I’d given that some thought as I’d packed. The conclusion I’d come to was that I’d broken off the engagement before setting out on my quest.

I believed that meeting Van helped me to see that there was a bigger, brighter world beyond Chicago, the Butlers, and even Wade Pharmaceutical. Without that knowledge, it would have been more difficult to send Skylar back to Beth or whoever he had in store for his future. My thoughts were on my own future.

Perhaps I was reluctant to face those people back in Chicago because I wasn’t remorseful about the canceled wedding. I felt bad for the money my parents had spent, but that was it. The brief conversation I’d had with my mother this afternoon before seeing Skylar reaffirmed my decision to stay away through the holidays.

Now I wondered if she knew Skylar was driving up here. After all, she’d pleaded with me to work things out with him. I held fast to my conviction when I spoke with her and with Skylar. Our wedding was canceled.

I didn’t mention to her that I’d received a new marriage proposal or any other details about the recent events that led me to accept a job offer. To say that Mom was as shocked as Skylar when I told her that I took a job in Ashland would be an understatement.

When she asked for more detail, I was vague.

If Donovan Sherman was as big of a name as he claimed—and he was because I did a quick internet search—then my father would recognize his name. I wasn’t ready to have that conversation. Therefore, I purposely left Van’s name out of our discussion.

For some reason, when Van and I met and were in the cabin, I hadn’t thought too much about his age. I simply saw him for the incredibly handsome man who saved me, showed me that there’s life beyond Chicago, and listened to my woes. Of course, with the intimate turn our night together took, I knew that he took care of himself. He also had stamina and experience and expertise in what women wanted.

While waiting to be sure Skylar was gone and doing a quick internet search of Donovan Sherman, I’d found a bio that listed Van as one of Forbes wealthiest men in the United States and at the same time gave very little personal information. I also learned the date he was born, letting me know that he was forty-one years old.

His financial status didn’t surprise me.

His age did.

I couldn’t decide if it bothered me.

If my age doesn’t bother him, why should his bother me?