MIRROR her signals. If she turns herbody towards yours, turn your body towards hers. Don’t make eye contact while you do it – otherwise you’ll look calculating.

APPROACH her from the side. This makes you less threatening and increases her interest.

KEEP your eyes above her neck.

WAIT for a break in conversation. Forget clever lines. Say hi. Give her your name. Ask for hers. Talk to her like a relative you actually get along with. She’s reluctant? Don’t give up. Both men and women are overly ready to think they’re being rejected.

LEAVE – briefly. Don’t promise to be back; just say “Excuse me a minute, I have to catch up with my friend. It was great meeting you.”

RETURN to your pals for 10 minutes. Stay out of her line of sight. Every now and then let her see you.

APPROACH her again

ASK her if she’s thirsty. If she has met someone else, act relieved instead of jealous. The more the merrier. Calmly evaluate her response to the other fellow. He probably has nothing on you.

REEL HER IN. Once you’re in the group, ask her to lean in – there’s something you don’t want others to hear.

THINK of something

SAY: “You’re probably just killing time until your boyfriend gets here.”

RUN OFF with her if she laughs and shakes her head. Ask her to sit at a booth, away from the crowd. Take it from here.