I have long suspected that it is pretty much impossible to predict when someone will trigger a companion conversation, and when that will occur in the overarching story.  The companion dialogue has to be written essentially blind and not reference things that may or may not have happened.  Equally, the main story is written blind to what may or may not have transpired between your character and the companion.  While some companion conversations are gated by getting to a certain chapter, that’s about it.  You can finish up most companion conversations at the beginning of Chapter 3, provided that you have enough affection.

The romance options are tricky in this regard.  In the main story when you have the opportunity to flirt, the answer is usually something noncommittal.  More than once, my character had been married to the companion in question, and a [flirt] in the main story line was met with a generic reaction that could be applicable to dating, marriage (less so), or neither.  I noted that Torian in the BH story was quite smitten with my toon in the main storyline conversations but then was subsequently standoffish with her in companion conversations until bribed sufficiently with guns and ammo.

Then we get to Mr. Quinn.  AHEM!

***SPOILERS ABOUND!  SHIELD THINE EYES.***

***NO, SERIOUSLY, STOP READING.***

***I MEAN IT.***

***ANYBODY WANT A PEANUT?***