[Emily]

Steph's forbidden crush
Is history set to repeat itself when Steph falls for her friend's man?

Spending more time than ever with Lucas, single and lonely Steph is surprised to find herself increasingly drawn to her charming, but attached, fellow mechanic. With Lucas entrenched in a live-in romance with Elle, Steph knows that she must find a way to keep her feelings for her boss in check. The unlucky-in-love lass is only too familiar with the heartache of being the "other woman", having recently ended her disastrous relationship with married man Greg. "Steph really doesn't want to be the other woman again," points out Carla Bonner, who plays the long-time Ramsay Street resident.

Meanwhile, Steph's about to discover that Lucas, too, is secretly battling his own demon - a new-found addiction to gambling. When she busts Lucas in the middle of a poker game, she quickly realises he's in deep. "Lucas has started gambling lately and for him, that's a way of breaking out a bit," Scott reflects. While Lucas escapes through gambling, Steph tries to forget her romantic woes by throwing herself into her work. But it's at the garage that Steph finds herself enjoying Lucas's company even more. "Steph's similar to Lucas in a lot of ways," Scott notes. "Steph's definitely not a princess, whereas the same can't be said for Elle!" But Lucas remains completely blind to the fact that Steph's feelings for him are no longer platonic. That said, Scott believes his character is starting to feel a "little trapped" in his relationship with Elle. "What Lucas has with Elle is a very suburban life, which he's not used to," Scott explains.

And while Steph manages to hide her jealousy when she spots Lucas kissing Elle, her inner turmoil doesn't go unnoticed by a very perceptive Rebecca. Within moments, Steph has confessed to Rebecca that there's someone on her mind - but she won't reveal who. A candid chat with Susan, however, could lead Steph to re-evaluate her vow to keep her feelings for Lucas to herself. "Steph's such an honest soul," Carla says. "But whether Lucas can handle another woman in his life at the moment... things will get interesting!"