Ebony Angel Read Online Free PDF

burnt orange wallpaper extended the warmth from the front of the house into the kitchen. He spied a second bedroom on the opposite side of the refrigerator. He sat at the kitchen table, telling himself to be a good boy. Her child would be home soon, and he didn’t want to chase Ebony off.
    “My friend’s Mercedes was stolen off Long today, and some jerk-off cop had the nerve to tell him to take a taxi to the station to file a report.”
    She cut the sandwich in half. “I brought him home with me. Can you do something?…I already asked Stam…Thanks, Dan.” She disconnected, then opened the refrigerator and grabbed the lonely can of cream soda.
    “We’ll have to share.” She closed the refrigerator, handed him the soda, then set two plates on the table. “It’s not much, but until Mom gets back, it’s the best I can do. My uncle is sending a cop.” She set the phone on the table.
    He pulled out her chair. “It’s more than enough. Is your uncle a cop?” He politely pushed the chair in as she sat. “Meechie thought I worked for him. You’ll have to add that to your list of why a white guy would be in the neighborhood.” He took his seat.
    “Got jokes, huh. Let’s say the blessing. I haven’t eaten all day.” She bowed her head in prayer.
    “Mama!” Crystal yelled as she burst into the flat.
    “Girl, you scared me to death.” She hugged her daughter.
    Crystal jumped up and down. “Can I go to Auntie Genevieve’s and spend the night? Please, please, please. I don’t have school.”
    “It seems like you all have more in-service days than school days lately. And there’s someone else in the room, Crystal.” She motioned toward Richard.
    The child looked over her shoulder, reddened and covered her mouth with her hands. “I’m sorry.” She turned fully and curtsied. “Hello, I’m Crystal Washington.” She held out her tiny hand.
    Crystal’s charm doused the shock Richard felt when he saw the child. Unlike Ebony, Crystal had the same olive complexion as his. People would think she was his child before Ebony’s. She also seemed short for a seven-year-old. He shook her hand and bowed his head slightly. “I’m Richard Pacini. Pleased to meet you.” His eyes traveled from the child’s crystal-clear blue eyes to Ebony’s sexy sepia eyes.
    “The pleasure is all mine.” She spun around. “Can I go to Auntie Genevieve’s now?”
    “Go pack a bag.” Ebony smiled with pride as her child trotted off, frizzy, sandy-brown ponytail bouncing.
    He waited until Crystal was out of earshot, then asked, “How did you have such a light-skinned child?”
    “I love your directness. More people need to be like that.”
    “It works for me.”
    Ebony’s mother, Marissa, entered the flat with a bag of groceries before Ebony could answer. “Hello, sweetie. How was your day?” She asked, then noticed Richard. “Sorry, I didn’t see you sitting there.”
    Ebony made the introductions. Richard saw the family resemblance immediately. Both women had exquisite dark-brown eyes, high cheekbones, oval-shaped faces; both were tall and slender, yet curvaceous, and both had horrible taste in hair color. Marissa sported burgundy twists that reached her shoulders. He figured Ebony must have her father’s complexion, because her mother’s was a creamy caramel. He smiled, thinking he preferred dark chocolate any day.
    “I’ll put away the groceries.” Ebony took the bag from her mother. “Would you please go call Oscar? I promised you would call today.”
    “I’m not sure I’m ready to start dating again.” She cut a small portion off Ebony’s sandwich.
    “I love you, Mom, but Dad’s been dead well over ten years. I think it’s time for you to test the waters.”
    Richard was amazed she spoke about such personal things in front of him. His family didn’t talk about personal things in front of each other, let alone strangers. Ebony’s mother didn’t miss a beat.
    “I’m too old to start dating