Indulge With Me (With Me In Seattle Book 10) Read online

  Indulge

  with me

  a with me in seattle celebration

  Short Stories by New York Times Bestselling Author

  KRISTEN PROBY

  Recipes from USA Today Bestselling Author

  SUZANNE M. JOHNSON

  Indulge With Me

  Copyright 2018 Kristen Proby

  Recipes Copyright 2018 Suzanne McCollum Johnson

  ISBN: 978-1-948050-64-7

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Introduction

  I’ve always thought that food and love speak the same language. When my husband wants to surprise me, he knows I’d much rather receive a pie than a vase full of flowers. Roses are beautiful, but how can they hold a candle to huckleberries? Afterwards, we get to share the bounty while we catch up on our days.

  Coming home to my With Me In Seattle series after spending so much time away, I couldn’t think of a better way to catch up with the Montgomerys than over a meal. It inspired a lot of daydreaming about my old friends— which is truly how I see the characters I’ve lived with for so long. What do their lives look like now? What are they celebrating after their happy endings? If I came over, what would they serve me? One thing was certain. Comfort food and laughter in a cozy kitchen is the perfect way to reconnect.

  Luckily for me, my friend and chef Suzanne Johnson shares my vision of family, friends, and food. Through her wonderful recipes and the brand-new stories I wrote to accompany them, six of my favorite love stories have come back to life, on the page and in the kitchen. In some ways, I’ve gotten to know Suzanne as well as I know Luke and Natalie. I guess you could say she’s an honorary Montgomery at this point!

  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for joining Suzanne and me as Seattle comes back to delicious, loving life—this time, with you.

  Love, Kristen

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1: BRUNCH

  Invitation

  Story- Jules & Nate

  Menu

  Brunch Recipes

  ~ Ham Biscuits with Fig Jam ~ Crab Cakes Benedict ~

  ~ Loaded Potato Waffles ~

  ~ Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing ~

  ~ Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls Topped with Cream Cheese Icing ~

  ~ Blackberry Bread Pudding ~ Southwest Quiche ~

  ~ Fried Glazed Donuts ~

  CHAPTER 2: GAME DAY

  Invitation

  Story- Will & Meg

  Menu

  Game Day Recipes

  ~ Lollipop Chicken with Sesame Teriyaki Glaze ~

  ~ Bacon Cheeseburger Pinwheels ~

  ~ Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Ranch Slaw ~

  ~ Spicy Corn Dip with Homemade Chips ~

  ~ Shrimp Po’ Boys ~ Tipsy Berries ~ Antipasto Cups ~

  ~ Margarita Cheesecake Bites ~

  CHAPTER 3: A ROCKSTAR REUNION

  Invitation

  Story- Sam & Leo

  Menu

  A Rockstar Reunion Recipes

  ~ Smoked Chicken Salad ~ Mushroom Swiss Burgers with Garlic Aioli ~

  ~ Chicken Bacon Ranch Kabobs ~ Grilled Corn 3 Ways ~

  ~ Fried Chicken and Potato Salad ~

  ~ BBQ Ribs with Bacon and Brown Sugar Baked Beans ~

  ~ Deviled Eggs 3 ways ~ Lemon Meringue Pie ~

  ~ S’mores Trifle ~

  CHAPTER 4: DINNER PARTY

  Invitation

  Story- Dominic & Alecia

  Menu

  Dinner Party Recipes

  ~ Chicken Marsala with Homemade Pasta ~

  ~ Seafood Paella ~

  ~ Beef Wellington with Mini Twice Baked Potatoes ~

  ~ Fish Tacos with Citrus Slaw ~

  ~ Smothered Chicken with Mushroom Risotto ~

  ~ Pork Chops with Fig Balsamic Glaze ~

  ~ Grilled Flank Steak with Cheese Grits ~

  ~ Chocolate Cheesecake ~

  CHAPTER 5: HOUSEWARMING PARTY

  Invitation

  Story- Mark & Meredith

  Menu

  Housewarming Party Recipes

  ~ Hot Crab Dip with Bread Ring ~ BLT Cups ~

  ~ Spinach Artichoke Rolls ~ Strawberry and Bacon Bruschetta ~

  ~ Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffles ~ Huckleberry Delight ~

