Player Next Door

Chapter 1

"You look like hell."

"I feel like hell," Reese said, reaching for her takeout cup. She didn't care that the coffee was lukewarm. Caffeine was caffeine. "The people next door moved in a week ago, and it's party central over there. The music starts around ten o'clock at night and doesn't end until at least one or two in the morning. I've been letting it go because they're new to the building, but if it starts again tonight, I plan to march over there and let them know how I feel about it."

"Your building doesn't have rules about noise?" Daria asked from the other side of Reese's desk. The executive assistant was organizing paperwork for Reese to sign.

"We have rules, but my new neighbors don't want to follow them," she said, followed by what felt like her hundredth yawn of the day.

"Hopefully you can get this sorted." Daria handed over some files. "You have a meeting with Jack from textiles later. He has samples he wants you to look at. But we can reschedule."

"I do need to look over those samples even though I don't think I can keep my eyes open."

Daria smiled, her deep brown eyes full of sympathy. She and Reese had gone way back, right back to Reese's skating years. It helped that they were relatively close in age. With the exception of Cam, Daria was Reese's closest friend. "If you change your mind, I'm happy to reschedule. You know, we don't have a lot going on this afternoon. Why don't you head home early? I can handle things here. Jack can wait."

Reese stifled another yawn. "I can't do that."

"You can. Go home, take a nap, and then talk to these new neighbors. We can tackle everything tomorrow."

She did like the sound of that, but she had work to do. Reese did not take days off. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she'd even missed an afternoon. And a lack of sleep wasn't going to stop her from seeing those textile samples for their new athletic-wear line. Reese gulped back some more cold coffee and set her attention on the files Daria had given her.

"I'm fine. I need to get this done."

Daria gave a resigned shrug. "Sounds good. Holler if I can do anything else."

Reese nodded, then dove into the files, financial reports she needed to sign off on. Reese's head spun. Usually, she could get through reports like these in minutes, but the headache coming on had the numbers swimming in her vision. There wasn't enough coffee in the world to get her through this day. For a moment, she considered Daria's suggestion. A little afternoon nap wouldn't hurt. Maybe an early evening walk to clear her head?

No. She had work to do.

She lumbered through the day, trying to keep her eyes open as she went through fabric samples with Jack. As the head of production, he kept Reese on schedule, and he also had an eye for cutting-edge materials that would set her athletic-wear creations apart. The second time he suggested they pause and pick up again the following morning, Reese insisted they work on it now. Of course, there was also that little voice in her head telling her that in her present state, she'd need to review her choices in the morning anyway. She told that voice to shut up. Reese Beresford was not a quitter.

As four o'clock rolled around, Reese found Daria across from her once more. Her slim, tall form loomed over Reese's desk, and by the expression on Daria's face, she meant business.

"All right, now I'm insisting. Go home! All this work will be waiting for you tomorrow and nothing is urgent. Get some rest. And I mean it!"

Normally, Reese would put up a fight, but Daria was right. Slowly, she gathered some paperwork and her laptop and packed it all into her messenger bag. She felt a little bad leaving early. She was usually in the office well after 6 p.m., but her sleepy brain needed a break.