Previously...

Miranda ran away to Vegas after being blasted by James for her role in Brooke's accident.  She later met a con man named Brett Armstrong and happily agreed when he suggested they get married.  Little did Miranda know, Brett had argued with his business partner, Bailey Freeborn, who later wound up dead from a fall out of the hotel window.  Will Thomerson suggested that he and Alex team up to get revenge on James.  James and Brooke were married, despite his uneasy feelings about Brooke's relationship with Ethan.  Kenny asked James to help him get rid of Winter, and James suggested they hook Winter and Ethan up in an effort to distract him from Brooke.  

 Episode 5

"Honeymoon in Suspicion"

Brooke woke up in her bedroom at the Blackthorne mansion, the bright morning sun streaming in through the windows and bathing her naked body.  She stretched and yawned in the luxurious bed, smiling from ear to ear.  Today was her first day as a married woman and she felt on top of the world.   Nothing was going to spoil her mood.

Rolling over, she was surprised to find that James wasn't lying next to her.   She must have been sleeping so soundly that she didn't even hear him get up.   She got up and snatched her robe off of the bedpost before making her way downstairs.

She found James in his study, already dressed and on what sounded like a very heated phone call.  She waited for him to finish, and when he hung up, she looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Good morning, Darling," James said, rushing over and kissing her tenderly and then gesturing to a tray of food on the table.   "I had Leilani bring some breakfast in here this morning.    I hope you're hungry."

"I didn't hear you get up," Brooke said as she watched James continue to shuffle papers on his desk.   She couldn't mask her disappointment in the lack of romance the morning after her wedding day had brought.

"I wanted to get a jump start on some things," James replied without even looking up at her.  "Like finding Miranda for starters."

Brooke sighed and poured herself a cup of coffee.  "Any word from her?"

James shook his head.  "No, and I'm starting to get worried.  It's not like her to disappear for this long without saying anything."

Just then, Leilani entered the study with James's jet pilot.   "Mr. Blackthorne, Mr. Lane is here to see you."

James looked up instantly, a frown on his handsome, tanned face.  "What is it, Jake?"

"I thought you should know that your daughter asked me to fly her to Las Vegas yesterday, sir," the pilot began.  "I just found out that you were looking for her and thought I should tell you.   I'm sorry I didn’t come sooner."

"Las Vegas?" James asked.  "What the devil is she doing in Las Vegas?"

Jake Lane shrugged.   He had been in service with James Blackthorne and his family for years and he had never had a situation like this come up.   He wanted to be loyal to his employer, and serving his daughter seemed to fall under that category. 

"All right, thank you, Jake," James said, excusing the man.

Jake and Leilani left the study as James began pacing the room in aggravation.

"What could she have gone to Las Vegas for?" Brooke asked.

"Who knows," replied James, staring off in deep concentration.  "I hope she surfaces before long.  I'd like to know just what exactly she's been up to."

Brooke forced herself to remain calm.  She wasn't going to let Miranda's disappearing act ruin her first day of being Mrs. James Blackthorne.  James's daughter had caused enough stress in their lives to last a lifetime.

"Darling, I hope you're not too upset with me for postponing our honeymoon," James began, putting his arms around her.   "But with everything going on I just can't afford to be away from home right now. "

"I understand," Brooke lied.  She didn't want to hurt James's feeling by admitting that she was upset about postponing their trip to Hawaii.   She didn't want to seem selfish, because the truth was she did know that James had a lot going on.   Still, she couldn't help but feel neglected.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise," James said, kissing her warmly.

He knew that Brooke was trying her hardest to be supportive.  The truth was that he had too much on his mind to go on their honeymoon and it would just have to wait.   Miranda running off, Will Thomerson showing up out of the blue, and not to mention the fact that he had a movie set to premier in less than a month.   It was all weighing on him.

Alex Reynolds stepped out onto the terrace that jutted out from her enormous house on the beach in Malibu.   The balmy ocean breeze sprayed gently against her face and she leaned against the railing, gazing out at the picturesque view of the Pacific.   Her maid stepped out onto the patio and set down a tray of coffee and juice.

