Can you use your self-knowledge, the knowing that it's not true love but just that she's showing affection to help remind you that you are not really in love, just appreciating her affection? There's nothing bad or wrong about enjoying affection! As long as you remain clear that it's not love right away and work hard at growing any relationship and keeping the communication lines open and honest, I don't see anything wrong with working on getting close.

My husband and I spent at least 6 months at the beginning of our relationship being in "fond." We knew we had something but did not "commit" to it, just let it develop in its own time. We still smile at our "falling in fond." :-)