Page 70 of Daddy Down Under

A rustling above caught our attention, and we both looked up to see a flash of gray fur. “Possum,” Ocean explained. “Different from the ones we have back home. These guys are way cuter.”

I chuckled. “Hard to be worse than New York City possums. Those things look like rats on steroids.”

The boardwalk opened into a small clearing where a wooden platform offered a view over a valley thick with ferns and palms. Ocean pulled me to a stop, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. His chest pressed against my back, solid and warm.

“This is my favorite spot,” he whispered near my ear, his breath tickling my skin. “Sometimes, when the wind comes from the right direction, you can hear the ocean from here. It’s like the forest and the sea are having a conversation.”

I leaned back into him, letting his strength support me as I took in the view. The morning mist was starting to lift, revealing layers of green in every imaginable shade. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful, baby boy,” he countered, kissing my neck.

A loud screech from above made me jump, breaking the moment. Ocean laughed, the sound rich and warm. “Just a cockatoo. They’re the drama queens of the forest.”

“You really know a lot about this place.”

His eyes, true to their nickname, reflected all the wild beauty around us. “I spent a lot of time exploring when I first came here. The ocean was my escape, but this?” He gestured to our surroundings. “This became my sanctuary. Sometimes, you need somewhere quiet to figure things out, you know?”

He was so much more than the surfer dude I had pegged him for initially.

We left the rainforest behind us and continued our drive, rejoining our scenic drive along the ocean.

“We’re at the last viewpoint,” Danny announced, and Ocean and I exited the car again.

“It’s a bit of a walk here, but it’s totally worth it,” Ocean said. “This point overlooks what’s known as the Twelve Apostles, even though there’s only eight left. They’re natural rock formations that are truly awe-inspiring.”

As we rounded a bend, a bright-yellow sign caught my eye.CAUTION: Venomous Snakesit proclaimed in bold letters.

“Whoa, hold up,” I said, unable to keep the alarm from my voice. “Venomous snakes? As in, plural?”

“This is Australia, baby boy. They have venomous snakes here.”

“But…but aren’t those dangerous? Why would we want to walk here if there are snakes?”

He took my hand and pressed a kiss on it. “If that’s gonna stop you, you won’t see any of this beautiful country. There are snakes and spiders everywhere.”

I shuddered. “Not helping, dude. Not helping.”

Ocean chuckled. “Aw, is the big bad billionaire scared of a little snake?”

I shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. “I prefer my wildlife encounters to be of the cute and cuddly variety, thank you very much.”

He leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear. “Don’t worry, baby boy,” he whispered, the pet name sending a shiver down my spine. “I’ll protect you from the snakes.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at my lips. “You’d sacrifice yourself for me?”

“In a heartbeat.”

I wasn’t convinced, but since throngs of people were following the path, it couldn’t be that dangerous, right?

The sun painted the ocean in a kaleidoscope of colors—deep indigos bleeding into vibrant teals and soft lavenders. I was mesmerized by the changing hues, each turn in the road revealing a new masterpiece.

“It’s like the ocean can’t make up its mind.”

He chuckled softly beside me. “That’s the beauty of it. Always changing, always surprising you.”

I’d never met anyone who appreciated beauty the way Ocean did. He was so present and aware of the wonder around him.

“This is the spot,” he said softly, leading me to a wooden platform that jutted over the cliff edge. The wind whipped at our clothes, carrying the tang of salt and the distant cry of seabirds. “The locals call this Nature’s Symphony.”

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