I'm a single 25 year old guy and I really like a family friend.

She's 45 and she's single. We hang out a lot together, we have a lot of common interests. She talks to me more than anyone else, even her own kid.

I'm not sure if the age gap is too much, but I can't help how I feel. I really love being around her, I think she's beautiful like and not just physically i find everything I learn about her personality makes me like her even more and I want to be close to her and make her smile every day. I could go on about my feelings but I'll keep it succinct.

I wish I was like 6 years older so the age gap didn't sound so bad and it would be more likely. It really sucks and honestly I have sat on my own a few nights just wishing and kicking myself for not existing sooner. I wish I could have met her at college or something so I would have had an easier chance to pursue this.

We've joked about her dating younger guys before since she's had no luck with guys the same age and she seems hesitant because she's worried about other people's thoughts and because a lot of younger guys act it and seem like kids but not against it completely if she found the right guy, like I think if someone doted on her and proved they were mature enough it would be a possibility. I wouldn't care if she wanted to keep me a secret because of the age gap. I just want to be with her.

She was in a 15 year relationship which was extremely emotionally and at a couple of points physically abusive which ended about 6 years ago, she has a grown up kid which she had when she was 21 with the guy, and she's also disabled.

She's very introverted and shy, and doesn't talk much to anyone and she's in a lot of pain all the time so she isolates a lot but she definitely likes to hang out with me when she's feeling social and we talk about anything pretty much, we watch movies and shows together a lot, play similar video games and talk alot about the places we want to travel to visit. I want to take her to every single last place she's dreamed of going but no one has taken her to.

I know how fucked up her last relationship is and how much she's always just wanted a guy who would treat her well. She was never made to feel good about herself like physically and she was made to feel dumb. She doesn't know at all how to respond to compliments as they've been so rare over the years. She finds it hard to say anything when I've complimented her before.

I've tried to give some context to the person she is.

I'm 25 I've been working since my mid teens and I have my own house and steady job. I moved out in my mid teens and have been looking after myself since. She's known me since around all this happened when I left home and started working. She gave me a place to stay while I got my footing.

I really want to pursue a relationship with her, and I know there will be challenges with the age gap and also from her trauma from her past relationship, but I don't care because its what my heart wants and I will do whatever work it takes to be worthy of being with her.

I want to approach the situation sort of delicately and subtly and hopefully build something up that I can eventually feel like asking her out on a date or telling her how I feel won't be completely out of the blue but also perhaps there has been time for her to develop similar feelings for me.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how I could pursue this situation without ruining the friendship, and any advice on how I could appear more attractive to be in a relationship with to her?

Also because she's so introverted and shy I find it really hard to read her as a person because shes so reserved sometimes, like I have no idea on how I'd even begin to be able to tell if she likes me too, I think she'd try to hide it out of shame or worry. Is there also anything any thing I can look out for in this regard that would indicate she might be like me too?

TLDR: I really like a woman 20 years older than me who has a kid only a bit younger than me. We spend lots of time together alone and have common interests and values. I really want to pursue a relationship with her so I want to know if anyone has advice on how to do this tactfully? Also she's very introverted and shy so I'm not sure how to read body language or signals on if she likes me back, I think she'd try to hide it if she did.

Just as a further final bit of information I don't care about kids.

Thanks to anyone who reads this and anyone who responds.