He’s the Sportsbet favourite to capture Sophie Monk’s heart in The Bachelorette finale.
And millionaire Stu Laundy appeared smitten during a romantic date with Sophie Monk to the Sydney Aquarium during which he promised to take care of the singer for life.
While the intimate date ultimately ended with a kiss between the pair, Stu seemed to have his guard up during a very tense chat.
Seal-ed with a kiss: The Bachelorette’s Stu Laundy (left) kisses Sophie Monk (right) during intimate date but did he then put her in the friendzone?
The publican appeared keen to settle down with Sophie early on in the date, commenting that he wanted to give her only the very best.
‘I am a very protective guy and I like taking care of people. If Sophie would like, I’d nurture and look after her and take care of her for the rest of her life,’ he said during the date where the pair got up close and personal with dugongs.
However, things took an awkward turn as the pair sat down for an intense conversation.
After previously hearing the bombshell that Stu is still technically married and has had a vasectomy, Sophie grilled the affluent businessman for more information on his personal life.
Water way to fall in love! Everything was going well during the aquarium date, where Stu vowed to look after Sophie for life
Awkward: However, things took a turn for the worse when Sophie grilled him about his divorce during a very intense chat
The former Bardot singer asked him about when exactly he planned to finalise his divorce but a hesitant Stu seemed to dart around the question.
Stuttering, he responded: ‘Uh, very soon, hopefully. It’s not… you know, that there’s any chance there. But it’s…it’s not far away.’
Stu also avoided giving a definitive answer as to whether he thought Sophie was marriage material which made the blonde bombshell second-guess whether he was ready for commitment.
Commitment phobia? Despite seeming keen early on, Stu appeared to avoid answering when he would finalise his divorce and had his guard up on his emotions
‘Are you friend-zoning me?’ Sophie was clearly taken aback when Stu described them as having a ‘very firm friendship’
Making things worse, Stu then appeared to put Sophie in the friendzone, telling her: ‘I think we’ve established a very…and don’t get me wrong when I say this…a very firm friendship’.
He continued: ‘I’m not saying there’s no romance there. I’m very affectionate with you.’
Despite his assurances that he saw her in a romantic light, Sophie was clearly taken aback
She hit back: ‘Are you friend-zoning me?’, to which he replied: ‘Not one bit’.
Though a question mark still lingers over whether Stu is in it for the long haul, Sophie was willing to keep him around for the finale.
Instead, she teared up as she said goodbye to magician Apollo Jackson, leaving vineyard owner Jarrod Woodgate and Stu battling it out in the final two.
Headed home: Stu managed to make it through to the finale along with Jarrod Woodgate (left) as Apollo Jackson (right) was left without a rose