"Purely speculative?" His tone was teasing. He felt good. At ease with her in a way that bordered on the ease he'd felt with her in combat. But different. The priorities had shifted. And what was his priority in that moment? Well, spending a nice afternoon with a good friend. A reliable friend. A beautiful woman.
"You make it hard for me to pay you a compliment, when you make it clear you neither want nor need it from me." He shrugged. "I left whatever suaveness I might have had back in the 40's anyway. Would probably bungle it."