How to flirt with women maturely (women 21 and up only please)?

I'm 24. I hate flirting. It's not fun for me at all, because I find it very difficult. I'm a very direct person and wish I could just simply walk up to a woman and say "you look fabulous, I would love to get to know you better", but alas, most women these days recoil from something like that and ume you're a freak. I don't want to make a woman feel uncomfortable, but I don't want to p up the opportunity to meet beautiful women either and maybe one special woman, because I have a lot to offer and none of them ever see that because I always screw it up before they can. *sigh* How does a guy really flirt with a woman appropriately without coming off desperate. Thanks in advance.