"Thank you, Veronique," Alex said, her robe billowing in the breeze as she walked over to get some coffee.

"Mr. Rydell is here to see you, Miss Reynolds," said the young maid.

Alex frowned.  "Ask him to come out, please."

Veronique disappeared into the house and moments later Jordan Rydell appeared on the terrace, dressed casually in cotton pants and a polo.    "Good morning," he said with a wink.

"It's rather early for an unannounced visit," Alex said coyly as she sat down at the table and sipped her coffee.   "What can I do for you, Jordan?"

"I came by to bring you this," Jordan replied, handing her a yellow envelope.

"What is it?"

"The script for the movie I told you about."

Alex set the envelope down and took another sip of coffee.  "I'm going to have to get back to you on that," she began.  "I'm not sure if your movie is something I want to do."

Jordan frowned.  "I thought we agreed it was the perfect way to stick it to your ex-husband."

"There are plenty of ways to skin a cat, Jordan.   I’m not sure if your movie is the route I want to take in getting my revenge on James."  She lit a cigarette and slid the envelope back across the table to him.

"I can't say I'm not disappointed," Jordan remarked.  "Do you mind if I ask what other course of action you're thinking of taking?"

Alex shrugged, not wanting to divulge too much information before she knew the details of her plan.  One thing was for certain, Will Thomerson was going to prove to be a very powerful ally.

"I'd rather not say just yet," Alex replied.  "I don't want to jinx it."

Jordan refused to back down.  He knew that by having Alex Reynolds star in his next picture, he would be sure to be the talk of Hollywood.    His rivals ex wife starring in his new, much talked about film.   It was brilliant.

"Why don't you at least read the script," Jordan urged, pushing the envelope back across the desk to her.  "I promise it'll be worth your while."

"I don't think so."

"You don't know what you're turning down if you don't at least read it."

Sighing with irritation, Alex finally grabbed the script and set it down on the chair next to her.  "Fine, I'll read it," she said regretfully.  "But I’m not promising anything else."

Jordan grinned happily.  He stood up from the table and shoved his hands in his pockets.  "Have dinner with me tomorrow night," he said.

"What?" Alex asked, completely taken aback by his invitation.

"Have dinner with me tomorrow night," Jordan repeated.  "I'll pick you up at eight."

"I don't think so," Alex said with a chortle.  She couldn't see herself on a date with Jordan Rydell.  Her son was married to his daughter, for God's sake.   It would be strange to say the least.   On the other hand, she did find him to be very appealing and exciting.  His reputation as a world class lover preceded him.  

"What are you afraid of?" Jordan asked with a sly grin.  He was surprised at himself for even asking her.  He'd always found her attractive, but she was certainly not his type.  The fact that she could help him beat James Blackthorne in the business was enough to sway him otherwise.

"Excuse me?" Alex said defensively.  "I'm not afraid of anything."

"Prove it."

Alex rolled her eyes.  "Oh that's mature."

"I'll pick you up at eight," Jordan said again before turning and going back inside the house.

Taking a long drag off her cigarette, Alex smiled at the interesting turn of events the day had taken already. 

Winter Austen walked into the nurse's station at Cedars-Sinai, pinning her white cap on her head as she started toward the time clock.    Suddenly a hand clasped around her arm and stopped her from taking another step.

"What the-" she said, shrugged her arm away from the hospital security guard.

"Please come with me, Miss Austen," the black man said sternly.

"Come where?" Winter asked with a frown.  "I have a shift starting in five minutes.  I have to get on the ward."

The security guard shook his head back and forth.  "Not anymore you don't."

"What?"

"That's right, dear," said a voice from behind.

Winter spun around and came face to face with Renee DeWitt, immediately growing agitated by the scowl on the woman's face.   "What do you want?"

Renee smiled and adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder.   "For starters, I want you out of this hospital."

"Forget it," Winter argued and tried walking back into the nurse's station.  The security guard stopped her and pulled her back again.  "Take your hands off of me!"

