How would you take this?

[Witchinthewest]

If someone at work, I a senior-ish role to you were doing the following...

Keeps looking at you, staring almost as though he can't take his eyes off you
Always stops to chat when in the office
Checks that you are OK regularly
Fist bumps you regularly
Regularly and subtley invades personal space (in a non creepy way).
Light pretend punches on your upper arm
He looks/ glances at you when in conversation with others
Always complimenting your work
Says things like 'I always have time for you' and 'I really look forward to the days you are in the office'
Always has your back on work related stuff.
Keeps saying you can go to him if you need to vent about anything

...how would you take that....?

This was my worry. It comes across flirty but just not enough when repeating it back to someone. It can all be passed off as just 'friendly' it's so difficult and confusing. We didn't have that sort of relationship before it was all very professional, and he almost never spoke to me. Then suddenly, it all started out of nowhere. I’ll try the shut down approach and see if that works.

Just keep your interactions professional as much as possible. Perhaps mention a boyfriend / date eg if he asks how you are on a Monday say you were away for a couple of nights with your boyfriend.

Op, you can say things like I don’t like to be touched etc, but keep it professional, ignoring him is childish. You will need to politely and professionally deal with it, as there is every chance he isn’t flirting, maybe he senses you don’t like him and is trying too hard, maybe he wa told at his appraisal to be friendlier with people. He could be aghast at the fact you think he’s hitting on you. He might be, but right now, it’s far from a given.

The initial reactions on this thread were that he fancied me, and this was my feeling, too. I do feel he does, but it's all stuff that can be done with plausible deniability. It's all testing the waters... breaking the touch barrier... watching my reactions.

I don't want to hurt his feelings, so I will proceed gently. But on the receiving end, it causes confusion and thoughts that I'm over reading situations and it's all in my head.

I think it’s one if those situations, that one or two from your list would be fine, but put altogether then it becomes a different matter. The fact that you’re bothered by it, and there’s been a noticeable change shows something isn’t right. Also that he’s targeting you.

If he were the type of boss that fist -pumped everyone, or asked after everyone, it wouldn’t be so bad, but as he’s singled you out, then he’s overstepping.

I'd start by laying down your "no touch" boundaries as this is something concrete which is easier to prove if he's not respecting it.
Move any body part away from him that he tries to touch, be it arm, hand. If he pursues or comments just say " I'm not a tactile person, particularly in the workplace and I like my own body space"
And repeat.

If he doesn't respect this you've got something much easier to prove than staring etc if you have to take it further

Good luck!