For Love or Money 3, Episode 2: The Value of Hormones

Preston Emerson has come to find the love of his life, but something funny happened on the way to the altar. They went and put money in the picture. Gauche, no? What started as 16 women has been narrowed to six. The women have the chance to choose between Preston or a blank check valued at an amount they are not aware of! It's gamble: take a chance on Preston or a check that could be valued at $1 million. It gets worse, if Preston can convince one of the lovelies to choose him over the money, he gets their check -- whatever it's worth!

The ladies who remain, and the value of their checks (unbeknownst to them) are as follows:

• Rachel ($1)
• P.J. ($50,000)
• Rebekah ($1)
• Andrea ($500,000)
• Jamie ($250,000)
• Ali -- pronounced "alley" -- ($1 million)

Yes, just one million dollar lady left. Preston stupidly sent two other million dollar ladies home. I say stupidly because I'm jaded enough to believe that with a million dollars, there will be no shortage of bachelorettes, cameras or not! Of course, Preston could say he has his own millions already.

But, he hasn't said that, has he?

Last week, as you may recall, Dead-Eyed Jordan broke up the last six's victory toast deliver more news. The news is Preston knows about the checks. He even knows how much they're worth! The ladies are rocked. Rachel and Andrea are annoyed that they aren't holding the cards anymore. Meanwhile, Rebekah and P.J. seem determined to make sure Preston knows they are here for love, not money.

Later, Jordan has more fun 'n games in store for the ladies. They stand in the parlor before the eerie portraits of themselves. Each woman has a box in front of her containing a heart or a dollar sign. They take turn placing a heart or a coin on the portraits of their competitors (a heart says they are there for love, a dollar sign for money). When all is said and done, Rachel has five dollar signs on her portrait. P.J. has three hearts.

Sounds about right!

The ladies assume this means that P.J. and Rachel will be excluded from alone dates. Naw, says Jordan, something like a smile playing on his embalmed mouth. P.J. and Rachel will get one on one dates, the others will be on a group date! Andrea fumes. It gets worse for Andrea.

Rachel and P.J. have also been given the chance to find out the value of their checks. It comes down to a coin flip (heart or dollar sign of course). P.J. wins and learns she has a chance to win $50,000. Jordan, never one to leave well enough alone, you may have noticed, gives her a chance to trade checks with another lady for a chance at one million dollars. Or, she may end up with a ducat. P.J. says she'll stick with what she has. Smart girl.

No financial dummy, Andrea says she knows Preston is thinking about money, so she is thinking about money too. The limo picks up the ladies to go on their group date. They all agree to give each other time alone with Preston. They arrive at a Japanese garden. Preston says two of the ladies will have to prove themselves on this date to stay around.

Alone with Jamie, he admits to having a little crush on her, but Jamie remains guarded. Meanwhile, Andrea gives the full court press, and Preston is like a gawky teenager around her (he's so outclassed). Andrea manages to hog Ali and Rebekah's time, so no aloneness for them! To us, Preston says he genuinely likes Rebekah, so if her check were a million, it would only be a bonus.

Back at the mansion, Rachel turns the pressure on for details about their dates, but the ladies give very little away. The next morning at breakfast, the ladies are given puzzle pieces. It takes them an hour, but the puzzle says "2 of you have $1." That's a mood-killer!

Speaking of mood-killers, Rachel bounds into the waiting limo to see Preston. There are flowers, but not for her. The card says "Congratulations, Bob & Kay," and they go to an anniversary party for Bob & Kay. At a retirement home. Rachel is not remotely amused. (She was the dollar sign winner, though Preston seems unaware of that; maybe there is a lesson here for the money-hungry shrew!) Preston manages to keep things light, and they dance and eat cake. Rachel tells Preston between kisses in the limo that she would be willing to move to Denver if things worked out… if my uncle were a woman, he'd be my aunt!

Rachel returns home from her date with stars in her eyes (or so she's pretending, to annoy Andrea). Obviously, the other women want to know what's up with that! Rachel lies that she didn't kiss Preston, and the date was "okay." Rachel's coyness infuriates Andrea, who claims that she's just sick of hearing about it.

It's P.J.'s turn for a solo date. She descends down the mansion stairs in slow-motion, hair tossled by the wind… it's so cheesy. Preston says he likes P.J.'s "natural beauty" (yes, she's naturally in slow-mo!) and he thinks she's likely to choose him over money.

Preston takes her to an empty theater and they arrive at a loveseat. They sit on the loveseat and it slowly rises to a stage where they are treated to a private ballet. As the ballet dancers twirl and pivot, Preston decides this is a great time to make out. They share a kiss. "She's so sincere and genuine, you almost question it!" That says a lot about the women Preston's been dating!