A Mate for Lance (The Program Book 5) by Charlene Hartnady Page B

whole mingle with drinks thing after dinner. She didn’t feel like attending. She felt tired and even though her heels were low, they were killing her. She needed an excuse to leave and then she was out of there. Maybe half a drink and twenty minutes of mingling and then she’d excuse herself to go to the lady’s room and then she’d quietly slip away.
    The dinner dishes were cleared away and Bethany continued to chatter all through dessert. A trio of chocolate. Damn, her diet had gone right out the window tonight. After this afternoon’s little workout, she owed herself. The dark chocolate ganache pastry was to die for. The cream in the center was cold and the pastry on the outside was crispy. It was one of the most delicious things she had ever eaten. She may or may not have made a couple of moaning noises while eating the decadent creation.
    Bethany had waved away the waiter when pudding was served taking another glass of bubbly instead.
    Her words were a tiny bit slurred and her giggles a little over the top.
    “You should really slow down.”
    “I’m good,” Bethany insisted.
    Amber tried again, getting concerned. “You’re going to have a headache from hell in the morning.”
    “No, I’m great.” Bethany giggled and then hiccupped.
    Um…she might think that she was okay but she so wasn’t. She was seriously drunk and if Amber didn’t do something, she was going to embarrass herself in front of everyone.
    “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Bethany nodded, her eyes took a while to focus on Amber. Then she threw her a lopsided, goofy smile. A drunk smile if she ever saw one.
    “Don’t move,” she ordered. Amber scanned the room, seeing the person she was looking for. Titan stood next to the main entrance, his arms folded behind him. She quickly made her way over to him. “Hi.”
    He offered her a curt nod.
    “I need to have a quick word with you…in private.” she said, under her breath.
    Another nod. He led her to a quieter part of the hall.
    “I need your help. Bethany has had one or two glasses of champagne too many. She’s a little…” Amber let the sentence die.
    “Inebriated?” He raised his brows. He looked in Bethany’s direction for a few beats before turning back to her. “I think that you are right.”
    Bethany was slumped over the table. She sloshed some champagne on the surface when she tried to bring the glass to her mouth.
    “I will escort you, just give me a moment please.”
    Amber nodded. “I’m going back to her so that she doesn’t try to stand up or anything. I don’t want her to make a scene and embarrass herself. She’d regret it in the morning.”
    Titan spun on his heel and walked away. She quickly headed back to Bethany, who had just started on a fresh glass of champagne even though her previous glass was still half full.
    “I can’t wait to find my guy,” Bethany said, and far too loud. “I wonder if he’s him?” She pointed at one of the vampires down the table. Her finger weaving in the general direction.
    “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Amber asked, trying to keep her attention.
    Bethany nodded. “I have two older brothers.” She rolled her eyes. “Serious cock blockers. Older brothers are suck bores.”
    Suck bores?
    “I was twenty-one…when I finally lost my virginity.” Her slurring was getting worse. “ Twenty-one .”
    Amber huffed out a breath when she saw Titan arrive next to them. There was another vampire with him. The guy had sandy blond hair and green eyes. He smiled broadly at her.
    “You carry the female, Joshua,” Titan instructed, gesturing to Bethany.
    “It would be my pleasure,” Joshua said. With no effort at all he leaned over and picked Bethany up.
    “Whoa…” Bethany squealed. “Well hello, handsome.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. No one gave them more than a glance.
    Amber looked pointedly at Titan. “Let’s get out of here.”
    The four of them left and made their way back to the