I need some girl advice......?

ok so heres the problem, i like this girl a lot (obviously), and she has told me she likes me also. the only real problem is that she just broke up with her ex about 2-3 weeks ago after about an 8 month relationship. (This guy is a total douche and texts her all the time and says she a ';worthless *****'; and that she ';never meant anything to him';. basically i want to hurt this kid but thats besides the point.) i told her i liked her about 2 months ago and she did the same. now that she has actually broken up with this guy she doesn't want to be in a relationship b/c she ';doesn't want to mess things up';.... we still hang out almost everyday but we've never kissed or anything like that. we both flirt w/ each other and i want to start going out with her but she still doesn't want a relationship. the thing im most afraid of is that we will become too close as friends and then it would just be awkward if we went out (has happened to me before and it sucks, entire friendship got ruined). i really like her a lot but i dont know what to do. i dont want to be too close as friends but it seems inevitable seeing as how we hang out so much already... PLEASE HELP!!!!