The Road to Rose Bend, Naima Simone [jenna bush book club .TXT] 📗

her heart. That night just over four years and nine short months ago when her world was rocked and shifted on its axis, was one she had no idea would be the catalyst for an adventure that took her from America to Africa and from fairy tale to nightmare, in less than five years.

“...Djibouti. Have you been there?”

Uh-oh. The uptick of his voice suggested to Sam that she’d just been asked a question. She had no idea what about.

“Um, not sure.”

Wrong answer. Nick’s frown told it all.

“Djibouti isn’t the most popular of tourist destinations, but it is certainly memorable. Yet you’re not sure?”

“No, I’m sure. I’ve never been there. Sorry, I got distracted. I silenced my phone but it’s still vibrating.” Sam reached into her purse. “I’ll shut it off.”

“Back less than a month and already in demand?”

“Something like that.”

She quickly checked her text messages. It wasn’t a slew of potential clients trying to reach her, but the very reason why she shouldn’t be sitting there. Why as much as she wanted to, needed to, was desperate to, even, she couldn’t take this job. No matter the pay, which she knew would be top-shelf.

Shooting off a quick reply, she then turned off the vibrating notifier and dropped the phone in the tote on the floor. “Sorry.”

“No worries.”

“You mentioned Djibouti. One of the islands CANN International owns is located there?”

Nick nodded. “Just off the coast on the Gulf of Aden. The first property built there is one of our smaller hotels, only eighty-nine rooms. All suites, though, with living and dining spaces, and spectacular ocean or mountain views. The casino is the building’s jewel, of course, boasting a Michelin-star restaurant and world-class spa.”

“I believe you guys are onto something. From all I’ve seen and understand, Africa’s the next great economic frontier.”

“That’s what we believe, with Djibouti becoming the next Dubai. It’s why we’re building more hotels all over the continent and have either purchased or designed a number of islands to house our luxury home rentals.”

“So...you contacted me because you need someone based in Africa?”

“No. The projects needing immediate attention are mostly here in the US, along the eastern seaboard. But there are a couple in Hawaii and one in the Bahamas as well.”

“All of this sounds amazing, Nick, but I don’t yet understand the urgency or why I’m here.”

“Because the designer we hired walked out. Last week. Couldn’t keep pace with CANN’s lofty vision, or take the pressures of a somewhat demanding boss—” Nick paused, Sam smiled “—and an increasingly tight deadline.”

“What’s happened to shrink the timeline?”

“Demand. The PR and marketing have been minimal but extremely targeted. Christian’s wife, Lauren, designed the brochures and the job she did was outstanding. We knew they’d attract interest, but the response was far beyond what we’d planned. Instead of a slow rollout with an expected thirty to forty-five percent vacancy, almost eighty percent of the properties have already been booked. Including the ones that are not yet finished.”

“That’s impressive.”

“And with the abrupt departure of our designer, problematic as well.”

“So what you’re saying is...the work she started on these homes needs to be finished?”

“Her work wasn’t entirely up to our standards. You may be able to work your magic and salvage a few of the properties. Others will most likely need to be stripped and totally redone. Still more you’ll have the pleasure of designing from the ground up. The homes were completed to the point of being an interior designer’s blank canvas.”

“Sounds major. How many homes are we talking?”

“Counting the properties in Hawaii and the Bahamas, twenty-three total.”

Sam took a deep breath. That was a lot of designing, even for her. “And what’s the desired completion date?”

Nick looked at his watch. “As of this morning...less than twelve weeks.”

“Whoa!”

“Exactly. That’s the urgency and why I called you.”

“And why you didn’t want your assistant to get into it.”

“I didn’t want you to get scared off before the entire scenario could be laid out. Because we know what a massive undertaking this is, and the immense pressure that will come from pulling it off, we’re willing to compensate the designer who can handle the impossible with an equally unique offer.”

Nick then laid out the compensation package, one so lucrative that not to accept would be stupid, insane, not even an option.

Still, she hesitated. “Can I think about it?”

“The employment package I’ve designed has never been offered to anyone,” Nick responded. “Anywhere. Ever.” Barely veiled frustration crept into his voice.

“No question the opportunity is amazing, but...”

A raised brow was Nick’s only response.

“There are personal matters I’d need to consider, logistics that would have to be thought out.”

“It’s a phenomenal offer,” Nick said, a slight frown marring his handsome face as he eyed her intently. “What’s there to think about?”

“I have a son.”

Crap! Did I say that out loud?

Nick’s expression, subdued as it was, suggested that she had. The one thing she hadn’t planned to share with Nick had just tumbled out before she could stop it.

“You have a child yet divorced the father? It’s none of my business, but that had to be tough.”

Sam nodded. It’s all she could do.

“How old is he?”

“He’s four,” Sam replied, wishing the floor beneath her would turn to quicksand and swallow her whole.

“A boy, huh? I had no idea. Given all of the travel that’s required, that adds a bit of a wrinkle that I didn’t expect.”

His eyes narrowed as he thoughtfully rubbed his chin. Sam could almost see his mind turning.

“We can add a childcare allowance to the package, work out an acceptable live-in arrangement so that your son’s life isn’t disrupted.”

“That’s an expensive suggestion and only a partial solution. Trey’s life has already been upended with the move from Africa to America. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be either leaving him with a virtual stranger or dragging him all over the States. I’d planned to put him in preschool for a bit of routine, stability. I don’t know, Nick...”

“Given what I’ve just learned, I agree, Sam. It’s a