  CHAPTER 6: GIRLS NIGHT- COCKTAILS & SHENANIGANS

  Invitation

  Story- Luke & Natalie

  Menu

  Cocktails & Shenanigans Recipes

  ~ Huckleberry Lemon Drop ~ Sparkling Peach Sangria ~

  ~ Charcuterie Board ~ Cheese Crackers ~

  ~ Candied Pecans ~ Black-eyed Pea Hummus ~

  ~ Fig Jam ~ Pickled Banana Peppers ~

  ~ Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes ~

  ~ Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail ~

  About Kristen Proby

  About Suzanne Johnson

  Also by Kristen Proby

  Also by Suzanne Johnson

  Brunch Invitation

  Jules & Nate

  Jules

  “I’m so excited for you both,” I say, my champagne glass lifted in the air, toasting my cousin, Amelia and her fiancé, Wyatt. “Congratulations.”

  “Congratulations,” everyone says happily, toasting the couple glowing with happiness. Lia and Wyatt got engaged a few months ago, and I wanted to host a party for them then, but the summer got away from us and getting our whole family together these days isn’t an easy task.

  But I was finally able to arrange for everyone, and I mean everyone, to come to our beach house to celebrate the engagement. All of our families are here, including Amelia’s parents and siblings, Wyatt’s parents and two brothers, and all of my crazy brood.

  I think there are more than thirty people in our home.

  And I freaking love it.

  I would normally hire my sister-in-law, Alecia, to organize a party of this size, but I really wanted to do this for Lia, and I’m pleased with the outcome.

  “By the way, everyone,” I continue after Wyatt dips Lia down for a passionate kiss and everyone applauds, “the food is ready and set up, thanks to McCollum Catering, and it looks absolutely delicious.”

  “That’s where I’m headed,” Will, my football player brother, immediately says.

  “Me, too,” Archer, Lia’s brother says, high-fiving Will.

  “And,” I say, giving both men the stink eye, making them halt in their tracks, “we have an array of cupcakes courtesy of our very own Nic.”

  “Thank the good Lord,” Samantha Nash says, raising her hands in the air and making us all laugh.

  “I have a mimosa and bloody Mary station set up down at the gazebo, so feel free to raid that. Have fun, everyone.”

  The crowd disperses, most of the men headed straight for the food, which makes me grin. Alecia comes walking over with a smug smile on her pretty lips.

  “Hey there,” I say and wrap her in a hug.

  “This party is seriously amazing,” she says, and pops something in her mouth. “And these fried glazed donuts? Jesus Christ, I think I just had an orgasm.”

  I giggle and reach for one of my own, sighing as it practically melts in my mo
uth. “Girl. Get me away from them. I’ll eat them all. I’m so glad you approve. I was nervous about taking it on myself.”

  “You didn’t need me,” she says, shaking her head. “This setting is so beautiful, you don’t need a lot of fluff. The food is delicious, and speaking of which, how did you find this caterer?”

  “Nate and I have an inside joke,” I reply with a chuckle and smile when my brother Dominic joins us, wrapping his arm around his wife’s waist. “I’ve called this caterer his minions since we were dating. Whenever we came here, he’d call ahead and they would come in and set everything up before we arrived, so it just sort of magically happened. I love them.”

  “Well, I need to get the minion’s info from Nate because I’m planning a beach wedding next summer, and I could use them.”

  “I thought you weren’t planning weddings anymore, now that you’re working full time at the winery?” I ask, accepting a mimosa from my husband, Nate, as he joins us. Alecia smiles as he passes one to her as well.

  My husband is larger than life, and still sets my skin on fire as soon as he comes in a room. I want to climb him pretty much 24/7, and I pray that never goes away.

