John Mayer

John Mayer: Not Denying Jessica Romance

02/23/2007 at 06:35 PM EST

Though John Mayer has been coy about his romance with Jessica Simpson in the past, the singer may be loosening up a bit more when it comes to discussing their relationship.

When asked by Time Out New York, "So, what about Jessica? According to Extra, you can't deny you're a couple anymore," Mayer responds: "I don't think I've ever denied it. When did I deny it?"

Adds Mayer, whose fans might think the crooner and the pop star are an odd match: "I'm having the best time of my life, so if the names don't make sense to people, that's so small to me."

Mayer was most recently quizzed by Ryan Seacrest about Simpson on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Mayer answered Seacrest in Japanese and suggested, "Find a Japanese person and decode it."

It was decoded and it turns out Mayer said: "She's a lovely woman and I'm glad to be with her."

At Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party that same weekend, Mayer refused to take the bait when asked whether he preferred blondes or brunettes (right after Simpson changed her hair color): "I prefer women," he joked.

Simpson, 26, and Mayer, 29, have been spotted out together for months, including stops in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, but haven't publicly discussed their relationship.