I am interested in a guy at work (we dont work on the same floor nor department, it is a big company. He does always need to talk to someone in the other corner). Since I joined, he has been flirting with me very often, always coming to my desk to talk, looking at me and leaning close in a way like he's very interested in me, touching and teasing me, asking me tons of work and personal questions, etc. The typical flirting signs and in short give me the impression that he's trying to give me attention and seduce me (so not just the friendly "you look great in your shirt" that kind of friendly flirt). We had a couple of lunches together. I have to admit that he's not super smooth, not sure if it's because of nervousness or not, but in any case I felt strong sexual tension since he always make these seductive gestures like winks and biting lips, etc, and he's really cute. During this time, I flirted a lot too but seldom if ever took initiative (so mostly in response to his)
He always have to travel in his job and after his last trip (gone for a week), I noticed he seem somewhat withdrawn from me. He still flirted a bit but way less intensely. He proposed lunch but never follow through, stopped by less although when he passed by he almost always looks at me. I tried to rekindle things by giving him compliments, asking him to help me on small things etc. But when our eyes met, he would smile in a somewhat shy/embarrassed way, not the big and sweet smile locking his eyes firmly at me before. The other day after giving me this embarrassed look, he out of nowhere pop up behind me as if to try to make things less awkward. But the convo was even more awkward, he seemed really nervous and not knowing what to say. But so was I and I totally forgot what I wanted to tell him when I actually see him.
Anyway, is he a lost cause and should I just give up? I thought of asking him out to dinner/drinks but this is awkward now and more importantly, I'm not a believer of woman asking guy out. He's a sociable person and not the shy type, cannot be the "too shy to ask out". Can some guys on this forum help decipher this?