OMG SHOCKING!!! Steffy and Ridge Get Bad News — and Hope and Carter Make a Pact

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In Carter’s loft, he tells Hope she’s all he can think about. He takes her hand and places it on his heart, “Right here.” Suddenly, they start kissing passionately and ripping his shirt off. Hope puts the brakes on and says, “We shouldn’t.” There’s a lot of heavy breathing as he nuzzles her neck. Hope repeats that they “shouldn’t.” He replies, “But we could.” They start making out again.

At Il Giardino, Deacon wants Brooke to test his dessert. He asks if she’s heard from their daughter. Brooke says no; she’s probably still in the office with Carter. They go over her being under siege from Steffy. Brooke tells him how incredible it was to see Carter sing Hope’s praises. Deacon thinks it’s like he’s seeing her in a whole new light. Brooke says that as COO, the company is Carter’s first priority, but today it seemed like his priority was Hope. They go over the toll it’s taken on Hope. Deacon would love to give Steffy a piece of his mind, but Brooke warns that would make it worse. Deacon’s grateful to Carter for looking out for Hope.

In Forrester’s office, Steffy gets off the phone and tells Ridge that she got bad news… a big buyer has canceled on Hope For the Future. It’s par for the course these days with Hope’s line. Ridge thinks they’re prolonging the inevitable. Steffy feels if it was anyone else’s line but Hope’s, they would have shut it down long ago. The buyer on the phone that canceled won’t be the last. Carter’s positivity about the situation isn’t going to change anything. They both know that.

In Carter’s loft, he tells Hope, “I want you so much.” She looks into his eyes and leans her forehead on his. Carter asks if she feels his heart racing; he hasn’t felt this way in a long time. “I’ve been thinking about you for quite some time. The two of us, alone.” He senses she’s had the same thoughts. He says he can give her everything she needs and desires.

At the office, Ridge and Steffy go over the issues with Hope and her line. Steffy admits she has her guard up with her because of her kissing Finn, but this is about her line. She wants Hope For the Future to succeed. She asks her father how he thinks Brooke will react when they cut her daughter’s line. Ridge thinks she’ll understand. Steffy argues she won’t like it… the Logans always have each other’s back. Ridge shrugs that the Forresters do the same thing. Steffy says they own the company. If Hope’s line goes, a part of her will too. She’s not trying to ruin her life. Ridge says she gave the line a second chance. Steffy asks him to remind Hope and Brooke of that. She doesn’t see the line surviving, “I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am.”

At Il Giardino, Brooke needles Deacon about marrying Sheila. Deacon thinks they should stick to discussing how to help Hope. Brooke says Carter went along way to doing that for them. Deacon wishes she could find someone like that in her personal life. He asks if Brooke knows if she’s seeing someone. Brooke says a part of her thinks she might reconcile with Liam. Deacon doesn’t like the way Liam went back and forth between Hope and Steffy. It reminds him of her, Ridge, and Taylor. Brooke says they’re talking about Hope’s situation, not hers. She reminds Deacon that Hope hurt Liam too by kissing Thomas in Rome. She isn’t sure there’s a chance for them, she just wants the next man in her daughter’s life to be her soul mate. Deacon says there must be someone who can give Hope everything she deserves… and more.

Moving to the bar, Brooke tells Deacon she couldn’t agree more. Hope deserves a wonderful ma in her life who appreciates her. Deacon wonders if they should try to do a little matchmaking. He complains that the people in power at should let Hope’s line breathe. They go over Carter coming to its defence. Deacon might offer the guy a dinner for him and his lady, whoever that might be. Brooke says a few months ago that may have been her sister, but she’s not so sure about that now. They reiterate that any man would be lucky to have their daughter.

At Carter’s loft, Hope assures him that she finds him attractive, “I’m just not ready.”

In the office, Ridge tells Steffy they’ll have to keep an eye on the numbers for Hope For the Future. Steffy worries that the next collection will fall flat. They’ll have to make a change. Ridge knows. He frowns. What was that whole thing with Carter lobbying for Hope’s line anyway? Steffy muses that it’s like he sees something in Hope that they don’t.

In Carter’s loft, she lists off his good qualities. What he’s done for her line means the world… but there’s a lot up in the air in her life right now. She goes over the events with Liam, Thomas, and Finn. She also can’t ignore that Carter was involved with her Aunt Katie. Carter chuckles. They’re just friends and what he felt for Katie was nothing like what he feels for Hope. The blonde tells him she needs to take things slowly and warns this must remain a secret for now. “Do you think you can agree to all that?” Carter pretends to mull it over and then pulls her into a deep kiss. They make out and stop to smile at each other.