Is it normal for a manager to crave attention from a specific employee

I know a manager who told me about an employee
Who he likes as a worker, but who he says don't "like him". She use to work for the same company before he started and has since started again a few months after he
Moved there as manager. There is a weired tension between them. Not sexual tension. They don't really know each other. She seems annoyed with his presence. But here's the strange part. He keeps trying to appease her. He complains about her not responding to him. Wither its saying "hi". "Handshake" or any type of interaction. His mood changes if she ignores or avoid him. She is one of the most hardworking employer in our company and is recognized for that. But when he is around, she avoids him. She closes up. If he s trying to talk to her, she doesnt' really respond, and he complains about it, but in
A boyish way. Like he has no power to change the situation. So he starts appeasing her by doing her job for her or helping her more than he should. But she still avoids him. Then he starts to act sad and gives her the silent treatment, as she gives him. Then goes back to appease her with excess assistant to her responsibility.

He is obsessed with whether or not she likes him because he keeps talking about that when she is in one of her moods. He is always trying to cheer her up with a fist bump, etc. But she is cold. He told her "I know you don't like me. Please reply". We heard him say it to her over the headphones we use at work. He is very outspoken and assertive otherwise. Why is our boss acting like a pushover for her?