My Shy Valentine
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My Shy Valentine Series Masterlist
Pairing: Tim Bradford x shy!fem!reader
Summary: As Valentine's Day approaches, Tim's coworkers don't believe he has a girlfriend. She's too shy to be introduced conventionally, but when they catch him hugging someone at the station, the truth comes out.
Warnings: fluff! a repeated mouth-to-mouth joke, this has build-up to Valentine's Day.
Word Count: 2.2k+ words
Masterlist | Tim Bradford Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List
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“Can you take this to the K-9 captain?” Angela asks, extending a paper toward Tim.
“Do I look like your secretary?” he replies.
“No, you look like an errand boy.”
Tim rolls his eyes at Angela’s smile. He should be used to it by now, but she never fails to surprise and push him to the brink of snapping. She’s also one of his closest friends, so he powers through her nosiness and sarcastic comments.
“Fine, but only because I was going that way before you asked,” he answers, taking the paper.
“Sure. Thanks, Timothy.”
As Tim walks into the K-9-unit training area, he looks around for the captain but finds something more interesting to focus on. Across the turf obstacle course, you are talking to a K-9 officer, Hughie, as everyone in the station refers to him. Tim finds himself drawn to you for some unexplained reason.
“Bradford,” the captain calls. “Finally realize we’re the best?”
“No, sir, I’m happy in Metro,” Tim answers. “Dropping this off for Detective Lopez.”
The captain nods as he takes the paper, noticing Tim’s gaze drift back to you.
“Who’s that?” Tim asks.
“Hughie,” the captain answers before quickly realizing his mistake, exclaiming, “Oh!” before telling Tim your name. He adds that you are Hughie’s best friend, and you come to visit often.
You raise your head, meeting Tim’s eyes for a second before you look away quickly. Tim thinks he could get used to being looked at by you, and the idea startles him.
✯✯✯✯✯
Looking away from the attractive officer quickly, you focus on your best friend, Hughie. He seems to notice something has brought out your shyness, glancing across the obstacle course before chuckling.
“That’s Bradford, he’s Metro. And, between you and me, grumpy and overbearing.”
You nod, knowing that it’s supposed to be a warning, yet you find yourself more intrigued by the knowledge that there’s more than meets the eye.
“Excuse me,” Bradford says, walking up behind you. “Hughie, I wanted to let you know that Kojo is still addicted to those treats you introduced him too.”
Hughie laughs and you watch Bradford smile as he turns to you. Hughie introduces you, supplying you with Tim Bradford’s full name. You extend your hand, hoping it’s not sweaty, clammy, or any other word ending with -y as you shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” he murmurs, brushing his thumb over your knuckles as you pull your hand away.
Remembering Hughie’s warning, you think Tim is everything but grumpy and overpowering as he introduces himself. Tim, however, immediately catches onto how shy you are, and his smile grows when you clench the hand he just shook into a fist while you look at Hughie’s dog.
✯✯✯✯✯
Tim waits outside the K-9 unit, hoping that he doesn’t come across as creepy or find out that he misread your reactions as he waits for you.
“Hey,” he calls when you walk out.
You jump, startled at the sudden attention.
“Sorry,” he apologizes, with a smile that doesn’t seem sorry to you. “I didn’t mean to bombard you, but I wanted to ask you something without Hughie standing right beside you.”
Furrowing your brows, you wonder what he could want to know that couldn’t be discussed in front of your best friend.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me? We can do whatever you want,” Tim offers.
After a moment of silence, Tim’s smile falls, and you whisper, “Why me?”
“That’s usually my line,” he jokes, easing your nerves slightly.
You nod, agreeing to a date and hoping you can survive a night with a gorgeous man like Tim.
✯✯✯✯✯
Survival is not an option, it turns out. From the moment Tim picks you up with a bouquet of your favorite flowers, he seems determined to embarrass you and make you hide from him.
“Have I mentioned how gorgeous you are?” Tim asks.
You raise your napkin to your face, ducking behind it and hoping you can stay hidden until Tim is ready to leave, but he pulls it away from your face with a lie about being sorry.
Though he makes you so shy you can’t speak to him, you and Tim both fall quickly and within a few weeks of meeting him, you’re completely under his spell.
✯✯✯✯✯
Visiting Hughie, he asks what you see in Bradford, and you can only raise one shoulder to your cheek. There isn’t enough time to list everything you love about Tim, but you also think Hughie wouldn’t get it.
“As long as he treats you well, it’s your decision,” Hughie decides.
