To help cope with his situation, Massimo asks Ridge to reconsider his offer to take Taylor and the children to spend a year on his yacht in Portofino, no strings attached. Massimo & Ridge admit they feel a connection to one another. Ridge notes that if Massimo wants to help him rebuild his life, he'll track down the person responsible for Rick's rise to power. Eric wants Rick to reveal who was coaching him, finally pressures Rick into admitting that it was Massimo. Whip warns Brooke to either confess to Bridget or take a firm stand with Deacon because every time she gives Deacon any hope at all, she threatens Bridget's marriage. Whip advises Brooke to let Deacon go and give a chance to someone who's crazy about her. Brooke insists that she can't pretend to have feelings for Whip any more than she can pretend she has none for Deacon. Whip confesses to Brooke that he wants to fill the hole in her heart left by Deacon, asks her to make love to him.