12 Things That Keep Him Hooked and Happy

I've been going out with women for years, and I honestly can't remember a single piece of sexy lingerie or a sunset stroll. What does stick out in my mind? The time I offhandedly told a girl how much I liked seeing our shoes together in a little pile after we'd hurriedly tossed them off on the way to bed.

A day later she sent me a letter, and right there, glued to the envelope, were cutouts from a magazine of a guy's sneaker and a woman's stiletto. The fact that she'd even remembered my comment, much less gone home and grabbed the scissors and Elmer's, was sincere, and irresistible. The relationship didn't last, but all these years later, I still have the letter.

So am I suggesting every woman should brush up on her arts and crafts? Not exactly. The point is it's the little things only you would think to do that leave us ecstatic and elevate you to unforgettable. Want to know what they are? Tons of guys contributed their thoughts here, with no arm-twisting from me. Whatever sexy, funny, generous or gutsy thing you did, I think they're hoping you'll do it again!

I once took a girl out on a first date not realizing it happened to be Valentine's Day. As we settled into our pink and red doily-covered table and looked over the heart-shaped menus, I was ready to die. But she was so cool about the whole thing, and went out of her way to make me feel OK about it, that I fell for her before the "I'm So in Love With You Ribeye for Two" arrived. Whether a man loves dating or hates it, we all agree: It's like a high-wire act. Sometimes you slip, plummet and crash. Other times, she catches you. And when she does, you know she's a keeper.

"I was really into my coworker. Even though she'd smile at me if our eyes met in a meeting, I was afraid to ask her out. What if she was just being friendly? After I spent three months kicking myself for not doing anything, she invited me for a drink. It was awesome. A woman can't rely on a guy always picking up on her hints, so go ahead and initiate things … please!"

—Deepak,* 34, Orange, Conn.

*Note: Names throughout have been changed

"Shortly after I met my girlfriend, we went out for a drink and she ordered a Scotch on the rocks. Aside from the fantasy I instantly had of us having more Scotch together in a future post-romantic moment, I read it as a sign that she had a confidence that allowed her to go against the grain of 'girly' date behavior. Very sexy."

—Chuck, 33, Syracuse, N.Y.

"I know offering to drive is the gentlemanly thing to do, but when my now girlfriend got behind the wheel on our second date, it took the pressure off me to be so responsible for the night. I could kick back, relax and have an extra beer. And watching her handle the car was hot."

—Jeremy, 35, Atlanta

"The wallet reach is a tricky moment on any first date. You know she's not going to pay, she knows she's not going to pay, so should she even bother pretending she will? By all means, yes! One of the best parts of my last date was the sweet way she grabbed for her bag when the check came. I got to feel manly ('No, no, I've got it!'), and I appreciated that she didn't expect everything to be given to her just because she's pretty."

—David, 32, Baltimore

"I love hearing a woman talk passionately about something, whether it's world peace or her favorite television show or her mother's lasagna. Seeing what's special to her shows me what's special about her."

—Ryan, 29, Tacoma, Wash.

I'm sure I'm not the first guy to have a girl write him an amazing letter, or help him pick out fancy jeans, or dispense good advice about his thorny work issue. In fact, I bet this happens all the time. But when you are the guy in the story, and the girl is someone you still can't believe even remembers your name, well then, you never want to let go.

"In the past, as long as a woman had a decent stash of menus at her house, I was good. But my new girlfriend cooks these dishes that satisfy so much more than my appetite — they take time and are from the heart. It's really special."

—Jacob, 22, New York City