Third Party: Merry with the Millionaire

Release date: December 4, 2020
Series: The Mixed Six-pack
Genre: Contemporary romance with rom-com leanings, new adult (heroine)
Tropes: second chance, Christmas, band of brothers, quirky family

About the story

She’s the one that got away. This Christmas, with my eighty-year-old grandmother as my wingman, I’m getting her back.

“Wow! I ended up reading this book in one sitting—I could not put it down. … Danika Bloom books have now hit “don’t need to know about the book, just need to get it” status in my TBR lists.” ~Amazon reviewer

PAIGE

I’m a dog trainer. I can teach any unruly pup to sit, stay, and not eat the furniture. My ex-boyfriend, however, is a whole other breed.

A year ago, Josh became a millionaire after creating a wildly popular video game… about dogs. My idea, by the way. I took one look at his new bank account and ran—all the way to another continent.

Now I’m home for Christmas, and his matchmaking Nana has decided it’s time for a reunion. She’s deploying her secret weapon (a guilt-inducing collie) and hiding cookies in the frozen vegetable bag. She’s nuts. But the way Josh still looks at me—like he remembers every stupid word I ever made up—makes me wonder if I’m the crazy one for ever leaving.

JOSH

My girlfriend—the only woman who truly understands that dogs are better than people—gave me the idea for a game that made me millions. And then she left me. Says I can’t use my money to take care of her.

Now she’s back, and my eighty-year-old grandmother is playing puppet master with our lives. Paige says she’s leaving after the holidays, but I see through her tough-girl act. She’s the one who got away, and I was a fool to let her go. Nana’s methods may be chaotic, but she’s right about one thing: Paige belongs with me. And this time, I’m not taking no for an answer.

~~~

This holiday season, a meddling grandma, a virtual-reality dog, and two stubborn exes are about to learn that a second chance at love isn’t about chasing or running—it’s about finally finding the courage to stay. Get ready for a story that’s steamy, hilarious, and full of heart.

Read an excerpt

Excerpt from Josh and Paige’s surprise reunion

JOSH

I looked at the seating. I had two choices: sit beside Paige or across from her. I did some quick calculations and decided that it was safer to sit beside her since I wouldn’t have to look at her that way. Bad call, I realized, as soon as my ass hit the couch and I smelled her familiar ginger shampoo. Damn the instant, peppery warm, comforting memories of lying in bed, watching movies on a laptop, the smell of her hair evoked.

I pushed myself as far from her as possible without actually sitting on the arm of the couch then turned so I could breathe from fresh air side of the room.

“Josh, don’t you want tea?”

Pouring tea would require sliding toward Paige to reach the teapot.

“No, I’m good. Thanks, Nana.”

“Well, did you apologize to Paige, yet?”

“Apologize? For what?”

I looked at Paige. She was pressing her lips together tight, clearly trying to hide a smile. Nana always sided with Paige. First I scowled at Nana, then at Paige.

She laughed.

“What?” I asked trying to sound serious, but the truth was that this situation was so familiar I wanted to laugh, too.

She pointed at my face, “Good scwile. Looks like you’ve been practicing.”

Scwile was a word Paige had made up to describe the face I make when I’m scowling and smiling at the same time. That was her thing, blending words to make new ones. I realized I missed it.

“That was not a scwile. It was an unadulterated scowl.”

“Whatever,” she said. “Looked like it had some smile in it to me.”

“What are you two on about?” Nana asked.

“Nothing,” we said together.

“Well? Paige, has he apologized yet?”

Before Paige could answer, I interrupted, “Not the time or place, Nana.”

She ignored me and spoke directly to Paige again, “He missed you terribly, you know.”

“Nana, seriously?” I said.

“Well, you did. I don’t know why you’re trying to be such a tough guy. I’m sure Paige missed you, too.”

I could see from the corner of my eye that she shrugged. It felt like a punch in the gut.

“Well,” I said, “that was then, this is now. I’m over it. Moved on.”

“Really?” Paige turned. She sounded sincerely surprised and that pissed me off.

“Of course. Haven’t you?” Yup, I was fishing. She wasn’t wearing a ring which was both good and bad. Bad since when she left Vancouver she wore an engagement ring that I’d given her. Good since she wasn’t wearing a different one which meant she wasn’t in a serious relationship. Not that I cared…

Nana gave me a funny look. “What do you mean you’ve moved on? Who have you moved on with?”

“Lizzy,” I said, feeling a sharp twist in my gut because if she found out I’d just used her that way, she’d kill me.

“Lizzy? Kama’s friend?” Nana asked.

Oh my god, Nana, be quiet. “Yes, Kama’s friend.”

From the corner of my eye I could see Paige shifting. I could tell she was staring at me but I refused to look at her.

“Well, that’s a pickle isn’t it. What are you going to do now? You can’t very well have two girlfriends.”

“Can we please stop talking about this? I’m sure Paige has all kinds of stories about living in London that are much more interesting than my love life.”

Or lack thereof. Not that I’d ever admit it to her.