Golden Bachelor Mel Owens and Peg Munson are ready to debut their relationship with Bachelor Nation — but they’re still not in a rush to get engaged.
“You know what’s nice about being in your 60s and going through life, you get to write your own love story — and we’re on the same page,” Peg, 62, said during After the Final Rose on Wednesday, November 12, when asked by host Jesse Palmer whether a proposal is around the corner. “That’s a love story the way that we get to do it, and to continue to grow our love, continue to spend time with our families and that’s the nice part about being in our 60s in your golden years is being able to do what you want to with that connection you have with someone.”
Peg and Mel, 66, didn’t reveal dish on plans for an engagement, but they both easily proclaimed that they’re “in love” with one another.
“I saw our love grow all the way through, and it’s special when it’s the right person,” Mel gushed, detailing their life since Golden Bachelor wrapped. “We’ve spent some time together and we had moments together. We had some time and one thing that I love about her is the energy and the get up and go [attitude].”
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The duo also revealed they have big plans for the immediate future, noting that a trip to Las Vegas, Michigan and the Super Bowl are both on the books.
Mel and Peg will also jet set to Napa Valley for a romantic getaway together, thanks to ABC.
“It really is about finding love and bringing the families together,” Jesse concluded. “What a night, unforgettable moments, real emotions and a love story that we’ll be talking about for a really long time.”
Earlier in the episode, Mel picked Peg after Cindy, 60, eliminated herself over fears that Mel wasn’t ready to get married.
Mel kicked off his journey as the season 2 Golden Bachelor in September, narrowing down his list of suitors to Peg and Cindy. While reflecting on his connections with the women, Mel told Us Weekly in his cover story that Cindy was “always outgoing and forward.”
“She’s passionate, compassionate and brilliant,” he told Us, joking that he could “call it a wrap” on the show upon her limo exit. “I’m thinking, ‘Wow. She’s obviously beautiful.’”
With Peg, Mel gushed that she’s “high energy” and was curious to “crack” her. “I had to figure out if she really liked me or not!” he said, noting that he wanted her to be more affectionate, “I [had] to bring it out.”
Before determining which of his suitors was The One, Mel explained that he decided to create a pros and cons list to gain clarity.
“I usually don’t make those types of lists. I can do it in my head, but when you write stuff down, it’s meaningful,” Mel told Us. “I wanted to write down my first impressions, the goods, the bads, the neutrals. It really didn’t sway me, but I could still look at it.”
“It was tough,” he continued, “and I’m just trying to figure out who is going to be the best fit for me, who I would enjoy. The hometowns are all great. But there’s that magnetism that pulls you in that direction no matter what, and it’s a little bit more toward one person than the other, so I went with my gut.”
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Mel, who gushed that the show “can put on a production” regarding his proposal in Antigua, teased that the ending is “really emotional.”
“And you’re a little nervous, but it’s so brilliant,” he said. “It’s so good, you won’t believe it. … You won’t believe how we get there, not mechanically, but how we get there emotionally. There’s some movement and twists and turns.”
Mel was previously married to Fabiana Owens, with whom he shares two sons, for nearly 20 years — until she fell in love with someone else.
“I’m never going to get in the way of someone’s happiness. If you want to find somebody else in a different phase in your life, it hurts, but I can’t get in the way of your happiness,” he said, before explaining how he navigated moving on. “You live in the moment. Plus, I had kids, so I had to think about them before me. I let things work themselves out. I have patience and understanding.”
