Friendzone forever?

Please help me. I am very confused. I am in my forties. Single for almost 10 years. Been focused on my kids. Quite happy and content. I became friends with a colleague five years ago. I am his senior at work and he is in his twenties. 17 years age gap. Dispute this we developed a amazing friendship. He was involved with a older women when we met (20 year gap) and recently 6 months ago broke up with her. I was there for him with the break up. I told him he deserves to be with a younger women because he want to get married and have kids. I know this is what he desire in his heart. I never looked at him in romantic way because he is a friend and very young. I had to find a new home and he went out of his way to help me. The place he found was right next door to him. So we became neighbors. We also recently started with a new project at work which means we spent every monent at work together. We drive to work together. At home he also spends a lot of time with me and the kids. He cooks for us, he helps me financially and emotionally.

He is a very attractive man. I made him sign up on tinder so he can get himself out there. He got a lot of attention and one girl seems to perfect for him but on the day they where supposed to meet up, he canceled for no reason and he spend the whole day with me, played boardgames with me and the kids and took us to the movies (paid for everything)

People at work started to notice our relationship and rumors popped up. I was approached by more than one person asking me if their is something going on. They would refer to us as the married couple at work. We would for example finish each other sentences. One friend of mine at work cornered me and told me that she is picking up a energy between us. A type of sexual chemistry. I laughed because my son is 7 years younger than him. It just seems wierd to me. She asked me if I would be interested and I joked that he was good looking and that I am not cold on the idea.

She took it as a reason to ask him if he would be interested in me on a sexual level. Trying to play match maker. He told her he loves me and I am an amazing women but he want to get married and have children and does not want to make the same mistake as in the past. I am like a sister to him.

I get it. It makes sense, I want him to get what he wants BUT why is he only spending time with me? He is not looking for Mrs Right. I must admit we would be amazing together because we make a great team. I am attracted to him but very rational about relationships. Problem is, I think I may be starting to think about, or lets say wonder about the what if.....

Here is a few things that confuse me:
He went out of his way to support my son with his first film production.
He takes my daugter to school
He once knew I had to pick up my kid at a party late at night while it was raining, he got out of bed and drove me there causr he knows I hate driving in the rain.
He went to my moms funeral and he hates funerals, does not even go to his own families funerals.
He is extremely wierd with me if he sees me flirting with men
He is a very affectionate guy with his female friends, he hugs them and flits with them but he never does it with me. He seems wierd when I touch his arm for example. He steps away when I entre his personal space.
I have seen him watch me.
What I think of him is extremely important
I am friends with his mother and he sometimes tell her, "she is my friend not yours" . He is scared that his mom complains about him with me and then I will think less of him. His does more for me than his mom, sister or any other female friend.
When I seem pissed off with him he can not handle it. He wants to know whst is wrong and he wants to fix it.
He cried infront of me, never done that before

We are leaving on a company trip soon. I do not want to ruin a great friendship. I can not bring this subject up again BUT the things he does looks to everyone on the outside like he is interested in me.

What must I do? Am I too far in a Friendzone? Do I risk our friendship by bringing it up or must I just see what happens on the business trip?