There are only two episodes to go until Richie Strahan hands out his final rose in what will surely be a dramatic season finale of The Bachelor Australia.
And as the completion heats up, so do the feelings of the lovely ladies left in the running for the rope technician’s heart.
The stakes are high with the prize of Richie’s heart up for grabs, and during last night’s hometown episode of the beloved dating show, contenders Alex Nation and Nikki Gogan laid it all on table.
First to profess her love was single mum Alex. Richie clearly found his hometown date with Alex a little daunting as the blonde’s family fired interrogating questions at him over lasagna.
After a long day of what resembled a particularly tough job interview, it was time for the pair to say their goodbyes.
Richie was noticeably frazzled by the family’s interrogation.
“Um, I just didn’t want you to go away not knowing. You know, I… I think I am falling for you,” began the mother of five-year-old Elijah.
When Richie, clearly lost for words, failed to respond, the venue manager went on: “I am. I feel it and it’s exciting, but it’s very scary. Um, but I am. I… I am falling for you completely,” she finished with a smile.
Still at a loss for anything to say, the strawberry blonde beau leaned in for a goodbye kiss.
Watch both hopefuls confess their feelings in the video player below! Post continues…
Nikki took her confession a touch further, by literally voicing those three little words.
After an undoubtedly successful meeting with the real estate agent’s family, the WA-based beauty felt comfortable enough to truly open up.
“These last couple of months have been crazy amazing for me. I’ve had the time of my life and, um, all of that is because of you,” she admitted.
“The way that you make me feel, Rich, is something that I’ve never felt before and, no matter what, I’m going to remember this night, this day, this moment for forever.
“I guess I’ve known for a while… I’m totally in love with you.”
Although the 31-year-old refrained from responding a second time, the girls’ decision to wear their hearts on their sleeves proved to be a wise one, as they both received roses to guarantee their spot in finals week.
Nikki and Richie, sitting in a tree!
And while one bachelorette gets closer to finding her happily ever after, it would seem that, since departing the reality show, two former contestants have found just that – with each other.
Former front-runner Megan Marx has had fans questioning her relationship status after uploading a series of racy snaps with evicted hopeful Tiffany Scanlon.
The pair, who posed topless together on each of their Instagram accounts, are yet to confirm their relationship, but in a new interview with OK! Magazine, the 27-year-old dropped a few hints.
The couple have been very public about their affection for one another.
“I think you can probably tell from the pictures that have been posted that we don’t have the most conventional relationship,” said Megan, who controversially walked out on Richie.
“Tiff is a beautiful woman and we’re very close… Sometimes you just meet people who you have a strong connection with and I guess that started in the house and it never finished,” she went on, revealing that the pair have not spent a day apart.
“I think that when it comes to attraction, for me, it’s usually a connection of minds and humour before anything else, and I’m traditionally attracted to men but I don’t rule anything out… I would say that Tiff’s in the same boat.”
“She’s able to cop the unwelcome, contaminated streams from the world, without becoming impure; because she is like the sea. Her heart is full of deep ocean minerals that splinter and disintegrate all the bad tastes, the hurtful mass ideas, and the ways of living that kill simple joys,” captioned Megan beside this snap.
And while Megan has seemingly refrained from responding to speculation with a definitive ‘yes’, her rumoured girlfriend may have taken the liberty of doing it for both of them.
“Finally I can proclaim I did find love on The Bachelor,” Tiffany captioned an Instagram snap of her and Megan. “I love this girl so much…”
Congratulations on finding love, you two!
