You have to consider the consequences if things turn sour.

Think carefully and ask yourself some serious questions:

Are there conflicts of interest? How much do you have to work together? Are you in competition with each other? Are either of you privy to confidential information that might create a divide? Does your employer have a policy on office relationships? Are you happy to be the subject of gossip and speculation? Are you prepared to leave your job if it doesn’t work out?

Don’t jump the gun. Be patient and find your feet before going public.

Decide, together, who you’re going to tell. Don’t be tempted to tell anyone you shouldn’t. If it’s early days, be as discreet as possible and keep it between yourselves. Be cautious of using work e-mail to communicate anything personal; opt for personal Web-based mail instead. Restrain yourself on social networking sites such as Facebook in case you’re “friends” with colleagues. Equally, temper your Twitter use. Turn up separately in the morning and don’t leave together at night.

No matter how professional you are, others might be judgmental about your relationship. When you become an established couple, consider being open and letting everyone know. This allows you to control the spread of the news rather than rely on the office grapevine. The exception to this rule is if one of you is married. In that case, don’t tell anyone. Co-workers will most likely take the moral high ground and rightly remind you that you’re playing with fire.

Colleagues may assume that you have embarked upon the affair with ulterior motives -- this is especially true for liaisons between boss and subordinate.

Professional gloss must be maintained and your private and work lives kept separate. Never flaunt your romance in front of colleagues -- displays of intimacy will undermine your professionalism. Resist the temptation to gossip or gloat about your relationship. Avoid the use of pet names or terms of endearment at work. -- Reuters

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