Her husband looked at her legs with interest. "Are those new jeans, Nicole? They're very nice!"

[alpacinou]

Is there a word that means to "look at someone with interest and in a good way"?

Her husband looked at her legs with interest. "Are those new jeans, Nicole? They're very nice!"

I understand the underlined part is not natural. What can I use instead?

 

[tedmc]

How about:
Nicole's legs/jeans caught her husband's attention.

 

[Barque]

... looked appreciatively at ...
... gave her legs an appreciative look.

 

[Rover_KE]

If she’s wearing jeans he wouldn’t be able to see her legs.

 

[PeterCW]

If she’s wearing jeans he wouldn’t be able to see her legs.

It depends how tight fitting they are.