After Katie Thurston handed her First Impression Rose to Greg on the "Bachelorette" premiere, she was interested in getting to know the handsome New Jersey native a bit better.

So, it was no surprise that Greg also became the lucky winner of Katie’s first one-on-one date of Season 17, which aired Monday night.

“I knew the date was going to be centered around my dad, so it was a very important date. And Greg was someone I had an early connection with right away,” Katie explained to Becca Kufrin and guest co-host Tayshia Adams on this week’s episode of “Bachelor Happy Hour.”

“So, without really getting to know a lot of the guys, I was like, ‘Greg’s the best one at this time to go on this date with me,’” the reigning franchise lead continued.

As viewers will recall, Katie treated Greg to a romantic date outdoors that saw the pair pitching a tent, fishing, and enjoying New Mexico’s stunning landscape.

“He was so shy and insecure, and I was like, ‘I’m going to give him that validation and really get him to bring down his walls and get to know him better,’” Katie said of her decision to take Greg on the date. “I didn’t want that to be a problem going forward, if he continued to be shy and closed off.”

Making herself vulnerable, Katie told Greg that the date was inspired by the relationship she shared with her late father — who often took her camping in her home state of Washington before he passed away in 2012. Later that night, during the dinner portion of their date, Greg tearfully revealed to Katie that he, too, lost his father two years ago.

“He was the perfect one to go on the date with — although not knowing that he had also lost his dad,” she recounted. “So, it really was this beautiful thing that I could never have predicted.”

Tayshia — who co-hosted “The Bachelorette” Season 17 alongside fellow former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe — asked Katie if she wished Greg had told her about his dad’s death earlier in the day.

“I do actually wish he told me during the day because as I’m telling him my story, I could tell there was something he wanted to say or holding back,” Katie responded. “But also, as someone who lost a parent, if he’s not ready to talk about it or doesn’t want to get emotional in front of me, then that’s fine.”

She added, “But there was kind of a little bit of a roadblock at times when I would recognize there was something he’s thinking about — but he wouldn’t open up about it until that evening.”

Katie went on to say that she and Greg “definitely bonded” during their touching one-on-one.

“It was a huge moment for Greg and I because here he is getting emotional in front of me, which I know sometimes for men that’s hard. I was just letting him know that it’s OK to cry and embrace your emotions,” she elaborated. “And for us to talk about him and his dad, it was something I think he’s been needing to do in general because it has only been two years and it’s a tough thing to still have to think about as he’s wanting to move forward with having a family and children and marriage.”

Listen to the latest edition of “Bachelor Happy Hour” below — and see how Katie’s journey continues to unfold when “The Bachelorette” airs Monday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.