I can tell that she hasn't completely gotten over this guy she was married to, so the doubts may lay there concerning that and
Your doubts?
She will not really get over him until she rides someone else and screams out in ecstasy, no matter what either of you say. It is not an issue.
possibly also the age gap between us (which I could easily assuage if the issue came up).
If the age gap was a big enough issue to her, it would not have gone this far, hence in my view it is only an issue in your mind. It is not an issue, she has even told you that indirectly already.
She has on some level already thought about being with you, her bringing up the story about older woman with younger guy tells me that, or else she would have told you a story about how wrong it was, I am sure she did not tell the story that way.
Despite you being unsure she is throwing hints and testing the waters herself and gauging your reaction, the invite was a clear sign of interest
Agreed, so was the time she spent with you.. And that you ended it, she did not.
bringing up the marriage is a sign that there's still some baggage there that you may not want to deal with in the long run because it also implies she wants a relationship but not with a dude who screws around
Implies = assumption = mistake.
What actually makes you believe that she wants a relationship? Or is it you that wants to believe she wants one?
Why even consider the long run yet? that sounds to me like more projection.
The way you wrote this in your original message did not give me this. What I read was a woman testing your character response to a scenario she presented. Women talk indirectly, not usually directly, especially when judging character of males.
She was telling you a story to see your reaction. Some guys would have responded by justifying how they would not do that, or act that way and other such things. You did not do this - Bravo!
plus the fact that she's in the stage of her life where she will want to settle down after she gets her degree, she may get too attached and from her point of view you're young and a ladies man so maybe she's protecting herself from disappointment.
This to me is you projecting your thoughts of her wanting a relationship onto her, as I mentioned above.
Just because she is a certain age does not mean she wants to settle down NOW! she may want to have some relaxed fun, especially given her split, being at college again amongst some young men who she feels are not ready to settle down.
You not being ready to settle down and not being in a mindset to get overly attached to her could be one of your main selling points, it could be a real bonus to her.. Think about it.
[Someone she is attracted to, who is younger, no ties, free in mind and body and who will not turn into a clinger at the first sign of interest from her, sounds very attractive to me]
at this point in my life I should be gaining the experience to know how to deal with these situations, I'm not gonna know how to unless I'm in the situation.
I agree, I would not bail. Regardless of if you intend to take it all the way, there is no reason to stop the dance.. The dance can be enjoyable in of itself for both of you and also a good learning experience. Bailing will only make you wonder what if... You can always decide to not sleep with her if you do not want to, it is your choice after all. Nothing to say you cannot spend time with her.
Give her space to continue her dance and see where she goes with it, leading it gently along.