You smile, wrapping your arms around his waist as he chuckles. His dog barks as he returns your hug.
“Do you want to go see Tim?” Hughie asks.
“No,” you answer quickly. “Not while he’s working and there’s so many people.”
“You visit me in front of other people while I’m working,” Hughie argues.
“I don’t have a massive crush on you,” you mumble.
“No, you’re just a terrible friend who made the ‘Hughie’ nickname stick.”
“Sorry,” you say with a pout, spreading your arms for another hug.
“I suppose you’re forgiven; not much I can do about it now.”
✯✯✯✯✯
“Who are you watching the Super Bowl with?” Nolan asks. “Bailey and I are having a little get together if you want to stop by.”
“I’m having a few buddies over, and my girlfriend is coming, but thanks for the offer,” Tim answers distractedly.
Angela, Grey, and Nyla stand nearby and rush to stop him. “Girlfriend?” they repeat.
Wondering what is wrong with them and why they’re reacting so strangely, Tim nods with his brows pinched. They all start talking over one another, and Tim only catches pieces of what they’re saying.
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Wade says.
“There’s no way… did you drug her?” Nyla accuses.
“Who would…” Nolan begins, trailing off as Tim raises a hand to stop them.
“Really?” he asks. “It’s that hard to believe?”
They nod, and Angela speaks for everyone in the station when she says, “You just don’t really act like the girlfriend type these days.”
Tim rolls his eyes, glancing toward the K-9 unit and considering calling you or Hughie to tell them you’re real, but it’s not worth the trouble. They’ll find another reason not to believe him.
“I’m with Wade,” Nyla agrees. “Until I see her, I’m calling bull.”
“Hate to say I agree, but…” Nolan shrugs.
“You are terrible people,” Tim concludes as he walks away.
✯✯✯✯✯
Tim waits outside your job, already smiling as he plans to make you shy away from him. When you step out, grinning while you approach him, he begins his assault of compliments, holding your wrists away from your face so he can see your eyes.
“You make it so easy,” he teases, kissing your nose.
“You’re just mean. You know I can’t take it,” you argue.
“That’s what makes it so fun.”
You huff, and Tim laughs as he moves his hand to your back to help you into the passenger seat of his truck.
“I do love you, though, I just like to show it-“
“In unexpected ways,” you finish, nodding sarcastically. “You’re going to kill me one of these days. I won’t be able to take it, and I’ll just keel over in your arms.”
“Like I’d let you,” Tim argues. “Mouth-to-mouth exists for a reason, baby.”
You turn away, the idea pulling your fight out of you as Tim chuckles.
“You’re not like this with anyone else,” you say quietly.
“Because you’re the only one of you.”
Once Tim lets you into his house, he notices you’re staring at his waist. He’s seen you hug Hughie and had the joy of initiating hugs himself, so he knows that is what you want. You always go for the waist when hugging but never seem willing to initiate contact with him.
Tim spreads his arms, and you rush forward to grip his waist tightly, relaxing against him as his arms circle your shoulders, rubbing comforting circles on your back.
“You can just hug me, you know that, right?” he asks kindly.
“What if you don’t want one right then?” you reply, your voice muffled against his chest.
“I always want one from you.”
Your grip tightens as you press your face further into his chest; with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Tim takes his opportunity to get sappy and push you. He pulls back slowly, cupping your face between his hands.
“You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” he begins, punctuating his compliment with a kiss. “And the best hugger.” Another kiss. “Even when you get shy and try to run away from me.”
You duck your chin, and Tim brushes his fingers over your cheek to raise your head back toward him. Each compliment and touch from him makes you putty in his hands, and Tim chuckles as he drops his head, kissing you as you cling to him.
✯✯✯✯✯
On Valentine’s Day, you wake up with a smile, excited to share your love with the people closest to you as you anticipate Tim’s surprise. He’s been talking about it for weeks, and every time you ask for a hint, he distracts you with a compliment or by staring at your face, causing you to squirm before looking away from him.
Your first stop is the police station, a small gift for Hughie and his wife tucked in your bag as you carry an oversized cardboard heart filled with treats.
“What on earth is that?” Hughie asks.
“This is for my best friend,” you answer, setting it down on the floor and removing the lid to reveal an assortment of gourmet dog treats.
“You get a boyfriend and everything changes,” Hughie sighs, smiling as he pulls you into a side hug.
“And this is for you and Mrs. Hughie,” you add, passing him the gift bag covered in hearts.
“She’ll love that nickname,” Hughie jokes. “But thank you for thinking of us.”
