Photo By: Greg Doherty/Bravo via Getty Images

Tom Schwartz ‘Blushing’ Over Katie Flood, Discusses ‘Therapeutic’ Winter House Trip

How vulnerable did Tom Schwartz feel while filming Winter House Season 3? He was associated with the affair between Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss, and was taking the wrath of the public at large. The Vanderpump Rules star had to return to LA mid-vacation to film the volatile reunion.

Most confusing of all, his crush turned out to have the same first and middle name as ex-wife Katie Maloney. Fellow Winter House star, Kyle Cooke, speculated that Schwartz was using it as an excuse not to get in too deep.

But overall, it was a good trip for Schwartz. And he spoke about the highs of the Winter House season during a recent interview.

The Winter House “cameras” made Schwartz wary of hurting his ex-wife

Tom Schwartz on Winter House
(Photo by: Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo)

Of course, Schwartz had to gush about Katie Flood. The Below Deck Mediterranean star was just as smitten with him as well.

“I am just honored to have been in her orbit. Floody’s awesome,” Schwartz told PEOPLE. “We have a great mutual respect and admiration for each other, [and] we just have fun together. We keep it light and cheeky, and we like to bust each other’s balls.”

The effect of the crush is still apparent, though the two have not furthered their relationship since filming.

Schwartz continued, “I’m super fond of her. She’s awesome. And I don’t know what else to say. I’m blushing now.”

The whole trip “was so uplifting and therapeutic and freaking awesome. It felt like a sweet, warm embrace of Mother Nature and friendship,” he added.  

Despite the “great chemistry,” Schwartz was concerned about the reality TV situation of it all. Schwartz said he “was very aware … of cameras and everything.”

“I didn’t want to disgrace my ex-wife somehow,” he added. “I don’t even know. Even though we had been separated for a year, I felt like I had kind of [messed] up with the whole kiss [with Rachel] in Mexico thing, and it hurt her feelings.”

Interestingly enough, Katie was fine with Schwartz hooking up with the former chief stew. “I didn’t want to bring any negative attention her way. Maybe I was just overthinking it because Katie was, like, she was cheering me on, apparently. She was, like, all for it,” the Vanderpump Rules star explained.

Catch Winter House Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.

TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO SCHWARTZ’S COMMENTS? DO YOU THINK THE WINTER HOUSE VACATION WAS GOOD FOR HIM? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIS CONNECTION WITH KATIE?

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