Hi LaVas & welcome
It's difficult to know what exactly is going on here.
You haven't known each other very long, but you seem to have been getting on very well.
If she has a lot of friends ~ including a lot of male friends ~ then she may be used to this sort of male friendship and flirting, and may not take too much notice of it. Whether her thoughts about you are different or not, I cannot say.
The age difference is quite big ~ and you have alluded to it with her, by saying that you 'do not know whether to date her or adopt her', and she has also commented upon it. She may be wary of a relationship of this nature ~ or she may not.
At 26, some people are very mature, while others are still very young.
At 39, she might expect you to be taken ~ as you have indicated that you are.
You told her that she is beautiful, and that you miss her when she is away ~ but that you are unavailable, so, even if she is interested in you, you have warned her off.
The thing is, you don't know how she feels and she probably isn't sure how you feel. There seem to be mixed messages in both directions.
How do you actually feel about her?
You haven't really said.
How do you feel about the age gap?
Are you looking for a serious relationship
Generally?
With her?
Do you just want this to be a friendship with flirting ~ or something more?
If you want a relationship with her, then why not put this to her?
She can only say no ~ and she might say yes.
Good luck!
