You can usually gauge someone's interest by how he acts. But if you're unsure about someone's intentions, ask and get feedback. It's a good idea to see things straight early in a relationship. Say something casual, like "I had a great time. We should do it again sometime, don't you think?" Things are probably not going well if you have...

Along the way, there will be signs about whether the two of you are interested, and whether you are suited for one another. These are some good signs: He asks what you would like and then does it. The amount of time you talk together increases. The things you share become more intimate. He says "sweet" things (such as, you are...

Everyone has his own pace. "You can't hurry love" went the line of a popular song from the '70s. Remember my theory that each person in dating has his or her own comfort level for intimacy and independence. These days, the phrase used is commonly "I need more space." If someone asks for that space, give it to them. Remember ther...

Rejecting someone is not a nice task for anyone, but please be kind. Remember karma: Whatever you do to others eventually comes back to you. Acknowledge how you enjoyed meeting the person, appreciate specific things about them (humor or intelligence), and then say something that is honest but non-blaming about why you can't continue the...

Julie's problem is not uncommon in dating. She recounted, "I had started a relationship with a man i grew to like. Though we went out only on a few dates, we talked on the phone three times a day and had really intimate conversations. he called me pet names, and his voice has a sexy tone like a boyfriend's would. Then all of a sudden, he...

Now that you've established that you're into each other, you have to set the pace for how often you make contact and how often you get together. This is the tricky part: keeping track of how and where you both stand on whether you are free to date others, or if you are seeing each other exclusively. What number of dates (three dates, or consistent....

In a wonderful article written up in the New York Post, writers Ron Mitchell and Sacha Mornell write about using the telephone for "reaching out and touching her." They list Law No. 1 as using the telephone for accumulating what they call "date equivalents" -- making up for personal interactions to rack up the necessary number o...

Inviting someone back to your lair is a set-up for a stay over, so your date is bound to wonder whether this is an invitation -- or an expectation -- for sex. A decline may be colored with a fear of such an expectation, so if you don't intend sex, be sure to be clear about that. If you've both decided you're ready for a stay-over, be prepared......