My Favorite Scene from Turning It On

There’s an undeniable emotional impact that make certain scenes memorable,  and as a reader, it’s fun to know what the author was thinking and feeling as she wrote it.

Turning It On has a couple of scenes that really stand out for me, but one comes late in the book, when Hannah my shy, wallflower heroine has started to come into her own as a sexy, confident woman. One night she confesses to Vlad, the male stripper hero, that she’s never watched an exotic dancer. Vlad decides to remedy the situation, pronto.

To write the scene, I watched Magic Mike a time or two, listened to the song Vlad would strip to, The Black Crows Hard to Handle,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtLbE3IUY2U&list=RDmtLbE3IUY2U and thought about what Hannah, who’s never seen a stripper in a crowded room, let alone one on one, might think and feel.

So pour a cold glass of your favorite beverage for a steamy tropical night, picture a deserted beach front bar, and enjoy…

 

When Hannah arrived at The Smiling Shark just before midnight, Vlad was waiting on the love seat, his arm resting along the back; a glass of wine was on the table. For a long moment, their gazes locked and Hannah drank in the sight of him.

“Is this what I’m doing to thank you?” she asked.

“Nyet,” he said. “That, I’m still deciding. This is because seeing you only this afternoon with your boys was not enough. Not after how we left things last time.”

“I didn’t like how we left things either. Especially since you might go home after talent night.”

He lifted his hand, inviting her to sit beside him. She settled into the circle of his arm, the brush of his fingertips against her bare shoulder making her skin tingle. Across the room, the bartender smiled.

“Getting eliminated wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Vlad said softly. “Except for leaving you.”

“What about the money?”

“Maybe I’ve changed my mind about how important it is to win.”

Did that mean he had changed his mind about trying to start a new life? Though she was disappointed, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. He hadn’t had a clear picture of what that new life might be, and it was hard to walk away from what one knew. Without an education, it would be hard for him to earn the sort of money he earned from stripping. She wouldn’t demean him by suggesting that he ought to “better” himself. Instead, she smiled and took his hand. “This show has changed my mind about a lot of things, too.”

“Jack?”

Her smile felt strained. “Once we’re back in New York, things between us will sort themselves out. Being here has made me see that so much of what I always believed wasn’t necessarily true. I mean, in twenty-four hours, I’ll be tap-dancing on live TV!”

“Feel ready for it?”

“I think so. You saw me rehearse. What do you think?”

“I think you move very well.”

“For a big girl, you mean.”

“Not at all. But you’re still not confident enough to look your audience in the eye.”

“Can you blame me?”

“You have no reason to doubt yourself, and showing confidence matters. In skating, the judges wanted to see we were not afraid to look right at them. It is even more important for me now. Ever seen a stripper afraid to make eye contact?”

“I’ve never seen a stripper at all.”

He blinked in surprise. “Really? Not even a fake cop dropping in on a bachelorette party?”

“My friends aren’t like that. We don’t get enjoyment out of degrading people.”

Vlad raised his brow. “Degrading them?”

She winced. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sometimes, it does feel like I’m a piece of meat, and nothing else.” His voice was resigned.

“Vlad, I’m sorry.”

His touch reassured her that he didn’t take her comment personally. “No harm done. Still, the fact you have never seen an exotic dancer troubles me. I think we should remedy that right now.”

It took a moment to grasp his meaning. “You’re going to strip for me, here? Now?”

“If you’re only going to see one, might as well be the best.” He turned to the bartender. “Miguel, you don’t mind, right?”

The bartended laughed. “Oh, no, senor, I don’t mind at all.”

“First we need some music.” Vlad took her hand and led her across the room to the jukebox, where he perused the selections.

She was conscious of his strong hand still clasping hers. “What do you usually strip to? Disco?”

“Depends on the character I’m playing. I just did a routine to Lady Gaga’s ‘Applause,’ where I played a movie star. I’ve done construction workers, cops, the usual. You won’t get the full effect though, because I’m not wearing tear-off pants.”

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About Elizabeth Harmon

I love stories that give a fresh take on classic themes, and feature characters and locations not often seen in romance. Give me a lovable, if less-than-perfect heroine, a gorgeous hero with a heart of gold, take them a little off the beaten path and I’m a happy girl.

I read a variety of genres– romance to horror and just about everything in between. I am a member of Romance Writers of America. I have worked as a freelance journalist for a number of local publications and am a contributing writer to Romance Writers Report.

When I’m not writing, I love to ice skate, bike ride, hang out at the beach or on my front porch. I love vintage homes, adventurous cooking, spending time with my family and traveling.

Author Links:  Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

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