Jessica Simpson & John Mayer Get Closer

By: Shannon Gossage

Simpson, 26, and Mayer, 29, were in New York City to celebrate New Year’s Eve. They were spotted together Friday night at the Mercer Kitchen for dinner. Saturday they spent walking around Barneys New York. An eyewitness said, "John smiled playfully at Jessica as he held her arm. They were real affectionate. They didn’t seem to care who saw them. They were out and proud as a couple and Jessica looked so happy." Simpson reportedly found a necklace she liked and told the salesperson that she was waiting for her "boyfriend" to decide. When Mayer returned she allegedly modeled the jewelry for him. A shopper said, "They seemed almost like a married couple."

Later that night the two dined at the Mexican eatery Dos Caminos in SoHo and according to an onlooker were "very flirty, obviously so engaged with each other." They then dropped by the Comedy Cellar. Mayer had done a stand-up routine there earlier in the week. Who knew he was a comedian? The two reportedly showed up at the Hudson Hotel a little after 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and sat in the V.I.P. section. The two snuggled up for a bit and Mayer reportedly kissed Simpson on the forehead before he went off to mingle. They stayed until around 3 a.m. and then were off to the club Stereo.

This is really the first time that Simpson and Mayer have been so affectionate in public. The rumors that they are dating have been circulating for quite some time now. In November a friend of Mayer’s said, "They’re fond of each other. There’s a flirtation." And a friend of Simpson’s had said at the time that there was "no title to their relationship." Maybe they are ready to go public now that her divorce from Nick Lachey is final and their estate has officially been settled. Whatever the case…Simpson and Mayer seem to be enjoying one another’s company very much.