Golden Bachelor’s Gerri Reacts to Receiving Mel Owens’ 1st Impression Rose: ‘Shocked’ (Exclusive)

Golden Bachelor season 2 contestant Gerri couldn’t believe she was the recipient of Mel Owens’ coveted first impression rose during the Wednesday, September 24, premiere.

“I was absolutely shocked,” Gerri exclusively shared with Us Weekly while on set for the first group date. “I had no idea and I was just so thankful. But I just could not even imagine.”

Gerri noted that her connection with Mel was “very dearing” to her, explaining that the pair talked about her late husband and how she raised her children. “Mel said that it touched his heart,” Gerri added.

While reflecting on her limo exit on the premiere night — where she dressed up as a nurse equipped with a cap and stethoscope — Gerri explained that she first took note of Mel’s eyes.

“I thought he was very handsome, and there was something in his eyes that twinkled very genuine. I thought he was very genuine,” she said, noting that she was “absolutely” attracted to him once she stepped out of the car.

Gerri gushed that she feels like she’s dreaming. “I’m just like, ‘Someone pinch me please.’ Because this is not happening to me. This is just not happening. It’s amazing,” she told Us.

As Mel searches for The One, he has host Jesse Palmer by his side. Jesse exclusively told Us that the pair have bonded over being NFL alums, noting that he and Mel are “sort of cut from the same cloth a little bit more in terms of our backgrounds and what we thought we knew coming into this role.” (Mel was the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.)

“I thought the exact same way as Mel did back when I was the Bachelor years and years and years ago,” Jesse admitted. “When you’re playing football, you’re just always practicing, you’re lifting weights, you’re watching film, so you can go execute on game day.”

He continued: “But telling Mel, ‘Look, there’s nothing you can do that’s going to prepare you for being the Golden Bachelor, and you just have to be yourself. You have to show the women the good, the not perfect, and you have to put your walls down as early as you can, because the women are the ones that are going to follow your lead. And the sooner you do that, the sooner they’ll do that as well.’”

The Golden Bachelor season 2 airs on ABC Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.