The cat needs to be in the mood for the type of play you want. You can either learn to notice that mood in your cat or learn how to tease it out of her. If you want "aggressive play" where you roll her around, bat paws, grapple/ play fight then she really needs to be in the mood for it or worked up to it and she must trust you. If you want toy play (feather on a string / ball) tease her with it just out of reach, if she goes for it then you are golden. If you want just pets and cuddles let her smell your hand and then carefully approach parts of her body and see what she likes. Base of tail, cheek/chin, and neck/ears are general safe good places. There is also an issue of trust and communication(non verbal) which it seems you two are currently struggling with. If you come into the room she is in, or she comes into your area acknowledge her (get her attention/make noise) and get short eye contact, then slow blinks or look to the sides to show her you know she is there and you are happy and not looking for a fight. (Do not stare her down) The behavior you described sounds like a slight lack of communication and trust, I think you both can warm up to each other. Cats really only use vocal communication with humans, so those meows are her trying to tell you something you are not picking up out of her body language.