Sexual attraction (or indeed repulsion) is often present in a platonic relationship between members of the opposite sex, but it's not a pre-requisite ;o)
I've plenty of male friends who say complimentary things about me and tell me they love me etc, yet I know I could trust them to the ends of the earth never to "try it on" with me.
But if a chap acts overly flirtatious with me or says something OTT to me with regard to say, their expectations of spending an afternoon in my company, it makes me wary of them and reluctant to find myself alone with them, regardless of whether they believe they are being serious or just joking. Better safe than sorry.
That just makes me cautious and responsible for my own safety, it doesn't make me a bad person.
Meanwhile... I cannot get the boss to comprehend plain English. Perhaps I should learn Italian?