If he's "just a friend", why am I scared to go the next step with him?

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I know the answer to this right away: I don't want to lose him as a great friend if things don't work out. But...let me give you a history of him. We met almost seven years ago at work. He was married at the time and I had gotten my first taste of freedom from my second divorce. He was only around the work area for several months then quit his job there. Amazingly enough, we've kept in touch all these long years. Yeah, we've had our dry spells but thanks to Facebook we were able to pick up the pieces. This was back during the time I got together with the redheaded soldier but as I said, this man and I were just friends. He since I saw him on his last day at work has gone through a rough divorce and has been single for several years. Even before my boyfriend broke up with me, my friend always commented how loyal and trusting he'd be towards me. There are other comments he'd made (all of them gentlemantly, I assure you) that made me know of his feelings towards me. However, I kept true to my soldier until the Spc. suggested we be friends. So, now I'm free. But my friend is starting to step forth from his corner and join me in the light. Actually, I'm scared. I've been hurt by men so many times I can't count anymore. But, this man is different. For one, he's around my age, only five years young or so. He's got a great job, a car and a house. What does materialist things have to do with anything? Well, two of the three previous men I've been very serious with didn't have any of those things. Granted, my friend has two children from his previous marriage but I have four...and we both love kids. We can talk for hours on the phone if we could and he's always cheerful. He's the kind of person my children nudges me towards, but what if things didn't turn out? Should I let my past mistakes hold me back from what could be the...one? *Pleiades