So I was on a date with this girl. It was going well, lots of laughing and long eye gazes. She takes the initiative to sit on a bench with me. Immediately she places her knee in contact with mine. This is obviously intentional. People don't sit like that. We talked for 10-15 minutes and she didn't move her knee away the whole time. She gazed at my eyes with joy and said their color was the same as hers. I felt like I wanted to kiss her, but I was too scared. Do you guys think she wanted me to? Should I have put my hand on her knee,or tried to touch her hands to escalate towards a kiss?

Edit: I just wanted to add that besides my anxiety there were people around us who were hostile. We dated right before the lockdown and she was asian. Many people thought at the time that the pandemic gave them an excuse to contempt asians. An old man across of us opened his mouth in a vulgar grimace as we sat down. A young woman sitting on another bench raised her chin and stared at me with open hostility. My friend couldn't see her but she was directly in my line of sight. I could not look at my friend's face without also looking at the hostile face behind behind her. Of course this was done on purpose: The hostile young woman tried to cockblock me. She succeeded. Thinking back we should have got up and left, but I didn't want to let my friend know that some of my compatriots had ill feelings against her. I wanted her to feel safe and welcome in my country, the country she chose to study in. She never mentioned anyone bothered her on the street or in public transportation but I'm sure people made loud comments and gave her dirty looks. Maybe even on her way to the date. She never told me anything so I wouldn't feel bad.

I want you guys to know that I did my best to gather courage under the circumnstances. I was about to kiss her when a dog came to our feet. I pet him. Then I thought I should take her hands in mine before I try to kiss her. Then I thought Oh maybe she might think my hands aren't clean cause I pet the dog, let me wipe them first. I hesitated a few moments more. She got bored of waiting and said let's go somewhere else.

I've written more details in the comments. There was a second date. And we talked almost every day for a month during the lockdown. She became very precious to me. Unfortunately a number of misunderstandings distanced us. If we had used videocall they probably wouldn't have happened. If you see the other person just for a few minutes you can tell what feelings he has for you.

She started talking to another guy during the lockdown. God knows when they became acquainted. He was very tall, thin, masculine, and artistic. He didn't look like the guy who lacks confidence with women or gets bullied. They started dating and she never wanted to see me again.