2: Gradually developing a friendship isn’t what you want, and that isn’t how relationships start, so unless you’re completely satisfied with her just being a friend, then there’s no need to take that route. Use your best judgement, but I can say that the gradually developing a relationship approach doesn’t work.
And I can say that it does. Blanket advice in this situation is silly.
I should have typed “gradually developing a friendship” instead of “relationship”.