Name changed for this and I want to kick off this thread by saying NOTHING is going on, but I need advice on handling this the best way and feel free to give me a reality check. Thanks in advance for reading/advising.
I started an awesome job over a year ago and I love it, it's a job I've been wanting a long time and I'm for the most part really happy with it. Boss is male and happily married. Generally good boss and learning a lot.
From early on we got well, all friendly and good. He started conversations with a lot about non-work stuff in the office, especially on lunch when either it was just us or hardly anyone in the office. Some shared interest e.g. reading etc. Would walk past my desk and see something on there and start a conversation about it. Similarly intellectual which started discussions. Harmless stuff and for me, after years of working in stuffy and unfriendly places, it's refreshing to work somewhere that is friendly.
Noticed early on, we sit opposite each other that there was a fair bit of minor flirty behaviour. Things like mimicking body language, looking over whilst pretending to do something else e.g. rubbing eyes, stretching etc. Really, properly looking to me whilst talking, biting lip etc. Will sometimes waves and smile when I come in, has started opening up to me about family situations etc. Been in meetings where I've been sat at the table and I've had my leg up crossed, and I've looked down and he's stretched his foot close to mine. At a meeting the other week he spreadeagled so his foot was almost virtually under my leg. I was sat back so he would have known what he was doing. There have been loads of instances like this, such as putting music on in the office etc.
I don't think it's intentional. He's very happily married and talks about his wife all the time, but I want to have a professional friendship with boss which I don't mind being personal/friendly. For example, for an important meeting with each of staff, he would take others to your high street chain coffee places, but then make a point of taking me to my favourite place (small/niche). Then spent 5 minutes afterwards making the point over and over about how he would take his wife there. This keeps happening e.g. flirting followed up by finding a way to make a connection/tell a story about his wife. Sometimes for the bizarrest things - e.g. flirty behaviour followed at some point after by a story about his wife who once experienced something. Or I showed my wife this and she thought this etc.
I'm finding this confusing to deal with. I think it's find to naturally get on with someone but I don't have romantic feelings for him or want to pursue anything and by the way he talks about his wife, neither does he (aside from the fact it would be wrong). I researched advice on the internet and I decided to keep things aloof and professional at work. I started sitting closer to my desk (literally every time I move or lift my arm he mimics) and avoiding too much personal conversation or eye contact. He was really, visibly annoyed for a couple of days, I got hauled in about another work matter that he really bollocked me over - another colleague was there and was surprised. Then he switched to being nicer later in the week, but kept trying to start conversation with me e.g. if I played music or "nice t-shirt" (to be fair it was Christmas t-shirt/jumper day) but he doesn't address others with that. At the Christmas party we were in a shot together and he twiddled his fingers on my shoulders, kept joining me for conversations including walking up and winking etc. Then will back off and a little bit later start talking about his wife.
This is the first time I've written all of this out and I can understand on reading back it looks like I'm reading too much into things, but I'm feeling a bit deflated and like I need to quit an awesome job. When he brought his wife and daughter into the office, his wife gave me a dirty look initially, but I tried to be super friendly/nice, he was looking at me a lot. I got a bit fed up and rolled my eyes later and went for 5 mins in the kitchen to cool off. He followed me out and I just pretended to be organising something and didn't say anything.
Considering leaving job but also realise this might all sound ridiculous - please give me the reality check I clearly need or some advice.