How to Charm a Dryad (Wilds of Love #1)

Prologue

SADIE

“Yes!” I shout to the empty room. I’ve been waiting months for a backcountry position to become available, and a prime one just opened.

It’s in a remote part of the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.

Even better, it’s at a deep forest outpost, which means I get to live in the little cabin full-time, tucked away from hectic city life.

That might be a touch of an exaggeration, considering I currently live in a town of eight hundred people and twice as many cows.

It’s not exactly a metropolis, but some days it feels like it.

I rarely manage to go a whole day without running into someone I know.

For some people, that’s the charm of a small town, but I hate it.

I’m an introvert, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who meets me.

I’ve always been more at peace out in nature than I’ve ever been around any individual.

I have three friends, whom I rarely see.

It suits us fine to pick a weekend each year to meet somewhere for a few days of hiking and camping.

They’re people I’ve met over the years through outdoor-related activities, like wilderness first aid or survival training.

Since my parents died, they’re the only people I really care about.

I care about humankind in general, but forging individual connections is harder. It doesn’t help that I’d rather be out wandering in the woods alone than curled up on the couch watching a movie with someone.

I tested myself once to see how long I could go without human interaction, and I lasted three and a half weeks before I had to go back.

Not because I needed company, but because I’d have been fired from my job if I didn’t return.

The limit remains unknown. If I get this new position, it’ll give me the chance to test that more.

There’ll still be phone calls and radio communication, of course, but most of the time I’ll be out on my own. Perfect.

After clicking a few buttons on my computer, I send in my application.

It’s an internal posting open only to senior rangers, so I have a good shot at it.

Ultimately, it depends on who else applies.

While it’s my dream, I know most people are looking for fancier positions at big national parks—the kind of places families visit for summer vacation.

My skin itches at the thought of having to deal with the throngs of tourists who come through Yellowstone weekly. No, thank you. The other rangers can have their big-name places; leave me the wilderness.

I lean back in my chair far enough that I can see through the small window in my kitchen.

This apartment is a dimly lit basement with wonky water pressure and hideous carpet, but it’s cheap, and the woman who owns it lets me rent it month-to-month.

If I get this job, I’ll be able to pack my bags with the few items I’ve accumulated and get out of here quickly.

Vermont.

I can already picture myself hiking through dense forests, drinking tea while watching the snow fall, and getting to know the inhabitants of the surrounding woods. It might not happen, but a girl can dream.