Need help, possibility of a relationship with a friend

Anon because she sometimes looks on here. Basically, I have been friends with this girl for a long while now and she split up with her long term boyfriend over a year ago. I have asked her out on three separate occasions over the year. The first time she told me she viewed me as a kind of big brother. Then we got even closer so I thought I might try asking her out again and she said that she really likes me but she isn't ready for a relationship. The third time, she started texting me recently telling me that she loves me and that I've been her rock over the past year. She also told me that feels that she might be ready for a relationship. True to form, I asked her out for a third time and she said that we'll go for dinner when we go back to Uni and see how things go from there. Basically, I was wondering firstly whether she feels that she would have to say yes because I've asked her out twice before because I'd hate for her to feel that she's forced into anything. Secondly, if this isn't the case- we've been friends for a long time and I really like her in which case if she wants to pursue this further would it be a wise thing to do considering we're really good friends? Thirdly, one of my friends told me I come on really strong and that I need to dial things down a bit- how do I go about doing this? I'm really sorry for the long post, but all help is much appreciated :)

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2629979