Mhairi, 29, from Barcelona, asks:

Why did he reject me but flirts all the time?

I asked a guy from my social group if he felt there had been chemistry between us the weekend before, as I felt there had been, we had been looking into each other's eyes a lot, and someone outside the group also asked if we were a couple. He said sorry but no, but then since then has asked me out to dinner with him and a friend, bought me a plastic flashing ring, touches me all the time, takes me by the hand to lead me through nightclubs, goes out of his way a bit to walk me home, teases me, sits next to me at tables etc etc? Does he like me or not? I am very confused. He is shy and inexperienced with women as far as I can tell, and 4 years younger than me. I have had 3 serious long-term relationships.

VictorM's advice:

Clearly he likes you, but not in a romantic way. But since he knows you like him, he can flirt all he wants knowing you won't shut him down. He's flirting with you because he knows he can. He gets some reaction from you and that feeds his ego. And because he's shy he can do with you what he has problems doing with the women he's really attracted to. Shyness is, above all, lack of trust. He doesn't trust how other women will respond to his flirting, but he knows you'll accept it.