At the end of April, I went on a second date with a coworker (me, 28, male; her, 21, female).

At first, she was the one who always came up to me (she was really clingy), making a lot of eye contact, etc...

The first date (begening of March) wasn’t anything special; I didn’t feel particularly attracted to her. A difficult period followed (company strike).

Then my attraction to her began to grow/develop. She has a very reserved personality, perhaps shy (and/or introverted).

On the second date, we went to visit a monument. While walking through the gardens, I wanted to take her hand, and this is what happened:

*Me reaching out my hand*

*Her looking a little shocked (?) and starting to blush*

Then she says something like this with an embarrassed laugh:

“No, but I don’t know”

*Ouch, that stings. But I was expecting that kind of bullshit answer; I was already detached*

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” *laughing*

“I’m not comfortable with that kind of thing, like holding hands.”

I reply with some bullshit like, “You know I’m not going to eat your little hand.”

She laughs, pauses for a few seconds, then picks up the conversation again.

On the drive back, I took advantage of our conversation and a traffic jam on the downhill stretch to slide my right hand onto her left thigh.

I was able to stay like that for about 10 minutes, caressing that area.

*The conversation continued in the background*

After that, I could feel her gently pulling her leg away, moving it away from me.

Perfect, the traffic jam is over, we’re off again.

When we arrive at her place, she thanks me again for the day.

I get out to grab my sunglasses from the trunk. She came over to give me a kiss on the cheek.

I let out a little “Hmmm, no.”

I grabbed one of her hips to pull her closer and planted a kiss on her forehead.

No negative reaction from her; she wished me “have a good evening and see you Sunday” (we’re back to work together).

She must suspect that I like her, but I feel like we’re just two idiots who don’t know how to communicate.

Some people told me to go for a bald move.

Two weeks ago I asked her out, and she told me she wasn’t sure. Since then, I’ve been taking a little break (not putting as much effort into it).

But at the same time, at work, she’s always by my side, even when I step away to work on some paperwork.

I can give her little kinos without too much trouble, even on her hips (I’m discreet about it—we are at work, after all).