Love is a weird thing. It has to go both ways, and in our cases it involves a lot of understanding and acceptance from and by these rare individuals we really like.
I have always felt uncomfortable around 99% of people and the feeling is mutual i expect. There are times i found some that actually seemed to accept me and appreciate my hidden strengths rather than focus on my evident limitations, it was great and impacted me hugely, someone who would finally like me for who i am.
BUT, my mind runs too fast, 'i like you', 'you are nice to me', 'done deal'.. Regrettably 'normal' people don't work that way. If you overwhelm them with your love/gratitude they feel its going too fast and it makes them uncomfortable, like they are just along for the ride. Desperation never sells well either. They often haven't felt the loneliness and rejection that many of us have played out in our minds over and over, trying to understand.
If you really like this woman for who she is and what she has to offer as a person and an individual (and not only because of her acceptance of you), then talk to her. It has to go both ways, if she is willing to be friends and nothing further, at least you have a friend, if you date and break up at least you had the good times together. I try to live in today (mixed success) and one of my mantras is to not worry about things/people you can't change, coulda - woulda -shoulda is an exercise in futility and frustration that leads nowhere, imo its a waste of time and a bad use of the limited energy I have to experience emotion. Focus on what you can do while respecting the other person's boundries.
Sorry for being long winded, in short talk to her and accept what she has to offer be it nothing, friendship, a short relationship or a long relationship.
I hope this was helpful even if only a bit.
Good luck