His eyebrows lifted. "What do you mean?"
"Just that. I'm going back to my time. The twenty first century, where Carter found me."
"Carter didn't tell you."
"Tell me what?" I lowered the rag, gaze riveted to the chiseled features of the cowboy who'd just made love to me.
"My agency has been working to undo what he's doing to history since … well, for a thousand of my lives at least. He's sent back more people than I can count, but Josie, he doesn't have the technology to pull you back to the future. Only we do, and only lately."
"What?"
"I know you communicate with him. Ask him. Tell him Taylor told you."
It took a moment for his words to sink in. In a state of complete denial, I couldn't speak let alone refute him.
"I thought you came back to this era by choice. Nearly everyone Carter sends back chooses." The look of pity that warmed his features was too genuine to ignore.
"No," I mumbled and stood. "You can't be telling me I'm not going home! Carter wouldn't …" I was close to hyperventilating and caught myself against the nightstand before stooping to grab the housecoat I'd dropped. I fished out the phone and shot Carter a hasty note riddled with typos I didn't care about fixing. "You'll see, Taylor. You'll see."
Carter wouldn't lie to me.
"There's no way back, Josie. Not for you. There's just here." Taylor stood but didn't approach me, his wiry form relaxed.
I stared at him, devastated. No matter what I had begun to suspect about Carter, the idea he'd been flat out lying to me about a way home wasn't something I'd considered.
"I'm not going anywhere either," Taylor said. "We have a place to live our lives comfortably."
What the hell did I say to that? "I need a drink." Please, please, please answer fast, Carter!
He did. I had just dumped four shots worth of bourbon into a glass when my phone vibrated. Heart pounding, I checked the message.
He's right. But it's not what you think. I have a plan for you.
"What the hell does that mean?" I demanded of the phone.
Taylor approached, one hand going to my back. He tilted the screen so he could read it. His expression was considering.
"I don't understand," I said. "Taylor, I'm going home! Tell him I'm going home!"
"Josie, you're not going home," he replied gently. "And this makes me think you aren't staying here, either. That chip in your head is rumored to be worth billions. Even Carter can't afford to let you stay, if he's got a reason to use you."