Free Precedent: Book Three: Covenant of Trust Series by Paula Wiseman

stretched across his chest. He wore the same type of long cargo shorts that Jack liked, except Dylan didn’t look like such a dork in them.
    I didn’t know he could read. She went back to the computer, back to the search. Maybe it’s listed under fantasy instead of sci-fi.
    Within moments, Dylan appeared at the counter with a video game magazine. “I didn’t know you worked here,” he said.
    “ Two years now.” She picked up his magazine and ran the bar code across the scanner. “Is this all?”
    “ Yeah,” he said, reaching for his wallet.
    “ Do you have one of our members’ discount cards?”
    “ What? No. Listen, Shannon, I’m really sorry about the party and everything. I’d like to make it up to you. Can I take you for dinner somewhere tomorrow night?”
    “ Serious?”
    “ As a heart attack,” Dylan said with a smile.
    Her head, her gut instinct, everything inside her screamed “say no!” but what better test of her dad’s sincerity could there be? If he really trusted her, he would let the date go without much comment. If he went off, well . . . then she was right about him.
    “ Okay, Dylan.” Shannon dropped the magazine in a bag. “I think I’d like that.”
    “ Six?”
    “ Six is fine. See you tomorrow.”
     
    * * *
     
    Friday, June 27
     
    “ I had a great time,” Dylan said with as much smooth sincerity as he could muster. He eased his car to a stop in front of Shannon’s house, then he twisted around to face her. “I hope this isn’t the last time I get to take you out.”
    “ I have to admit,” she said, “in spite of your reputation, you’re a really nice guy.”
    “ So do nice guys get to kiss you good night?” he asked with a sly grin.
    “ Just a quick one.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, then hopped out of the car. “Thanks again!”
    Dylan watched her walk up the driveway, then he pulled out his cell phone. “Wes, you better be saving your money. You’re gonna have to pay up on this one. I’ll have her in five dates, maybe three.” A nice guy. He laughed and drove away.
     
    * * *
     
    Chuck spent a solid week encouraging and prodding, but it paid off. He convinced Bobbi to join him for an at-home movie date. He popped a bowl of popcorn and rented a couple of chick flicks the girl at the video store recommended. Two hours. That’s all he was asking for. If he could take Bobbi’s mind off everything for just two hours, it would be a major victory.
    For a sweet hour and a half, he thought he’d pulled it off. He sat on the sofa with his arm around her, enjoying just being close to her. When she laughed gently, he felt a boost, like things were turning around, that grief was subsiding at last. Before the movie finished, he heard Shannon come in.
    She shuffled in and leaned against the doorframe. “Where’s Jack?” she asked.
    “ Upstairs,” Bobbi answered, motioning for Shannon to come and sit. “Did you have fun?”
    “ Yeah, I did, actually.” She sat on the arm of the easy chair across from the sofa.
    “ What’d you do?” Chuck asked, trying his best not to sound like an interrogator.
    “ I, uh, I had a date.”
    “ Sweetheart, we need to meet these boys before you go out with them,” Bobbi said. “You know that.”
    “ You can meet him. That’s no problem.”
    “ Before the date, not after,” Chuck said, his voice rising ever so slightly. “Who was he?”
    Shannon glanced at her mother, then faced him and said without wavering, “Dylan Snider.”
    “ The boy who had the party? What were you thinking?” He jerked the remote control off the coffee table and turned off the television. “Is this how you repay us for cutting you a break over the arrest? For believing you that you were innocent?”
    “ You never believed me! You only went along with it because of Mom.”
    “ Give me your car keys.” Chuck held his hand out. His voice was quiet and steady. He wasn’t going to get angry and make things worse.
    Shannon took the