Broadway Baby by Alexandra James Read Free Book Online

since.”
    “She has?” Lou’s blue eyes looked at Shelby in shock.
    “She has,” Shelby’s hazel eyes met his. “I know this is unusual for me but after talking with Lily and finding out exactly what happened we decided that she would be moving in with me where I could keep an eye on her since it seems she needs that right now.”
    Marvin pulled himself to sit on the desk while Lou dropped into an empty chair, “Seriously?”
    “Why so shocked?” Shelby asked.
    “Well we were actually going to ask you to keep an eye on her, you know, more like a mother…” Lou trailed off as Shelby began to laugh.
    “I guess I beat you to it then, gentlemen because I have transferred my role of Lily’s mother to outside the theater. Right Lily?”
    “Right Mama,” Lily answered with a wink.
    Hearing chuckling Shelby and Lily looked at both men again, “What’s so funny?” Lily asked.
    “Nothing,” Marvin smirked. “It’s just you’ve called her that now for at least six months non-stop off stage, and this is the first time Shelby doesn’t look like she wants to spank you for it.”
    It was Shelby’s turn to laugh as Lily blushed. “Well, it’s grown on me,” the older woman answered. “Now, if we’re done here, we really need to get ready for the show.”
     
    * * *
     
    “Go on and break a leg tonight, you two.” Marvin shooed the women from Lou’s office before looking at the other man. “This should be interesting.”
    Lou nodded, “Yeah, Shelby Bishop isn’t known for her patience. I hope Lily knows what she’s gotten herself into.”
    “Probably not, but isn’t that why we were going to sic Shelby on the kid in the first place?” Marvin asked.
    “Yeah, but let’s not let Shelby know that. I don’t want her mad at me,” Lou replied still in a bit of shock to know that Lily would be getting a lot of attention from now on, whether she wanted it or not.
     
    * * *
     
    “Give me one good reason we can’t go out for a bite to eat,” Lily demanded pouting on the couch in Shelby’s dressing room.
    Shelby finished tying her shoes and sat down in her makeup chair across from Lily. “It’s ten o’clock at night, Lily. We are going home, grabbing a quick bite there and then getting ready for bed.”
    “But I’m not tired. I always go out for food after the show.”
    “Not anymore,” Shelby stood and grabbed her bag before helping Lily to her feet. Handing the teen her bag she waited. “We are going home and I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
    “Why?”
    Shelby leaned close, and Lily shivered as the woman’s words registered. “Because I am the Mama, that’s why, Lily Anne.” Taking Lily by the hand, Shelby pulled her from the dressing room and out the stage door where they would sign playbills before finally heading home.
     
    * * *
     
    “I want a hamburger,” Lily pouted pushing the scrambled egg around on her plate.
    “Eat the egg, Lily. Now.” The tone in Shelby’s voice made Lily comply.
    “Hamburgers are better.”
    “It’s too late for a hamburger.”
    “I eat hamburgers after shows all the time.”
    “Not anymore you don’t.” Shelby’s tone left no room for argument and she smirked as Lily merely sighed as she continued to eat her egg. Noticing that Lily pushed her plate away in the midst of a large yawn, Shelby put her own fork down.
    “Alright, little girl, it’s time to get you to bed.”
    “I’m not tired.”
    “I am.” Grabbing both plates Shelby quickly rinsed them and put them into the dishwasher. “Go get ready for bed, Lily, and I’ll be there in a while to tuck you in.”
    Shelby made quick work of the kitchen clean up and made her way to Lily’s bedroom. Stopping at the entry of the room she allowed herself to watch Lily curled in the rocker with her two stuffed friends trying her best not to fall asleep. The teen looked adorable.
    “All ready for sleep?”
    Lily shook her head, “Hold me?”
    “Of course.”
    Shelby picked Lily up