  “This one is for a friend,” Alecia says with a small shrug. “I couldn’t tell her no when she asked for my help.”

  “My tesoro spreads herself too thin,” Dom says, kissing Alecia’s temple. His voice is still thick with an Italian accent, despite living in the States for many years.

  “I’m fine,” Alecia insists. “And this is a hell of a party. And speaking of parties, don’t forget we’re hosting one at the vineyard in a couple of weeks.”

  “I wouldn’t forget it,” I promise and reach out to pat my brother on the shoulder. “We’re so proud of you, Dom.”

  His lips curl up into a smile, and he leads Alecia away. I take a sip of my drink, surveying the scene.

  “Everyone’s fine,” Nate whispers into my ear, tugging me against his side. “And you’re fucking beautiful in this dress.”

  I glance down at the silver shift dress, cinched at the waist with a Gucci belt, and grin up at him. “It’s the heels, isn’t it?”

  I mean, the brand new black Louboutins got him hard when I took them out of the box yesterday. He’s barely taken his eyes off of them.

  “I’m going to fuck you in nothing but those shoes,” he promises, and everything in me catches on fire. He’s not lying. My ankles will be wrapped around his neck later tonight, and I’ll be wearing these shoes.

  I can’t fucking wait.

  “Getting me all hot and bothered when we have dozens of guests isn’t nice.”

  His face transforms into that sexy smile that says I don’t give a fuck.

  “I never claimed to be nice, Julianne. Be sure to eat some food.”

  And with that, he kisses my cheek and walks away to talk to my brother Caleb.

  I take a deep breath, and then a long drink of my mimosa. I could use another, although I rarely drink when my daughter, Stella, is around.

  I search the crowd for her and smile when I see that she’s on my best friend Natalie’s lap, eating a chocolate cinnamon roll. I cringe inside, hoping no one lets her overdose on sugar today. I don’t need her to be high on sweets all day.

  But then I shrug. Today is a day for celebration. She can have some sugar.

  “Jules.” Amelia rushes over to me, panting, her eyes wide in horror. “I have an emergency.”

  “Did you start your period?” I ask, whispering loudly. “Shit, you’re wearing white. Do you need a pad?”

  “No, Jesus, I didn’t start my period. It’s much worse.”

  “Worse than your period in a white dress?”

  She nods and swallows hard, trying to catch her breath. “I lost my ring.”

  I stare at her for a moment, trying to register the words coming out of her mouth, then glance down at her naked left hand.

  “Wait. Your engagement ring?”

  “Shh!” She covers her mouth with her fingers and leans in closer. “Yes, my engagement ring, and Wyatt can’t know.”

  “Where the hell did you lose it?”

  “In the bathroom.”

  I take her elbow and pull her to the guest bathroom, just as Nic approaches it as well.

  “Sorry, I’ll find a different bathroom,” she says, then stops and narrows her eyes at us. “What’s going on?”

  “Lia lost her engagement ring,” I reply and hurry into the restroom, flipping on the light as I go.

  “Never mind, I’m staying right here,” Nic says, following. “How did you lose it?”

  “I don’t know! I came in to use the restroom, and I washed my hands. I always take it off when I wash them because I don’t want it to get full of soap residue.”

  “First mistake,” I mutter. “Just take it in to get cleaned once a month. Trust me on this one.”

  “Well, now I know,” she says and bites her lip. “Anyway, I set it on the vanity, and I must have forgotten to put it back on. So I left the bathroom, and realized that I didn’t have it about ten minutes later, but when I came back, it was gone.”

  Her voice is wavering, and her eyes fill with tears, and my perfect party is about to spontaneously combust.

  “It fell down the drain,” Nic says simply. “It’s easy to fish out. We just need a wrench.”

  “Do you have a wrench?” Lia asks me with hope-filled eyes.

  “Of course I do,” I reply with false confidence. I’m not even sure what kind of wrench we need, but I’m determined to fix this. “I’ll be right back.”

