Ok, I'm a newbie to the game, but I think reading the book came at just the right time.

I met a HB8 2 weeks ago. Sister to my friend's girl. He and I met up with her and her sister at a local bar in town for drinks and basically to introduce me to her. Things went great, we hit it off, and we all met again the next night for drinks.

I #-closed that night and got some decent kino, and since then we txt or email every few days. We couldn't meet up this weekend because she was traveling, but I asked her out to dinner when she gets back this week.

She said she would love to but she was scared of dating (because she recently broke up with her bf of 3 years), so she wants to call it "dinner as friends"

My question is how do I phase shift away from "friend" to be better positioned for a k-close after dinner. I've been getting plenty of IOIs, but I need to bridge the gap.

my only idea so far is:

"You know you said you were scared of dating, but you've done pretty good tonight, and really the only thing seperating this evening from a date is the good night kiss you're about to give me"

Thoughts?

You:blah blah blah lets go out and get some food
HB:sure! but, lets go just as friends blah blah blah
You: Yeah that sounds great. No pressure kind of thing, I like that. Just friends.
HB:Yeah, great blah blah when where what blah blah blah

Hang out with her and THEN game the shit out of her.
I usually don't condone hanging out with a girl on her terms so by saying "just friends" yourself, idk, if she is interested in you at all then it will only make her want you more. If she doesn't want you at all, then hanging out with her is your chance.

_________________
Do what you love...

I would just say something like,

"We're just getting some food - It's nothing big."

then without pause..

"Meet you at 7..."

Sounds like you're running into a trap if you agree that it'll be on a Friends Only basis.

Yeah, I've fallen victim to that trap in the past. I guess I'll just gauge her response at dinner.