[He falls into step with her once more, radiating a certain sense of confusion. For some reason the scattered surface thoughts can't discern, she chose to back off rather than pursue the issue, and he gives her a sideways look, one eyebrow cocked. Then,]

Beautiful women are a particular weakness of mine, I'd hardly deny it. But I think you're already aware of that, Mademoiselle, for I've seen few to match you.

[There's a genuine sense of aesthetic enjoyment in those words, and his smile is a little bit crooked. There are certain things to which Bruce's public persona are unerringly ignorant, but he doesn't think anyone would buy that he's been rich for as long as he has been, and an eligible bachelor for nearly two decades, and not experienced his fair share of people using him for his money or fame. Most of his relationships have been short, high-profile affairs to which there's an unusual level of media scrutiny, and nearly all of them crash and burn. Too many late nights away from his partners, too much silence, too much secrecy.

He doesn't mind. If anything, it helps him to maintain his cover. Everything is calculated.]