"You don't seem to understand, Winter dear," Renee continued.  "You no longer have a job here at Cedars-Sinai."

"Says who?" Winter exclaimed.

"Says the hospital board of directors," Renee replied.  "Of which I am a member of.  Now please take your belongings and leave the building before I have this strapping young man remove you physically."

Winter stared at her blankly.   She couldn't believe that bitch wife of Kenny's was doing this to her.  If having to move out of her condo wasn't bad enough, now she was without a job.    Things were definitely getting worse and worse.

The next morning, James stood in his bedroom, talking on the phone with a private investigator he'd hired to look into Will Thomerson.  He had to know what the man had been up to for the past twenty-eight years.   For a while it seemed he'd disappeared off the face of the earth.  But now he was in Hollywood and poised for revenge.  It seemed like a vicious cycle that would never end.

"I don't care how much money it takes, I want you to find out everything you can about Will Thomerson," he said into the receiver, holding the phone cradle as he paced the floor.  He didn't see Brooke come out of the bathroom, a robe tied around her waist and her hair wrapped up in a towel.

She listened casually, trying not to seem too nosey.   Will Thomerson must be the man James was fighting with in the study the other night.   She had only heard his name mentioned.  The history between him and James was a big mystery to her.

"All right, I'll be waiting for your report," James finished and hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Brooke asked, sitting down at her vanity and removing the towel from her head. 

James didn't want to get into it with Brooke.   Will Thomerson was a nasty subject that he didn't want her worrying about.   "Just some business," he replied, gathering some papers into his briefcase and hoping to change the subject.  "So what do you have planned for today?"

"I thought I might go to lunch with Heather," Brooke replied solemnly.  She wanted to call him on the way he dismissed her so easily when she asked about his phone call.  She hated the thought of being kept in the dark.  To her, being married meant you confided in one another about everything.

James smiled.  "That sounds nice," he replied, starting toward the door and pausing to give her a kiss.  "I have some things I have to take care of but I'll see you this evening, okay?"

"Sure," Brooke murmured as James flew out of the bedroom.

She studied her face in the mirror and forced herself to remain calm.  She didn't want to fly off the handle and accuse her husband of ignoring her so soon after their wedding.  It might be an isolated incident that would never repeat itself.  She hoped that was the case anyway.

Twenty minutes later, James knocked on the door of Winter Austen's condo at the marina.   A few seconds later she opened the door with a smile on her pretty face.

"Mr. Blackthorne, this is a surprise."  She was dressed in short red soccer shorts and a white halter-top, her platinum blond hair tied back in a ponytail.   "Please, come in."

James smiled graciously and entered the spacious condo.  He noted the slew of boxes stacked throughout the living room and piles of crumpled newspaper on the floor where Winter had been packing.

"I heard about your unfortunate luck and thought I would offer my support," James said, surveying the decadent condo.  He realized at that moment just how good Winter had it with Kenny DeWitt.  There was no way she could afford a place that magnificent on her nurse's salary.

Winter appeared genuinely surprised by his gesture.  "Your support?"

He smiled.  "Not in the way you're thinking," he said.  "I don't give handouts.  That's the difference between Kenny and I."

"So what can you do for me?" she asked, walking to the breakfast bar and taking a sip from her glass of iced tea.  "Find me a new place to live?  Get me a new job?"

"A new job?"

Winter nodded.  "Yeah, I got fired from the hospital yesterday."

"What happened?"

"What happened is that Renee DeWitt doesn’t like me," Winter explained, opening the sliding glass door to let some fresh air into the condo.   "Unfortunately for me, she's on the hospital board of directors.  Mr. Blackthorne, I need that job.  I have to find somewhere to live and I can't do that with no money coming in."

James paused in deep concentration, then looked at her with a smile.  "I can get you your job back."

"How?"

"Leave that to me," James replied.  "I do need you to do me a favor in return, however."

Winter eyed him skeptically.  Somehow she knew there had to be a catch.  "Oh yeah?  What's that?"

"Forget about Kenny DeWitt," he said directly and to the point.  "You being in his life is only causing him problems.  And it doesn't seem to be doing much good for you either."

