“The Bachelor” hasn’t even premiered and things are already getting awkward! A new clip from the Season 20 premiere of the ABC dating reality series shows that ladies are really into star Ben Higgins. However, Ben wants to take things slow!

A sneak peek of episode 1 was released by Entertainment Weekly Monday and shows the 27-year-old software salesman spending some one-on-one time with a contestant named Lace. Things apparently started off well for them as Lace mentions that they already kissed, however, Lace wants a “better first kiss.” Unfortunately for the 25-year-old real estate agent, Ben doesn’t appear to be interested in locking lips again.

“Well, I think going into this my goal was to really get to know everybody before – because obviously you’re gorgeous – it’s so easy to get sucked up in the physical part of the night,” Ben stumbles with his words before adding again that she looks “gorgeous.”

He continues that he doesn’t want to forget to take time to talk. But Lace doesn’t even get to talk to him after that. The two are interrupted by Mandi, a 28-year-old dentist – and Lace is NOT happy about that. She tells the cameras that the fellow contestant swooped in just as she was about to kiss Ben again and that he denied her.

“I don’t look like a fool or anything,” she adds, clearly annoyed by the situation. However, Ben wasn’t just using “talking” as an excuse. He told International Business Times on a press call earlier this month that he wants to get to know the contestants “outside of a physical aspect.”

“I think that’s always important in a relationship and that comes with time, but I wanted to make sure that we spent our time getting to know each other one-on-one and not necessarily kissing, or you know, making out the whole time,” he explained.

[CLICK HERE to watch “The Bachelor” Season 20 premiere sneak peek video on EW.]

Looks like the drama is already building! The 2016 season of “The Bachelor” premieres on ABC Monday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. EST.

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