Taking a relationship slow ... love?

My boyfriend of 5 months is 25, I am 32 and have 2 kids. He has only been in one long term relationship and she completely broke his heart. Since then he has not had a relationship last longer than a couple of months because he finds some small reason to end it or pushes them away when he starts to feel too close. He did try to push me away after 3 months by telling me he thought I was starting to have feelings for him and he didn't feel that way and did not want a serious relationship but I told him that we should just keep having fun together and not rush anything. He later apologized for it and said he just wanted to take things slow. The other day he had a long talk with his dad about his fear of getting too attached and close to someone and that he always freaks out after a few months. He told me about their conversation and said he can't believe he even put me through that. He has been trying to get closer with my kids lately and we both said we didn't want him too close with them until we were getting serious so I am not sure if that means something. He keeps saying he likes me but has not said he is starting to have feelings or anything. Sometimes he says ';if I ever get married'; or ';if I ever have kids';, not ';we'; so I am not sure how he feels. I am falling hard for him and I don't want to get my heart broken. Do you think he is ever going to let that wall down and be able to really love someone?Taking a relationship slow ... love?
Yes, he will but since he broke up with his ex he doesn't feel ready to be in a long term relationship. You need to give him time to cope with that, if he feels like your the right person he will let his guard down. Tell him that he need to trust you that you will not try to hurt him. Good luck.