Kiss and Tell Read Online Free

didn’t mean for you to defend me with your fists, caro.” She held out a hand toTodd and helped him up from the floor. “Can’t we settle this like adults?”
    While Esme spoke to Todd and Giancarlo in low tones, Nancy remembered some of the gossip Bess had told her about the actor. His career took a nosedive after he and Esme had broken up a few years earlier. He’d been trying to make a comeback ever since, but his career floundered after he had become known as being difficult and short-tempered.
    Bess whispered to her that Todd had been trying to change his image into that of a sensitive male type. “He even wears glasses sometimes,” Bess said. “Like that’s going to convince anyone.”
    Nancy laughed softly. “If this scuffle is any indication, he’s going to need more than glasses to overcome his reputation,” Nancy said.
    Esme had sent Todd and Giancarlo out of the room and asked that they not come back until they had settled their differences.
    â€œMen!” Esme said, flopping back down on the sofa. Despite all her cool glamour, when Esme smiled she looked as if she were in her twenties. “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”
    â€œI hear you,” Bess said.
    â€œI hope you aren’t disappointed, now that you’ve seen the private Esme Moore,” the romance writer said. “Todd and Giancarlo are jealous of each other. I’m afraid it’s not entirely over me.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Nancy asked.
    â€œThey both want a part in the movie version of Telling All. I’ve got a deal in the works with a Hollywood production company. Todd’s read for the role of my editor in the movie version. As far as I’m concerned, if he gets cast he can be in the film, but I prefer not to have anything to do with him. I won’t stand in the way of his career, though. Meanwhile, Giancarlo has been cast to play himself, and he’s vetoed the idea of Todd’s having a part. He says if Todd’s in it, he won’t be.” Esme shrugged. “I’m a writer, not a magician. It’s up to them to settle their differences.”
    The door to the suite opened. Nancy expected to see Todd and Giancarlo, but instead Janine Halpern came in, along with a young woman in black who wore funky, thick-soled shoes and rings on all her fingers. Nancy remembered seeing the young woman earlier at the book signing. From where she sat curled up on the couch, Esme introduced Nancy and Bess.
    â€œJanine Halpern, my publicist, and Kim Scott, my assistant,” Esme said. “This is Nancy Drew and Bess Marvin. Janine, these girls want to help us find out who’s spreading those rumors.”
    Kim’s dark eyes flashed as she crossed the room and picked up the phone. While she dialed, she expressed her surprise. “Really?”
    â€œNancy’s a detective,” Esme explained. With a shrug she said to Janine, “What do you think? My publisher hasn’t made any headway on those threatening notes. Why don’t we let Nancy have a crack at them?”
    Janine deliberated for a moment, checking out Nancy and Bess with an intense, thin-lipped expression. Before she had a chance to answer, Esme added, “They know that reporter who was asking those questions earlier. What’s her name?”
    â€œBrenda Carlton,” Bess offered.
    â€œFrom Today’s Times,” Janine finished. “I just spent the last ten minutes fielding her questions, along with those of five other reporters. Frankly, Esme, if it’s the reporters who are bothering you, I’ve told you before that I wouldn’t worry about any publicity that comes from this. In our business, there’s no such thing as bad news.”
    Esme returned Janine’s steady gaze. “And I told you that I’m not interested in having some nut case out there trying to ruin the reputation I’ve spent