  I run out to the garage and root around for a couple of wrenches of all sizes, hoping that I get one that will do the trick, and hurry back in to find Lia sitting on the toilet with her head between her knees and Nic rubbing circles on her back.

  “I’m gonna pass out,” Lia mumbles.

  “No, you’re not. See? We’ve got this.”

  I show them the wrenches, and Nic scowls. “That one is way too small.”

  “What about these?” I ask, showing her the others I found.

  “That big one might work.”

  I discard the others, open the cabinet to the pipes, and all three of us struggle to get on the floor.

  “I’m wearing way too tight of a dress for this,” Nic says with a scowl. “Seriously, someone’s going to walk in here and see up my skirt to my vagina and Matt’s gonna be pissed. He’ll spank me.”

  “Why aren’t you wearing panties?” Lia asks.

  “Because Matt forbade it,” Nic replies as if she just said that her hair is brown.

  “Excuse me,” Lia says, stopping me from trying to fit the wrench on the pipe. “Did you just say he forbade it?”

  Nic grins. “Oh yeah. And it’s sexy as fuck when he gets all dominant on me. It’s our thing.”

  “Huh. I had no idea,” Lia says.

  “But now you’re going to get me in trouble,” Nic says, sticking her lower lip out.

  “Oh, for Godsake. Pull it together.” I roll my eyes and kick my brand new shoes off in frustration. “Take one for the team here, Nic.”

  “I’m down here, aren’t I?” she replies and lays back to take a look at the pipe. “Here, hand me the wrench.”

  I happily comply, and Lia and I join her, lying under the sink and watching her try to fit the wrench around the silver pipe.

  “How is it dusty under here?” I wonder aloud. “Like, how does dust actually get under the sink? Isn’t that defying the laws of gravity or something?”

  “I found dust inside my shoes,” Lia says with a shrug. “I think the dust is alive.”

  “That’s disgusting.”

  Nic grunts with the exertion of trying to turn the wrench and then collapses on the ground. “This thing is on there tight.”

  “Oh my God, you guys, we have to find it.” Lia shakes her head and wipes under her eyes. “And I need my emergency makeup bag from the car because I refuse to spend my engagement party looking like a goddamn raccoon.”<
br />
  “Oh, honey, you don’t look like a raccoon.” I pat her shoulder, but she turns wet eyes to me.

  “I will if we don’t find my ring.”

  “I’m gonna get this mother fucker off,” Nic says, grunting again as she tries to turn the wrench.

  “Would it help if I push as you pull?” I ask her and try to get some leverage under the sink to help. “God, it’s so uncomfortable down here. How do plumbers do it?”

  “They’re not in tiny dresses and heels,” Nic grumbles, blowing a piece of her hair out of her eyes. “Lia, you owe me a makeover after this.”

  “I’ll come to your house and do your makeup every damn day if you find my ring,” Lia pledges, holding up her hand as if she’s swearing on the Bible. “I’ll carry babies for you.”

  Nic smiles softly. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re adopting.”

  “WHAT?” I shriek and pull her into my arms for a hug. “You are? When? You have to tell me everything.”

  “After we find my ring,” Lia says. “And yes, we need all of the details.”

  Because of PCOS and diabetes, Nic didn’t think she’d ever be able to have children. My brother, Matt, has been amazingly supportive and wonderful, but I didn’t know they’d decided to adopt. I couldn’t be more excited for them.

  “Thanks,” Nic says with a goofy smile. “She’ll be here in just a few months.”

  “She?” I pull her in for another hug. “Another baby girl in our family!”

  “Oh no,” Lia says, tears streaming down her face. “I’m totally a raccoon now, and I don’t care. Nic, I’m so excited for you.”

  “Matt’s so cute about it,” Nic says as she props her head in her hand. “He’s already bought some little outfits and stuff, but you guys, I haven’t bought anything. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.”

  “Why?” Lia asks.

  “What if the birth mom changes her mind?” Nic whispers. “What if something horrible happens with the pregnancy?”