Rancher and military hero Bane Westmoreland is on a mission to reconnect with the one who got away. And when the beautiful chemist’s discovery puts her in danger, Bane vows to protect her at all costs… Read on for a sneak peek of BANE the latest in New York Times Bestselling author Brenda Jackson’s The Westmorelands series “Why are you acting so secretive?” Bane asked, puzzled. “You’ve never acted that way with me before.” No, Crystal hadn’t. But then the Bane she used to know, the secret husband she’d loved more than life itself, would not have forgotten her for five years. He would have moved heaven, hell and any place in between to have her with him so the two of them could be together. “You’re not the only one who’s changed. Just like you’re not the same, I’m not the same.” They faced off. She didn’t see him move, but suddenly his body brushed against hers and she drew in a sharp breath. The touch had been electric, sending a sizzle through her. Suddenly, her mind was filled with memories of the last time they’d touched. Really touched. All over. Naked. Those memories were enough to ignite a…

I have always been a chocolate fiend. Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge, chocolate candy with almost any filling, even semi-sweet chocolate chips straight from the package are my vice. I prefer chocolate anything for dessert, except perhaps mole, which is a combination of chiles and chocolate, something that makes no sense to me. Chiles should be spicy, and chocolate should be sweet. When I turned 21 in college, my best friend planned a surprise birthday party for me in the common room of my dorm. Celeste made an excuse to meet me there, and I nearly canceled because I was depressed that no one remembered my birthday. Instead, I opened the door to shouts of surprise and lots of hugs and laughter. One of the best gifts I received that night was Celeste’s mother’s recipe for chocolate cherry cake. Celeste’s mother was renowned for her cooking, and as a poor college student who ate mostly in the cafeteria, I always looked forward to dinner invitations at her house. Celeste wrote her mother’s recipe on a piece of paper torn from a secretary’s steno pad. (That should date me a little! For those who don’t know the term,…