RHONJ: Dolores boyfriend Paulie has her engagement ring. Now, it's not a surprise to her

Did Paulie Connell put the cart before the house?

Connell, boyfriend of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Dolores Catania, had a revealing dinner with Dolores' extended family on the Tuesday, May 9 episode.

The subject of engagement rings came up.

“Did she tell you what kind of ring she wants?” asked Frank, her ex-husband.

“I already have it,” Paulie said.

“You already have it,” ask a disbelieving Frank. “Are you serious?”

He apparently is, although this was news to Dolores.

“Like, it's nice to think about these things but like my dad said when Frank brought a house before we got married and put it in my name, don't put the cart before the horse,” Dolores said.

Marriages and horse-drawn carts seem to go hand-in-hand in Ireland, as anyone who's seen “The Quiet Man” can attest.

Frank was on edge going into the dinner with Paulie, whom he called “Buzz Lightyear” at last season's reunion.

“I'm almost feeling Paulie doesn't want to be in the same room as me but I want this dinner to be where Paulie sees the relationship between Dolores and I when we're all together and he'll accept us and our family can go back together to how it used to be,” Frank said.

More: RHONJ: Bad blood between Teresa Giudice and brother Joey Gorga stems from bad pizza deal

More: RHONJ: Can marijuana bring siblings Teresa Giudice and Joey Gorga back together?

Everyone learned a little bit about Paulie. He emigrated to the United States when he was 23 and became a receptionist to support himself. He's now the owner of a “high-end” electrical contracting company in New York City, according to his Linkedin page.

“I wasn't Paulie's biggest fan when I first met him because I thought Paulie was a little stuck up but I realize he's like me," Frank said. "We're breaking some barriers and that's all I was looking for."

Thankfully, there's no language barrier.

“When you came here did you not know any English or did you speak some English?” asked Brittany.

“Over there we all speak English,” said Paulie with a smile.

On the subject of weddings, the upcoming nuptials between Teresa Giudice and Louie Ruelas are coming up, but the question lingers whether Teresa's brother, Joey Gorga, and his wife Melissa Gorga, will attend.

Louie has grown increasingly antagonistic toward Joey, his future brother-in-law, over the season.

“I want to talk to your brother as much as I would want to talk to a rat in the street,” Louie said.

OK, but tell us how you really feel?

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” airs 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on Bravo. The next episode is the season finale, which will be followed by a wedding special.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: RHONJ: Dolores Catania boyfriend Paulie has engagement ring