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Rachel Truehart

SOUTHAMPTON - Their moment of intimacy wasn't exactly private, but Southampton native Rachel Truehart said she was falling for Benjamin Flajnik after they shared a romantic date on the latest episode of "The Bachelor," watched by 7 million viewers Monday.

Truehart, 27, is one of the 11 remaining women vying to be Flajnik's sweetheart on the reality TV series. Its 16th season began with 25 contestants.

When episode 4 aired on ABC Monday, Truehart was treated to coveted "alone" time with Flajnik, rather than a group date other contestants went on. She and Flajnik took a helicopter ride over Park City, Utah, as they headed to the great outdoors for Truehart's first one-on-one date with the bachelor.

They took a canoe ride that Truehart described on the show as "really romantic" and had a picnic near the sparkling lake, where the two sat quietly, sipping champagne.

Flajnik said the conversation was "kind of lagging" and commented that he did not know why his date seemed to be "holding back."

But there was also some mutual admiration going on. "I really like you and I'm happy to be here," Truehart said, to which Flajnik responded, "Likewise."

Later in the date, when the two shared a candlelit dinner in the forest, Truehart admitted to Flajnik that she had problems communicating and "opening up" in past relationships.

In an interview segment of the show, Truehart said she was upset the date didn't go as planned. "If I failed to open up and didn't get a rose, I think I'd be heartbroken," she said.

Truehart told Flajnik that because she may not volunteer some information, if he was wondering about anything, he should just ask her to talk about it. She said she liked spending time with him and was ready to take a risk on him.

"I'm super honest and I'll tell you anything," Truehart told Flajnik.

In the end, Flajnik gave her a rose - and a kiss - which means that she will advance to the next episode of "The Bachelor."

Flajnik said he thought his relationship with Truehart may take more time to develop compared to the other women.

"It was a special moment for the two of us to share," he said on the show. "I liked kissing Rachel, I liked being around her. I think it's going to be a slow burn."

On the same episode, tensions between the contestants escalated in the house they share and on a group fly fishing date, and Flajnik sent two women packing.

On the next episode, which airs Monday at 8 p.m., Truehart and the other 10 women travel to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, to woo Flajnik.

In an earlier interview with the Gazette, Truehart said she was nominated for the show by a family friend after her last relationship ended. She now lives in New York City.

Rebecca Everett can be reached at reverett@gazettenet.com.