1 Woman Reveals She’s There for the Wrong Reasons

Connections are forming and some hard truths are coming out as Mel Owens’ journey on The Golden Bachelor continues.

Week 4 kicked off with the women expressing that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see Mel, 66, with other women, and Carol, 63, admitted, “This is really hard, living with a bunch of women trying to date the same man.”

Regardless, she said she has “feelings for Mel,” who she really opened up to last week.

A one-on-one date with Mel was up first, and Peg, 62, earned it, which surprised Nicolle.

“I genuinely don’t see the chemistry between Peg and Mel,” Nicolle, 64, said in a confessional. “I don’t think they go together. So that’s interesting.”

Peg, meanwhile, was “really excited” for some solo time with Mel. “It’s not easy for me to fall in love. I’ve had that armor around my heart for years,” she said in a confessional. “After my divorce, I was heartbroken. I was cheated on, and it was devastating. It really was. So I really keep myself protected.”

She decided Mel is “worth” taking a risk on, though.

He was also feeling good about things with the retired firefighter. “Peg and I hit it off early. Every time I’m around Peg, I can’t help but smile,” Mel said.

They spent the day together at the OC Fair, where Mel used to go when he played for the LA Rams, and he was very impressed by Peg’s skills at the carnival games, deeming the date a “perfect day.”

Peg then opened up to Mel about her past marriage, which ended in divorce in 2003 after her ex cheated on her. She said she devoted herself to her daughter after her divorce, and dove into motherhood and her career instead of focusing on dating.

She also teased that she got a tattoo after her divorce that she can’t show Mel yet. “We’ll talk about that when we’re in the fantasy suite,” she said, leading him to blush and smile big. “Cheers to that!”

For the second part of their date, Mel surprised Peg with a KC and the Sunshine Band concert, and they danced along from beside the stage, before joining the band onstage. It was there that Mel gave Peg her rose, dipped her and kissed her in front of the crowd.

“I don’t feel nervous around him, I just feel like this is something that we’ve been doing forever,” she told the cameras after the whirlwind day.

Back at the house, the women were waiting on the group date card when a bombshell came out, as Nicolle revealed her true intentions pretty blatantly.

“I’ve told myself from the beginning, I’m not dating Mel – I’m dating America. I’m dating everybody watching, and not watching. That gives you exposure like you’ve never had,” she declared.

The women around her overheard her comments, which Carol said “rubbed me the wrong way,” and then Nicolle took things one step further. When Robin, 63, asked a group of ladies, including Nicolle, what they’re hoping for themselves after the show, Nicolle said they’re going to have “Housewives status.”

“If they’re smart in the way the publicity goes, with our beautiful [cast] — I’m sorry, but the last cast? They weren’t so great-looking,” Nicolle said.

The yoga instructor also revealed her hopes to “become more of an influencer” thanks to the show’s exposure. Peg, meanwhile, said her only hopes for after the show are “a nice guy.”

Nicolle’s revelations rocked many of the women, and after the group date — a PEOPLE photoshoot! — Robin decided to address it with Mel.

“I’m an authentic person, I say things as they are, so I’ve been thinking about what I want to say to you,” she told him, warning him that she’s worried some women aren’t being “completely authentic.”

He asked if she meant that some women are “here for the wrong reasons,” and she confirmed that’s what she thought.

“I think people are self-serving. Because, potentially, they have an opportunity to promote whatever they’re trying to promote [by being on the show],” she explained.

Mel was mostly unfazed, though. “It makes me pause, but she didn’t name names, so we really don’t know,” he said in a confessional. “I think everybody’s here for the right reasons, but I appreciate her telling me that, and that’s her opinion. Overall, I think it’s a genuine bunch of women.”

The date also brought Carol, 63, and Mel closer, as she decided to “go for it” and kiss him. “He’s a good kisser, and now, I have a crush!” she said.

Later, he gave her the group date rose, which she “didn’t think [she] was gonna get.”

Instead of a traditional cocktail party to end the week, Mel and the women had a tailgate party, where lots of women made progress with him, including Cheryl, 66, who said he makes her feel like a princess.

“I’ve been waiting all my life for this feeling,” she said in a confessional as she got teary-eyed and choked up. “I don’t want this feeling to end, ever.”

Nicolle also got some more time with Mel during the party, and she took credit for the lemon bars that several of the women baked as a group gesture for Mel.

None the wiser, Mel said he can’t “resist” Nicolle, because she is “all about me, and I like that.”

She got the last laugh, too, because she got the final rose of the night at the rose ceremony, while Robin, Roxanne and Gerri were all sent home.

“We connected early, so to say goodbye is very, very difficult. But unfortunately, there are other relationships that are becoming deeper,” he explained in a confessional of his decision to send Gerri, the recipient of his first impression rose, home.

Then he walked her to her car and told her he’d still give her the first impression rose if he had to do it all over again. “It’s been a wonderful adventure,” she told him.

The episode ended with the six remaining women and Mel all jumping in the pool.

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The Golden Bachelor airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, and can be streamed the next day on Hulu.