What I do know for sure? Is no matter what happens tonight or where we go from here, Ellie will always be my best friend. It’s a pact we made long ago, an unbreakable one, and that’s enough for me.

My gaze shifts to Bear who stares at me from the passenger seat. “Remember what we talked about,” I remind him, pointing my finger at him. “You’re on my side for this. Work your magic and stick to the plan.”

Woof.

Some days I think Ellie is right and he really does understand every word we say.

Shaking my head at the thought, I climb out of the truck and walk over to let him out.

He leaps from the front seat and races up the concrete steps of the small, white and yellow house. A quaint two-story that represents Ellie perfectly, right down to the meticulously crafted flower beds bursting in every shade of pink. They line the weathered cement walkway, along with the lattice framing her front porch. It’s soft and feminine … just like Ellie. It also faces Heart Mountain, which I have no doubt was a huge deciding factor for her.

Bear lets out a bark at the front door and then waits patiently for her to open it. Once she does, he jumps up, his hind legs bringing him to his full height that towers over hers.

Ellie expects it and even braces herself for it. His front paws rest on her shoulders as he licks her face in greeting, layering it with slobber.

Most women would be disgusted by it, but not Ellie. She soaks it all in with a laugh and kisses him right back. “How’s my sweet boy today?”

Bear is just as much her dog as he is mine. She even helped pick him out, something that was difficult to do since she wanted me to buy the whole damn litter. I won’t lie, it was tempting.

“All right, Bear. That’s enough,” I call him off as I climb the front steps, knowing he’s a heavy bastard, especially for her small frame.

He jumps down, allowing me to get my first full look at her. She wears her usual attire of relaxed fitted jeans, the faded, ripped denim stopping at her ankles, showing off her bare feet and pink painted toenails. A simple white tank top is tucked loosely into the front of her waistband, the stark color a startling contrast against her sun-kissed skin. Add in the pale green scarf that ties back pieces of her long, golden blonde hair, and she looks every bit of the Ellie that she’s always been, except now … it hits differently.

A lot differently.

“Hey, Elle,” I greet, trying to gauge just how pissed she still is.

“Hey,” she returns softly, avoiding eye contact.

It’s not the warmest reception, but it’s not the coldest either, so I’ll take it.

She takes in the brown paper bag in my hand and steps aside, allowing me to enter.

Another small victory, considering she wasn’t even going to let me into the house last night.

We make our way into the kitchen, with Bear leading the way. When he spots the smoked bone and bowl of water waiting for him in his usual spot, he runs to lie down and begins gnawing away.

Spoiled ass dog.

I’ll admit he has it good with me too, but Ellie is on another level.

The moment I place the food down on the counter, she wastes no time peeking inside to scope out the goods.

“Oh, La Terrazza,” she remarks in pure delight, inhaling the rich aroma that escapes from the bag.

“I figured you’d be all right with that choice.”

She quickly schools her expression and shrugs. “It’ll do, I guess.”

I chuckle, knowing she’s full of shit.

The smile she sends my way is something I missed so fucking much these past few days. It’s a smile that can right any wrong. One that reaches parts of me only she ever has.

“Drink?” she offers.

At my nod, she moves for the refrigerator and pulls out a Diet Coke for herself and a beer for me, something she keeps stocked purely for my sake.

While she pops the top off my bottle, I pull out the two containers of food, placing hers at one end of the table and mine at the other. Since I am not sure how this conversation will go, I figure it’s best to keep my distance for now.

Once we take our seats, Ellie digs right in. She takes a heaping bite of the creamy shrimp pasta and moans, her eyes falling closed as she does. “I swear I could eat this every day and never get sick of it.”

The heated sound mixed with the expression on her face shoots straight to my groin, filling my head with images of what she would look like if I was the one making her moan like that.

Her eyes open at my silence. “What?” she asks around a mouthful of food.

Instead of telling her exactly what’s on my mind, I decide to get down to business. “You think about my offer?”

She snorts. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Call it whatever you want, Elle. I just want to know if you made your decision.”

“Yeah, I did, and I decided you’re batshit crazy.”

I smirk, loving how fucking sassy she can be. “I guess that makes two of us since this was your idea to begin with.”

“No,” she denies vehemently. “It was my idea for you to be a donor. Not for us to … to …”

“Have sex?” I offer, amused by her fluster.

A pretty pink blush stains her cheeks. “Yes, that.”

I shrug. “What difference does it make?”

Her mouth falls open, eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s very different and you know it. It would change everything between us.”

“And raising a baby together wouldn’t?” I return, cocking a brow.

“No.” Her gaze darts from mine as the lie flows past her lips. “Not really.”

I rest back in my chair, crossing my arms. “I disagree, raising a child together doesn’t get much more personal. Which is why you are the only woman on this earth I would do it with.”

Her expression softens with that admission.

“However, I refuse to jack off in some cup to impregnate you,” I add, not bothering to sugarcoat it. “If I’m knocking you up, we’re going to do it by fucking, and we’re going to enjoy the hell out of it.”

Her eyes flare at the candid language, another pink blush invading her cheeks. Though, this time it’s not just from embarrassment. This time it’s hued with desire. The same one I have roaring in my veins.

“Where is this coming from, Gunnar?” she asks, confusion masking her voice. “Four days ago, you thought having a baby together was the worst idea ever, and now you are suggesting this? I don’t get it.”