Richie Sambora (47) is hesitant to go forward with his relationship with Denise Richards (35) until she settled things with Charlie Sheen (41). “Richie is happy, but the only thing holding him back was the drama between Denise and Charlie,” says a source. “He expressed this to Denise.”

A second source adds, Sambora has “a surprisingly good relationship” these days with his ex, Heather Locklear (45). “They stay in touch for the sake of their daughter Ava (9),” adds the insider. “She’s the most important thing to the both of them.”

Hopefully Richards next boyfriend will stop her from taking all of Sambora’s money if they get married then divorced. The fact that Richards was so vicious in the first place, should be a giant red flag telling Samora to stay away from Richards (a.k.a trouble).

Denise Richards and Richie Sambora are now engaged to be married, which makes Richie Sambora an official gullible dumbass loser. If Richie doesn’t know it now, he will in a few years when Richards divorces him, takes a large chunk of his cash in the divorce, and makes him another Charlie Sheen. Next Richards will report she’s pregnant with her next meal ticket. This also makes something else official, the fact that Denise Richards left Charlie Sheen for Richie Sambora. Does Richards think this will help patch things up with former best friend Heather Locklear. Richards engaged, and is not yet divorced. Here’s more:

Life and Style mag reporta that Denise Richards and Richie Sambora are planning to be married in Positano, Italy, in May 2007, exactly one year after they spent a romantic vacation there – and she’s already wearing his ring!

While Denise’s rep denies the couple is engaged, these exclusive photos show Denise wearing a $100,000, 9.5 carat ring, which, according to an insider, Richie presented to her on Sept. 2. “They were on their way to the Staples Center [in LA] to see the fights,” says the insider. “He got down on one knee in the back of the limo.”

Afterwards they celebrated their upcoming nuptials with close friends at the Palm Restaurant in LA. LifeandStylemag.com snapped the photos of Denise wearing the ring on Sept. 7, in NYC, where she and Richie checked into the Trump International Hotel and Tower. He performed with his band Bon Jovi that night at the Fashion Rocks event at Radio City Music Hall.

Earlier that day, Richie and Denise visited with Richie’s father at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where the elder Sambora is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. “Richie’s mother was there, too,” says the insider. “They were like, ‘You’re engaged!’ They are as happy as can be.” But Richie corrected his parents, saying that he and Denise are not formally engaged – yet.

“He’s a very traditional guy,” says the insider. “He wants to wait until they are both officially divorced. Then they can make the engagement real.” Richie and Denise broke the news to Denise’s mom as well, who is also battling cancer. “Denise’s mom is not doing that great,” says the insider. “It’s very important to Richie to let her family know that he’s going to be there for Denise in the long run.” The insider describes the happy couple as “ecstatic,” and adds: “They are buddies, these two. They’ve spent the past few weeks really bonding and talking about their future together. They’re going to make a great husband and wife.”

This quote really cracks me up, “He’s a very traditional guy,” says the insider. “He wants to wait until they are both officially divorced. Does he have any choice but to wait until they are both divorced? Well, maybe in Utah.

Here’s what TMZ is saying:

As reports swirl that Denise Richards and Richie Sambora are engaged, TMZ has
the real deal– it just ain’t true.

Richards, who filed for divorce from estranged hubby Charlie Sheen in March, and
rocker boyfriend Sambora, who is divorcing Denise’s BFF Heather Locklear, have
NO wedding plans.
Richards’ attorney Neal Hersh tells TMZ "There is no truth to any rumors that
Denise and Richie are engaged. They are not."

TMZ’s cameras were at Fashion Rocks on Thursday night when the two showed up
hand in hand.

The power couple, who have have been dating for months, have been spotted
together many times by paparazzi but this is this first time the duo has
attended a public event as a couple.