There's this cute girl at the dentist's office, you see...

Just call her. No line needed, the basic, “Hi, this is Steve. I met you at my dentist’s. Would you like to go for coffee sometime?” will be fine.

Lines don’t get relationships. They don’t even really get dates. (Though the absolutly adorable look on a guy’s face while he trips over his carefully planned out line might.) Charactor gets dates, unless she’s totally superficial and then its looks.

You’re a witty, smart darling of a man. Stop choking and go ask. If she says no, come back and we’ll all give you hugs. If she says yes you get a date and hugs from your favorite Dopers. Its win-win at this point.

Dins, your first line will usually get you “I don’t know, are you any good?”

Whoa!

I did that once!

She was really cute and sweet.
I just called the office and asked for her. Then I said “This is _____ _____, I had an appointment yesterday. I was wondering if you’d like to go out this weekend.”

Simple.
Sure, I only got one date out of it, she wasn’t really my type, but definitely worth it.

Called the office at 1:40 or so, and she was away at lunch. They said she’d be back at 2, so I’m picking up the phone now…

ARGH! Answering machine!

Shoot me now, it’d be easier.

OK, attempt #3 -

“She’s busy working on a patient…”

:watching the fates align against me:

“Can you have her call me back?”

“Sure.”

“OK, my number is …”

“Does she know who this is?”

(Do I really want to explain the situation to someone at her office?)

“Uh, this is Steve.”

“OK.”

“Thanks.”

“Bye.”

sigh

Patience mr blue.

Breathe.

Post.

Call again?

Patience mr blue.

Breathe.

Post.

Repeat.

I almost posted something really mean, here, and I just had to post this little pat on my back for not succumbing to the opportunity to be a completely heartless bastard.

Aw crap.

“That’s nice, but I’m married…”

:me turning red:

“I’m sorry–I didn’t see a ring…”

“I don’t wear them when I’m working.”

Of course…

Damn.

Yay!
A victory.
You wanted to call her, AND YOU DID!
She said no, AND YOU ARE STILL ALIVE!
And she didn’t mind in the least that you asked.
Now treat yourself to several stiff drinks and go out there and fight the good fight again.
I’m serious. There is nothing about what happened that you should feel bad about. To the contrary, you should feel great that you gave it your best shot.
Yo da man!
Now treat yourself to several nice stiff drinks tonite, and go back and fight the good fight tomorrow!

Damn.

And your promised hugs. Hugs Steve tight

Way to be a man! Better luck next time. Don’t let this keep you from trying later, m’kay?

Hmm… I’m not into hard liquor, but I am with this nice bottle of chardonnay right now.

It says hi.

{{{Medea’s Child}}}

And now it’s gone.

(The bottle, that is.) Mmm… This feels nice.

mrblue, as a Married Lady myself, I’ve got to say that I’d be flattered if someone I’d met at work called me up to ask me out. You asked, she answered, and you didn’t use any “line” that might rightly have embarrassed you for the rest of your life, so you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Chalk it up to experience and consider it practice for the next time.

Nope, I skipped the lines and went straight in. On the advice the dopers, I did skip the “I think you’re attractive” bit, and just said, “Would you like to go out with me this weekend?” (After I established who I was–at least she remembered me… A small victory in and of itself.) Now it’s just a matter of hoping she forgets all this by the time I go in for my next appointment.

To be perfectly honest, I knew you guys would say what you did, but reading it helped push me in the right direction. Even though it didn’t turn out like I’d hoped, I’m glad I did it and I’m grateful for your advice.

Thanks everybody!