First and foremost you do need to be her friend to build a strong relationship on, but as you already are aware of you do not just want to be another one of her friends in the long run. I have been reading a book lately that discusses exactly what you are faced with. Drop me a email at lovnceal@yahoo.com and I will send you a copy.
“Do you want to be RIGHT or want to be LOVED” “You have to have a life to share a life with someone” “When you stop resisting, you start learning”