The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin by Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin Page B

seemed to realize what I was thinking as he smiled and asked me if I’d like to meet his girlfriend. Had I misunderstood the chemistry between us? How could I feel such a strong attraction with someone who already had a girl?

    I was relieved to discover that Sui was not a human competitor for Steve’s affections.
    Steve was calling out to Sui now, so I tried not to look the way I felt. Inside I was dying. As he continued to call out, a little brindle dog came running up. I was then formally introduced to his girlfriend, Sui. Steve said that Sui was his little Staffordshire bull scrub yowie and he loved her dearly. This only made Steve even more special to me and I wondered how I’d ever get to see him again.
    I was about to leave the park and walk out of Steve’s life forever when he handed me a park brochure with his name hastily written on it. He told me that he hoped he would see me again.
    I must admit that the barbecue that afternoon was just a blur. My wheels were turning, trying to figure out a way to see this man again. Lori and I boarded a bus for Byron Bay and all I could do was think about Steve. When we returned to Brisbane I’d made my decision. I called Steve to ask if I could come visit the park again while Lori was spending the day scuba diving. Not only did Steve think this was a good idea, he invited me to stay at the park for the entire weekend. I agreed in an instant. Since Steve’s parents and sister also lived at the park, I decided not to worry.
    I was terribly nervous as Lori and her friends drove me up to the park on Friday afternoon. Lori and Julie were teasing me about my handsome crocodile-wrestler and my heart was pounding so hard I was sure it could be heard.
    Steve took me to the house, and there I met his sister Mandy, and his mum, Lyn, and his dad, Bob. Bob, Steve, and I sat on the sofa and discussed the work I was doing in the United States with predatory mammals. I think my cougar rescue work interested them as much as their crocodile rescue work interested me.
    Steve had arranged for me to stay at the Glasshouse Mountains Motel and when we arrived to check in, the couple who operate the motel were having a bit of a giggle at Steve’s expense. They merrily announced that they’d given me the honeymoon suite!
    Steve and I were to have dinner at Caloundra and the drive there went by all too quickly. I don’t remember the road at all. I only had eyes for Steve as he told story after story of his bush adventures.
    When we went in to eat I was pleased to discover it was a seafood buffet. We grabbed our plates and merrily piled them high with mud crab.
    While we were eating and talking, Steve suddenly got a very misty look in his eyes and I steadied myself for his saying something terribly romantic. Instead, with awe in his voice, he looked down at the crab spread up to my elbows and said, “Gosh, you’re not ladylike at all!” Lucky for me, this was a good thing.

    Steve and me in Los Angeles in 1995.
    When Steve dropped me back at the motel there was no tension over that first kiss. There was no first kiss at all! I had prepared myself the entire drive back for the possibility and, instead, Steve simply said that he’d be back first thing in the morning.
    He was back, first thing, as promised. As I scrambled to get my things together and get out the door, I wondered what the day would hold. It was turning out to be a typical hot Queensland day. When we arrived at the park, Steve handed me a rake and it was suddenly down to business. I was painfully aware of my sweat-drenched hair and flushed face when we’d finished raking the park clean of leaves and debris. Steve didn’t seem even to notice as we sat down for the mid-morning “smoko” break. And it amazed me to see Bob and Steve sit down to a hot cup of tea when all I wanted was a cold glass of water.
    After our break Steve decided to show me something of the community he lived in. We visited the local museum, oceanarium,