Loving Leo (The Romanovsky Brothers Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

obliviousness, lest she be hated by everyone in the room.  “I don’t really see it.”
    “She’s better than Iman.” Leo watched her.  “Much more beautiful.”
    “Let’s not go crazy,” Jessica mumbled.
    “Where are you from?”  Leo asked.
    “I was born in Ethiopia.” Jessica looked at Angie.
    Of course, Angie’s face was awash with amusement, knowing good and well that—even though she did have Ethiopian ancestry—Jessica had actually been born and raised in the meanest housing project in Jersey City. 
    “Ashley Williams is kind of a super white name for an Ethiopian girl,” Gary said, earning the embarrassed glares of everyone in the room.
    “Gary,” Zoey said.  “Remember that talk we had?  The one where I suggested you think about what you want to say three times before you actually say it?  This is one of those times where I can tell you didn’t do that.”
    Gary shrugged in the same defensive way Leo had earlier.
    “It’s okay,” Jessica said.  “Gary… I’m actually named after the American woman who delivered me.”  Lies.  “I was breech during labor, and I could’ve been badly injured if Nurse Ashley Williams hadn’t saved the day.  My parents named me to honor her.  Ashley Williams Nebiyounigat.  My parents dropped the Nebiyounigat when we moved here, hoping “Williams” would help me become more assimilated to our new country.”  This lie was piling up fast.  Jessica hoped Gary would drop it, because she could see it spiraling.
    “That’s sad,” he said, sitting taller.  “I think Netflixaphian is kind of a cool name.”
    That he’d just butchered.  Jessica fought a smile.  “It’s not so bad.  We moved to America when I was two.  I don’t really remember Ethiopia.”
    “Leo used to torture this one Ethiopian girl we went to school with.” Gary laughed, motioning to Leo with his fork.
    Angie and Jessica shared a wide-eyed look.
    Leo’s eyes widened as well, but they were fixed on Gary, silently drilling him to shut up.  It seemed his family was on a mission to make him look like the biggest asshole alive tonight.
    “What did you used to call that girl all the time?  Big boned…” Gary shook his head, realizing that wasn’t right.  “Burly…” He struggled.
    “Beer Belly Borgia,” Angie finally jumped in.
    Gary stabbed his fork in her direction.  “Yes!”  He laughed with her.
    “Why are you doing this to me?” Leo asked, looking back and forth between them.
    Jessica was annoyed too, ready to smash those cat-eyed glasses on Angie’s face.  She was having way too much fun watching her squirm.
    Suddenly self-conscious, Jessica found herself wondering if she really did look all that different from her Beer Belly Borgia days. Sure, she’d lost a ton of weight, the bowl cut she’d rocked back then was now all the way down her back—almost touching her ass—but she still had the same eyes, the same sienna skin, and the same relentless curves.
    Her eyes met Leo’s, but she didn’t see recognition.  With a sigh of relief, she noticed there wasn’t recognition in anyone else’s eyes either.  No one but Angie Colt.  Jessica made a mental note to murder that girl the next time they found themselves alone.
    “I was a real jerk off in high school.  I was,” Leo admitted. “But I’m not that way anymore.”
    Gary sniggered, and it appeared Leo had to drum up every ounce of self-control he had not to leap across that table and take him around the neck.
    “You’ve never gone back to Africa?” Tony asked, saving Gary from death.
    “Not since I was a kid,” Jessica said.  “My dad’s side of the family was assassinated by the Kenyan mafia, so they don’t exactly have fond memories.”  She shifted in her seat, enjoying herself.  She loved making shit up.
    “Cool,” Gary said around a cheek full of food.
    Leo leaned over the table, catching Gary’s eyes.  “Her dad’s side of the family getting assassinated is