a simple beige dress and had her hair tied back in a ponytail. After all, this wasn't a date. Right on time, the doorbell rang.

"Hey,I am glad you're here! Come on in."

"Hi, thanks for the invitation. Here for you." He handed Taylor a bouquet of flowers.

"Thanks, they're beautiful." While Taylor tended to the flowers, Ridge took a closer look around her apartment.

"Nice place, I like it!"

"Yes, I feel very comfortable. Would you like a glass of iced tea?"

"I'd love some." She prepared two glasses and handed one to him.

"So one more time, thank you for saving me last night!"

"It was my pleasure!" The two toasted each other. "I really appreciate your invitation, At least one night I don't have to eat alone and have to settle for takeout."

"Yeah, that's the downside of being single. Why don't you sit down, we can eat right away?"

"So what's on the menu? It smells delicious."

"Guess what?" Ridge sniffed again.

"It's not pepper steak, is it?"

"Exactly!"

"How did you know I secretly wished for that?"

"I just know you and your taste." As they ate, they chatted amusingly. Ridge had talked to Thomas and Steffy on the phone that morning and told Taylor about their conversation.

"Things seem to have eased up at Forrester Creation. Apparently Dad has a knack for keeping peace in the house."

"I'm glad to hear that. I was pretty worried when they told me about the squabbling that was going on."

"Yes, in the last few months the atmosphere has been hard to take sometimes, but slowly it starts to go for a better way."

Ridge noticed a detail he hadn't seen last time.

"That picture right there by the door, is that new? I certainly didn't see it there last time."

"Yeah, that's right, Marc, the interior designer I told you about surprised me with it recently. He found the painting at some flea market and immediately thought it would fit perfectly for this wall."

"He's right about that. The painting looks really good there."

"Marc really has an eye for detail, most of the stuff in this apartment is his doing."

"He certainly seems to go out of his way for his clients."

"Oh, he's just a perfectionist. For him, every room he designs is a work of art, where everything has to be just right."

"I understand, how did you actually get to know each other?"

"He has a small gallery at the mall. I stepped into it, because he had a lamp in the window that interested me. Then I told him, I had just moved to the city and was furnishing my apartment. He was immediately on fire. In the meantime, we have really become good friends, he also has a studio not far from my office and sometimes we meet for lunch together. He's a very likeable person, sometimes a bit exhausting with his hectic nature, but totally gracious and humorous." It dawned on Ridge, Marc had to be the guy he had seen her with a few times and who was waiting for her at the hospital. Ridge had a mischievous smile on his face .

"What is it?"

"Nothing!"

"Come on, tell me, what are you thinking right now?"

"Well it's none of my business, but it sounds like you have a little crush on him?" Taylor laughed out loud.

"What? No, we're just friends, that's all."

"It's okay, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"There's really nothing to say. I care for him very deeply, but there is nothing more about it. Even if I had an interest in him, I'm not exactly his type."

"Come on, you always underestimate yourself. You have a lot of qualities that a man might find attractive."

"Oh yeah, you think so?" She smiled perkily at him. "Well you may be right but Marc definitely has no romantic feelings for me. As a matter of fact he'd be more attracted to you, though he is in a relationship and very much in love." Slowly, Ridge realized what Taylor was getting at.

"Are you trying to say..."

"Exactly, Marc is gay." Ridge turned bright red and hid his face in shame. He felt like he had embarrassed himself horribly. Taylor, on the other hand, couldn't get the grin out of her face. "It's nice to see you still have that protective instinct in you that secretly hides your jealousy." She chuckled incessantly.

"It's okay, you've had your fun." Taylor finally let it go and went to the kitchen to get the dessert. Afterward, they talked about the store and Taylor told him she had received an offer to publish an article for a medical journal. They sat together for a long time enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Before Ridge left, they agreed on a time for him to pick her up in the morning. He asked her if she wanted to come to the store on Wednesday. The furniture for the kid's corner should arrive that day.

"I'd love to come, I'm so excited to see them." Ridge thanked her for the good meal. As Taylor cleaned up the kitchen, she thought back to their conversation. Ridge had changed a lot since he arrived in San Francisco, but at that one point he was still the same.

After their dinner, Taylor and Ridge spent more time together. They now saw each other not only at his store, but regularly went out to have dinner together or met on their lunch breaks. Ridge had also met Susan at a barbeque Taylor had hosted, as well as Mark and his boyfriend Steven. All had spontaneously agreed to come to the opening. The preparations for this event ran at full speed. Finally they found the perfect store manager. Ted had been the most sympathetic of all the applicants and he also had good references. Meanwhile the store was now completely furnished and the collection had also arrived and had been sorted. Taylor, who had only seen the designs so far, came by to have a look at the dresses. Most of them had been designed by Thomas and Steffy. While she looked around Ted, Rosa and Ridge went over the final details. All the mannequins found themselves already in place and dressed, except for the one right at the entrance who was on a small pedestal. They couldn't agree on which dress to put on this mannequin.

"Well I'm for the red one. It's the most showy dress, a real eye-catcher." Rosa tried to convince the others. However, Ted and Ridge preferred a blue dress, which was by far the most expensive one of the whole collection. They felt that dress would be the most likely one to attract immediate attention. Rosa wasn't about to back down so quickly.

"Taylor, come here please. I need your support!" Taylor joined the group. "Now tell me, which dress would you take for the mannequin? The red or the blue one?" Everyone looked at her eagerly.

"Oh, that's a tough decision. I think the red one. It represents the style of the whole collection." Rosa was happy with her answer. "Looks like it's a tie and what do we do now?"

"Simple, we draw lots!" declared Ridge, rummaging through the counter drawers until he found a box of matches. He turned his back on the others while he prepared the matches. Finally, he stood in front of Taylor.

"If you pick the long match, you get to decide; if you get the short one, I get to choose the dress." She examined both matches and then chose the left one. Ted and Ridge grinned triumphantly. Without further notice he let the other match sink into his pocket.

"Well, it looks like you guys lost. So I get to decide which dress we are going to take ." With a winning smile, he waved with the long match. Rosa screwed up her face. Taylor took her in her arms.

"Don't take it so tragically. Ridge won in a fair game and we have to accept it. I'm sure he'll make the right decision, right Ridge?" She gave him a penetrating look. Ridge felt an uneasiness rising inside him.

"So we're going with the blue one? Ted assumed. Ridge could still feel Taylor's eyes on him.

"I think we'll go with the red one. I came to the conclusion, Taylor and Rosa have a point" Ted and Rosa stared at him in disbelief, while Taylor grinned with satisfaction. Later, Rosa took Taylor aside.

"How did you do it? Why did Ridge change his mind?" Taylor wasn't sure if she should confine Rosa in her secret.

"Don't mention anything to Ridge, I noticed he cheated. He had two short matches in his hand. He pulled the long match out of the wrong pocket. At the end he perceived I was on to him."

"Oh, now I get it! I'm shocked he tried to play dirty! Well, at least he didn't go along with it. You really have your special way with him."

I hope you all enjoy reading my story. I have so much fun, writing it. I would be happy about some feedback how you like it so far.