Ridge was in a foul mood as he tried to ready another collection. Stephanie waltzed in and got her son more riled up about Rick getting away with hijacking the designs. "You concentrate on work, I'll take care of Rick," Stephanie declared and after she left on her mission, Brooke showed up with take-out and some kisses. Ride ruined the mood by grousing that his dad called off the investigation into who stole the designs. Ridge then revealed that Rick was the guilty party but, of course, Brooke refused to believe the allegation. "That is an insult, Ridge," Brooke wailed and was peeved to hear that Stephanie was also on the bandwagon to blame Rick. Ridge warned that Brooke's son needed help.

As Bridget packed up her doctor office, Steffy appeared and asked what Bridget was doing. She explained she was taking a leave of absence from medicine. Steffy then confessed that she and Rick weren't ready to end their relationship. "We love each other," Steffy insisted. "I have never felt this way before." Bridget deemed this as a "no win situation" and urged Steffy to cut Rick loose. Bridget had to leave and Steffy was heartened when she received a text from Rick that he missed her.

Bridget visited her dad at Forrester and told him about her leave of absence for "a big change." He wished her luck and they hugged. Bridget was concerned when Eric fretted that Rick was headed for a mental breakdown. "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Bridget assured.

In his office, a tortured Rick thought about Steffy and a way they could be together. Stephanie came in and said that Rick was wanted down in the cutting room. After he left, Stephanie started snooping through his appointment book when she spotted a message from Steffy on his computer to meet her at the beach house. Stephanie charged out of the office and Rick returned. He was thrilled to see Steffy's message and headed out. Meanwhile, Stephanie let herself into the beach house and hid out of sight. Rick soon followed, then Steffy. "I can't stop thinking about you," Steffy lamented. Stephanie watched unnoticed from another room as Steffy and Rick passionately kissed.