Debut author Wells scores big with a perfectly paced and gutsy romance that takes the push-pull heat of competitive flirtation to the max. Kate Snyder, a “feminine but formidable” women’s basketball coach, is determined to defend the successful sports empire she’s built at Wolcott University. She fears being overshadowed by the high-priced hiring of scandal-ridden hottie Danny McMillan to rescue their failing men’s football team. The friction in Kate and Danny’s public fights, laden with “so much chemistry, there’s been talk of handing out hazmat suits,” is a publicity boon, but their private relationship may butt up against the morality clause of Danny’s contract. Wells masters the slow-burn buildup, giving each lead a steamy solo scene before even getting them together, and transfers their fierce banter smoothly from the school hallways into the bedroom. The boldness with which this power couple takes on the workplace issue as a team displays egalitarian and mutually supportive strength too rarely seen in heterosexual romance. A side plot focusing on family drama is weaker, but Kate’s two gossipy, feminist girlfriends are delightful and well positioned to be the next leads in the series. This is a very impressive debut sure to garner an instant following for Wells. (Feb.)New