Winter glared at him with her arms crossed.  "So what am I supposed to do?"

"I think it would be beneficial to everyone if you attached yourself to someone who's better for you," James began.  "Someone who is available, independent, and can give you the attention that you deserve."

She knew he was patronizing her but she went along with it anyway.  "Great, who would this picture of perfection be?"

"Ethan."

Winter was stunned by his announcement.   Why would James Blackthorne be pushing her to get back with his nephew?  He wasn't all that thrilled about them dating a few years ago to begin with. 

"What's the catch?" she asked suspiciously.

James didn't dare tell her the reason he wanted her to go after Ethan.   She would run and tell him immediately, and then Ethan would know of James's lack of trust in him.  That was something that didn't need to happen just yet.   The most important thing for now was getting Ethan distracted so he wasn't spending so much time with Brooke.  Especially now that he was immersed in so many things and didn't have the time he would like to spend with his new bride.

"Let's just say that you'd be doing me a big favor," James said.  "I'm concerned about Ethan's happiness.  I know he was happy when the two of you were together.  And I would just like to see him get some of that back."

"I did care about him a lot," winter admitted, staring thoughtfully out the window.

"So why not get together and see if that spark is still there?" James asked.  "I'm sure he'd be willing to help you get settled again.  Think of it, you'll have your job back, a new man in your life, and Renee DeWitt will be off your back."

Winter tossed her mane of blond hair over her shoulder and smiled, thinking that James might just be on to something.

Ethan Blackthorne opened the door to his house in the Valley, pleasantly surprised to see Brooke standing outside in a blue and green flowered sundress.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, pulling her inside.  "I thought you were on your honeymoon."

Attempting a smile, Brooke walked into the spacious living room and set her purse down on the sofa.  "Well, James wanted to postpone it until he heard from Miranda," she replied.  "Plus he's got all this over stuff going on.  It's just not the right time to go away."

Ethan looked at her skeptically.  "Why does it sound like you're trying to convince yourself?" he asked.

Brooke sighed and sat down on the edge of the sofa.  She felt as if she would burst into tears at any second.  "I'm trying to be supportive," she replied.  "But we only got married a couple days ago and already I feel like I'm just in the way."

Kneeling next to the sofa, he took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.  "Brooke, you're not in the way," he replied.  "James is my uncle.  I've known him for a long time and I know that he is a workaholic and sometimes he doesn't stop to enjoy things, but that doesn’t mean he doesn't love you."

Brooke stifled the tears that threatened to explode from her eyes.  "I know, I just thought it would be different, that's all."

"Give it a chance," Ethan said, trying his best to soothe her frazzled nerves.  He pulled her into an embrace and ran his hand down the back of her head.

Brooke smiled, grateful for the fact that Ethan was always there for her.  He was the only reason she'd made it this far.  "I feel closer to you than I do to James sometimes," Brooke remarked, staring into his deep brown eyes.   "You're so caring and kind.  I can't imagine not having you in my life."

Ethan gazed into her sad eyes, feeling overwhelmed with emotion and wanting nothing more than to be close to her.  He couldn't help himself.  He leaned closer and brushed his lips gently against hers.  Within seconds, they were engaged in a deep, passionate kiss.   He put his arms around her and pulled her closer.  He'd never felt this way about another woman in his life.

Suddenly, Brooke pulled away and covered her mouth with her hands.  She jumped up from the sofa, her eyes wide and full of regret.   "Ethan, I can't," she began.  "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," Ethan said, wishing he could take the kiss back.  He didn't know what came over him.  He had way too much respect for James to do something like that to him.

"I should go," Brooke insisted, grabbing her purse and running for the door.

"Brooke," Ethan called after her, but it was already too late.  She was flying out the door and down the driveway to her Mercedes.

After she'd gone, Ethan slammed the door and leaned up against it, closing his eyes with remorse.  He blew it, he thought to himself.   He'd crossed the line and there was no going back.  But something inside told him that Brooke wanted the kiss to happen just as much as he did.