trying to flirt, help me daters, are 'tells' really obvious?

[MommySlimFigure]

I'm trying to flirt. It's not something that comes naturally to me. But I'm so careful never to let anybody know that I like them, that I haven't had anybody approach me in years. I am wondering how to send men (not just any men, particular ones) subliminal confirmation that I like them, without saying so of course. I have heard about the touch their arm 'tell' but that's way too obvious. I look in to lots of people eyes when I talk to them. So that could be a subtle one. I don't think I toss my hair back. Should I! I was reading something on line a moment ago that rolling up your sleeves is an indication of interest. Please help. I'm doing something wrong. Or maybe I'm extremely unattractive and I'm in denial about being not that bad.

Just smile and touch him often, like touches on the arm, shoulder etc.

I was thinking what lavenderhoney said - after a shared joke or laughter, say 'I'll miss our chats when you've gone'! Do you know anything about where he's based - if he's on contract work, might he live a fair distance away or even have wife and family making a relationship untenable?

Tell him "My aunty gave me two tickets to the theatre next week, I don't suppose you'd fancy coming along with me?" The "aunty" bit makes it sound as if the opportunity just presented itself, but he'll notice that he was the person you thought of asking to go along.

Keep catching his eye, and say things that show you've been paying attention to him: "Is that a new shirt?", "You look a bit down today", "How did that job you told me about last week go?"

pulls earlobe

Don't say auntiy!! You'll sound three

Aunty, cousin, Grandmama, boss, sugar daddy, say whatever suits you best - and you don't even have to write down the sentence I suggested and read it off a piece of paper, either. You can improvise.

(Last note not necessarily for OP but for anyone who might need telling!)

My sex master. Try that. ;)

"my invisible internet friends"?

Ask him out. I'll tell you a story.
Two years ago I started a thread about a man who'd kissed me on NYE. Dressed as a chicken, cog might remember - she told me to ask him out.
For two years we circled round each other. I mostly avoided him, I was so shy. He never asked me out but he did offer to babysit and I was just at the point of getting his number.
He died. Sudden adult death syndrome. Afterwards it turned out he'd told his family about me and how much he liked me.
Ask him out, op.

anndaloozier - don't you pull your ear-lobe at me, you would-be sexy minx!
[
get some heavy ear-rings hanging from it and you'll see what I mean...]

and deal with my brackets for me because I'm clearly disturbed by your flirtatious behaviour...

I don't think it's flirting that you really need here.
He already knows you exist and talks to you.
Without knowing the context, it's hard to help. But in general, I think flirting is about chemistry and to an extent it's either there or it's not.
The 'rule' with flirting IMO is to move the conversation away from the context and make it more personal- so in a work situation you might suddenly say 'That shirt looks great on you' or ' I really like the way you've had your hair cut' [hard if he has none but you get the idea.] or' you always stay in good shape...'
The kind of eyelash fluttering flirting you are thinking about is usually used when someone has actually got a date and you want to appear interested over the dinner table.
I think if I were you now I'd casually suggest a coffee sometime, and see how he reacts.