So I meet a girl online about a month back. We chat briefly and mutual interest seems to be there. I offer to meet for drinks in a laid back manner. She makes an excuse about being busy or some shit. I casually say, "maybe next time", not concerned about it. I know better than to beg, nag, ask for details, etc. so I go radio silent and go about my business. She reaches out to me a day or 2 later, leading me to believe she is still interested in me. I don't like feeling like I'm the one "pursuing", so I offer to meet again since it was HER reaching out to ME... Well, she makes an excuse again, and I realize this isn't passing the Brad Pitt test so I conclude she must have met Chad and it's time for me to move on. No big deal- I knew better than to allow myself to become emotionally invested, even though I would have actually liked to meet the girl.

A couple of days ago she's hits me up again out of the blue, very chatty and showing IOI's again, even saying how badly she wants to see me. I know she has lust for me, but this time I am aloof. I'm not feeling as enthusiastic as before towards her because her excuse-making the first time around left a bad taste in my mouth. I don't wanna feel a loss of power again by setting myself up to be rejected again, but I do wanna fuck(she's hot).

I guess what I'm trying to ask is: is there a way to come in for a landing here? Can I escalate this interaction without losing my power dynamic? Can I get her to meet me without setting myself up to hear an excuse again? If I just forget about her and never reach out to her again, will her curiosity and lust for me build and finally result in her asking me to hang out?...Basically I want her to do the work and I am through with trying.

...Or is she just trying to use me as a backburner guy/validation mechanism for her in-between getting pumped&dumped by Chads? I don't want to be that guy, which is why I have been aloof.

Input appreciated.... Thx.