Rendezvous in Rome by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

nodded.
    â€œWhen did he give them to you?” Claudia’s voice was casual, but her eyes stared intensely.
    â€œI’m not sure, um . . .” Sandro narrowed his eyes as he thought. “It was a couple of days before that, maybe more.” He gave the girls a sheepish look. “I didn’t exactly hurry over with it. I was busy at work.”
    Great, Nancy thought dejectedly. Sandro was only adding to the confusion. Was there a reason Claudia couldn’t get a straight answer out of either guy?
    The music picked up again. Bess returned to the table alone as Sandro and Claudia got up to dance.
    â€œWhat a hunk!” Bess said, following Massimo’s broad shoulders with her eyes. He had stopped to talk to some friends at a nearby table.
    â€œNow that you’ve let him go, Karine may grab him for a dance. She was really staring at the two of you when we came in,” Nancy said, nodding toward the table where Karine and her friends sat.
    Bess shrugged. “Massimo told me all about her. He had a crush on Karine for years, but she just wanted to be friends. Now I guess she’s regretting her decision.”
    â€œSo it’s official between you two, then?” Nancy asked, her eyes gleaming. “Is it love?”
    Bess seemed to consider Nancy’s question for a moment. “You know, I don’t think so,” she finally said, taking a sip of her soda. “I mean, he’s gorgeous, but there’s something missing.”
    Nancy stared at Bess in surprise. “But you two look crazy about each other.”
    â€œSure, we flirt, but somehow it feels more like we’re just friends,” Bess said. “I know it doesn’t sound like me at all,” she added, giggling. “Maybe he’s just not my type.”
    â€œNot your type? Is Bess Marvin turning her back on romance?” Nancy looked around in mock panic. “Quick, someone get a doctor!”
    â€œIs that so surprising?” Bess asked. “I mean, you’re always turning down romance. Just look at Mick. I know you liked him, but you just said ciao and took off for Rome.”
    Nancy fell silent, remembering their time in Geneva. “I didn’t know where the relationship would go,” she said softly. “I couldn’t ask him tocome with us because, well, that would have meant too much, too fast. I guess I didn’t want to make a decision, so I let the train make it for me.”
    After a moment Bess asked softly, “What about Ned?”
    Nancy sighed. “That’s the million-dollar question,” she said ruefully. “I only wish I knew how I felt about him.”
    She looked up as a guy with dark hair and bright blue eyes asked her to dance. “Sure,” she decided. Anything to stop thinking about her confused love life. A stream of cute guys swept her into one dance after another, and Nancy didn’t have a second to think about Ned or Mick or the stolen Etruscan necklaces.
    At about midnight she found herself dancing with Massimo. In the middle of a long medley of songs she began feeling drowsy. At first she thought she was tired because it was so late. She tried gamely to keep dancing with the beat, but her arms began to feel heavy.
    â€œNancy, are you okay?” Massimo asked, noticing her distress. He helped her back to the table.
    The room was spinning even after Nancy sat down. She looked for Bess, Sandro, and Claudia but didn’t see any of them among the dancers. Resting her head on the table, she tried breathing deeply.
    Massimo put his arm gently around her shoulders. “You do not look well,” he said. “Let me take you home.”
    â€œI hate to ruin everyone’s evening,” Nancy said weakly. Strange tingling sensations began crawlingup her legs. Her body, which had felt so heavy a moment ago, now seemed very light.
    â€œCome on, we should go,” Massimo said, grabbing Nancy’s purse and