Not to push this alcohol thing too much, but maybe you could go to a bar afterwards? That way you can be a little more affectionate and have a drink or two, and the “official” portion of the date will be over, so you can let things go where they will.
I’m not remotely qualified to give romantic advice. My dating history is a long list of misunderstandings, false starts, rejection, embarrassing mistakes, missed opportunities, heartbreak, and unrequited love.
But I do wish you good luck! Do what feels right, even if it means taking it slow. The guy wouldn’t be spending time with you if he didn’t like you.
This sounds so much like the three-year relationship I had with a wonderful guy. Lots of movies, purely platonic even though I was crazy about him and was afraid of messing it up and scaring him off. Then he told me it was over, and married some woman he met online a few months prior to their wedding. Better to find out now than after years have gone by. Just ask him. Or kiss him during one of those hugs goodbye.
Against all odds, I’ve had a fairly good run with the fairer sex. I’m by no means shy, but I am terrified of making the first move on a woman I care about (perversely, less problem with a woman from whom I’ve just wanted a bit of slap-and-tickle). Most women I’ve been out with have therefore had to jump on me in the end. I suggest that’s what’s going on with your friend.
Any “accidental” physical contact that isn’t immediately removed should give him the right idea - brushing against his arm and lingering, or casually sitting arm-to-arm on the sofa, or leg to leg, or whatever, will maybe push him into a state where he feels he can make a move. Or just grab him and snog him.
It surely is. And in case you weren’t aware, Heaven smells like rain & hills.
Of course, if this is not what Rubystreak means by heaven, I’ve just made an inappropriate allusion. 
OK, here’s what you do — you turn around to look at him, with the most sincere & vulnerably honest face, and when he’s meeting your eyes and listening, you say to him:
If necessary, explain “that would be you”.
My vote? Work up your nerve and kiss him until his toes curl.
By our third date Mr. Adoptamom still hadn’t kissed me, and I was tired of waiting to see if that beard of his was going to be soft or scratchy … so after he walked me to my door and was getting ready to say goodnight, I grabbed the front of his shirt, laid my lips on his, and gave him my best. He didn’t come up for air for a l.o.n.g. time!
btw - the beard was soooo soft
my boy, together…we would make one very odd duck, would we not?
i just need an envoy…i need someone to go to the unsuspecting female while representing the united states of trevor and break it down for her.
“hey, see that guy? yeah. that one. he thinks you’re hot. if you agree, go over and talk to him. if you don’t, i’m going to kill this cute kitten.”
…see how well it’d work?
In that case, it sounds like you want Jack Bauer as your envoy/bodyguard. Except it would be more like “GO over there and talk to him, OR THIS CUTE LITTLE KITTEN WILL DIE!”(pointing a gun at the kittens head).
From one clueless woman to another -
Well, you’re in a place with snow and slippery sidewalks, so a walk outside is the perfect place for the handholding - you need some help with this uncertain footing. It is indeed time to start touching him - brush an eyelash off his cheek, tickle him a little, finger his shirt and tell him you like the fabric. You can also start doing things that only couples do; give him a bite of your dinner off of your fork, make romantic dinners for each other, etc. If he continues to participate, he is definitely interested (I think he is, anyway. People just don’t spend that kind of time with people they don’t like.)
You could also just say to him, “So, are we dating or what? Cause I usually kiss guys I’m dating.” Or write him a note - “If you like me, check yes. If you don’t, check no.”
i confess…i’ve never seen 24.
soooooooooo i kinda don’t…know…what you’re talking about…
see, one person can save the world so many times…i dunno…it just doesn’t really interest me.
Well, he still has a few series to go before he catches up with James Bond. Besides, it’s not the number of times he saves the world, or the amount of gunfights he gets into per hour, or the way he is regularly resurrected from the dead that makes the show implausible; it’s how he can get from any location in the Greater Los Angeles area to any other location in the time it takes to go to commerical break. I keep looking on the map for the I-705 Jack Bauer Memorial Expressway, but I haven’t found it yet.
Stranger
Sorry. Sadly, I have little life experience, so all my jokes come from TV shows.
Hey Ruby… I sympathisize with your situation. Its horrible to feel like your destroying an “innocent” friendship with romantic longings. Being a shy guy myself I have been guilty of doing the same thing your love interest seems to be doing… being overly respectful and not overtly interested.
I’ve learned a few things to determine if girls are interested… not sure the same thing works for men. Still focus more on his body language rather than what he is saying. Body language seems to show off more in these cases.
Also include food and alcohol. Food sharing seems a good feel comfortable thing. Alcohol loosens people up… but don’t overdo it. Plus you can always claim ( i see this used a lot) that the alcohol made you do it. 
One thing that really helps is a third person… someone both of you can talk to. Prod a friend to chat with him… to mention you and see what he says. For me it in many an ocassion all I needed was a third person to say “She likes you”.
Good Luck and do give us some feedback… hehe
I’m fond of the direct verbal approach…
“I think you are really great, and I’d love it if this turned romantic. But if that isn’t what you want, I still think you are really great and I’m glad you are my friend.”
It isn’t as romantic as the locked eyes and kiss, but its somewhat less risky.
(In my experience, the response is either “I’d like that too, I just wasn’t sure that’s what you wanted” followed by a kiss. Or "oh, I don’t think of you that way - followed by either maintaining the friendship, or it falling apart if one party is really just being held there by the possibility of romance.)
I think he is into you and just doesn’t know how to move forward. Keep doing what you are doing. Many guys need to be clubbed in the head to know that you are interested.
That is really sweet, btw.
Before going under the covers, you need to do some undercover work. If you have any mutual friends, get that friend to talk to him about you. As in “what’s going on with you and Ruby? Are you two romantically involved?” He might say “Gee, I never thought of her that way” or he might say “If only we were. She’s really hot!” When you get the intelligence report, take the appropriate action.
We guys are like big, dumb dogs. Subtle messages are lost on us. I’m with Stranger on the creative picnic idea. Put a blanket on the floor, get a bucket of chicken and put on some happy romantic comedy. The Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan type. And don’t forget the wine, cheese and bread…especially the wine.
If it is at night, add candles. Several together on a plate can be a campfire.
Please keep us posted.
Pass him a note in study hall. “Do you like me? ___Yes ___No.”