Hayden Panettiere‘s romance with Brian Hickerson is progressing.
Though theNashvilleactress, 29, and her aspiring actor boyfriend’s romance may have started as a fling, according to a source, they’ve gotten more serious.
“Hayden really likes Brian, has a great time with him, and the romance has gone past a dalliance,” the source tells PEOPLE.
“She was first attracted to him because he was hot and different, and now she is pretty interested in him,” the source adds.
The pair wasfirst linked in August,when they were seen grabbing dinner together in Los Angeles shortly after reports circulated that the actress and ex-fiancéWladimir Klitschko, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughterKaya, hadsplit.
Eric Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock
Since then, they’ve been photographed together onnumerous date nights.
“Hayden has responsibilities of her own,” the source shares, “but also needs an outlet to make her feel special.”
And she’s enjoying spending time with Hickerson.
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“She is young, and Brian seems to be a take-charge person in a different way than Wlad was, which she needs,” the source explains.
Still, the source is uncertain if their relationship “will lead any further” and believes it may be “better” for the star to focus on herself and “spend as much time with her daughter as she can.”
Source Hayden Panettiere/Instagram
In December, Hickerson defended their romance following areportthat Panettiere’s friends were concerned about the coupling.
“Just to be clear, Hayden’s friends and family are not worried about her at all,” Hickerson said in a statement toAccess.
“Hayden is happy and healthy and so is our relationship,” the South Carolina native continued. “That is all I will comment on so please respect my privacy. Have a great day.”
The rumor came weeks after Panettiere, Hickerson and his father were allreportedly involved in a disputein October.
Last week, the couplestepped out for a date nightattended a screening of the new documentarySharkwater Extinctionat the Arclight Theatre in Los Angeles and held hands as they left the theater together.
source: people.com
