There are small things you do — both innately and intentionally — that secretly put a smile on your guy's face. And they're not what you'd guess (i.e., none of them involves a push-up bra). Read on for the scoop.
1. Watching You Primp
Your flatiron and eyelash curler look like medieval torture devices to men, yet watching you work your beauty magic fascinates us. "There's something so endearing about a girl standing in front of the mirror in a towel, putting on makeup," says Wes*, 31. Part of it is seeing the lengths you go to in order to look hot for us. But mostly it's the sneak peek into your private world that we find intriguing. So before a date or in the morning, leave the door open and let him watch you transform from wet-haired cutie to stunning goddess.
2. Hearing That He's Hot
You get personal satisfaction from looking good; your guy gets it from knowing that you think he looks doable. Acknowledge his physical assets with a sexy compliment, a butt squeeze, even elevator eyes, and he'll feel like a stud. Take it from Mike, 22: "I begrudgingly went clothes shopping with my girlfriend a few months ago," he says. "When I came out of the dressing room in new jeans, my girl gave me a lingering glance then whispered, 'Take me now!' She was half-joking, but she half-wasn't. And it made me feel pretty damn good."
3. Enjoying the Silence
Sometimes when guys are quiet, it's not because we're upset but that we're happy in the moment — so what's there to discuss?! "On our third date, my now-girlfriend ate her entire dessert in complete silence, gazing at me between bites," recalls Jason, 27. "I loved that she felt relaxed enough around me to do that." So resist the temptation to fill your next pregnant pause with a mind-numbing recap of The Hills rerun you just saw. Your restraint will speak volumes about your security in the relationship.
4. Giving Advice…That You Actually Act On
When you vent about your work/friend/mom issues, we know we're supposed to listen supportively. But true or not, guys believe that we have the solutions to most problems. So when you go off about some dilemma, we usually spout our advice. When you actually take those recommendations, it's validation that we know what we're talking about and, most important, you trust us.