I also use the "friends" line from the very beginning. And I sincerely mean it. I love being friends with girls. The sexual part, to me, is VERY over-rated. If you have one or two girls that will sex you well, then the rest of the girls you meet can just be friends for as long as you'd like them to be.
I usually say something along the lines of this early in the conversation:
"You seem really fun, I think this is the start of a great friendship (DeAngelo). I love it when I find somebody I can connect with, and know I'm going to enjoy sharing time with. I like you."
If they wanted to be more then friends by this time they would say something like "Uhhhh, well you don't want to be MORE than that?" and you could respond with "Well I like to let relationships just happen. Whatever happens, happens. There is no pressure, and the possibilities are endless".
This works very well as long as she is attracted to begin with. That is important and a part that DeAngelo doesn't state in his book. The LJBF technique won't MAKE her attracted to you, she has to do that on her own. It just demonstrates that you don't NEED her. Have fun.
-Blitz