“Any big plans?”
“We’re going out this weekend; too busy for us married folks to go out on Valentine’s Day. But what about the new lovebirds?”
“Tim has a surprise, but he won’t tell me anything.”
“Well… you could always go surprise him right now,” Hughie suggests, smiling.
“I don’t know,” you say slowly, glancing toward the door.
“Live a little,” Hughie adds.
You nod, telling him you’ll come to see him again before you leave. Taking a deep breath, you enter the station and set out to find Tim.
He sees you first, and when you look up, he winks at you. Raising your shoulder toward your cheek to hide your embarrassment, you walk toward him when he gestures you over.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, smiling at you.
You shrug. “Came to see Hughie.”
“Not me?”
When you shrug again, Tim takes pity on you and whispers, “Sorry. Whenever you want.”
You take his offer, stepping forward and wrapping your arms around his waist and his move over your shoulders. He tells you that you look beautiful, and you tighten your arms around him.
“Can’t breathe,” he pants dramatically.
Believing him, or something close to it, you begin to pull away, but Tim catches your waist and adds, “No better way to go, though.”
“Stop,” you beg.
Tim smiles, and you know that asking him to stop usually spurs him on to continue.
Nolan, Angela, Nyla, and Wade stand nearby, their eyes wide and jaws dropped as Tim openly shows you affection, smiling as you hide against his chest.
“Who’s that? Another sister?” Aaron asks as he walks in.
“Girlfriend,” Angela and Wade say together.
“Girlfriend?!” Aaron exclaims, his expression matching theirs.
You and Tim look over, and when you see how much attention is on you, you turn back around and hide against Tim again.
“They want to meet you,” Tim tells you.
Shaking your head, you decline.
“They’re nice.”
You shake your head again, but Tim spreads his hand over your back and leads you toward them. Waving shyly as Tim makes introductions, you stay as close to his side as possible.
Nolan opens his mouth to speak, but Tim sends him a warning look, and he closes his mouth to reconsider. “Any Valentine’s Day plans?” he asks.
You stiffen beside Tim, and he answers, “That’s enough,” before steering you away.
“Way to go, Nolan!” Nyla says. “We had them.”
“It was just a question!” he defends.
“She’s shy, can’t you see that?” Angela adds.
“Next time, leave Nolan in the car,” Wade says, shaking his head as he returns to his office.
✯✯✯✯✯
In the safety of Tim’s office, you pull a gift box from your bag and pass it to Tim.
“It’s not much,” you begin.
“It’s perfect,” Tim says, setting it on his desk before cupping your cheeks. “Much like you.”
You turn into one of his hands, but he pulls you into a kiss before you can hide completely.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he says against your lips.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” you repeat.
When he pulls back, smiling as your eyes linger on his lips before dropping to his waist, you feel emboldened by his words and actions.
“I love you,” you say quietly.
You don’t have time to get embarrassed at your first confession before you’re back in Tim’s arms: the only place you get shy but don’t mind.
✯✯✯✯✯
"I thought you had a surprise for Valentine's Day."
Tim's brows raise as he asks, "Have a little faith in me, would you?"
You smile, taking his hand as he leads you onto his porch. When he opens the door, you see the floor is covered in rose petals and battery-powered candles cover the living room and kitchen.
"Tim," you breathe out.
He repeats your name in a matching tone.
"This is too much."
"It's not enough for you."
"I-I think I'm ready to meet your friends whenever you are."
Tim nods, pulling you close and tapping his nose against your temple when you find your spot, with your arms around his waist.
"It's up to you, but I'll be there the whole time."
"I love you, Tim. Thank you for being patient with me, even though you drive me crazy sometimes."
Tim laughs, leaning his head back. "I drive you crazy? Imagine what you do to me."
You lean against him, looking at the large bouquet and red gift bag on the table.
"I love you," he replies.
"You really did do too much."
"You would keep me from celebrating the woman I love?" Tim asks dramatically. "Maybe I will be the one who needs mouth-to-mouth."
You step back, moving toward the table, and Tim grabs your hips, following you with more whispered compliments.
"I'm glad I came to the station that day," you tell him, leaning against his chest.
"Don't tell Angela which day it was when you meet her, she'll take the credit for us getting together."
"Which I still don't understand."
"Usually my line," Tim repeats.
You turn in his hold, cupping his jaw as you rise and kiss him.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's Day, my shy little valentine."
Your groan is met with kisses and far too many gifts, but Tim takes your shyness in stride and treats it like one of your assets rather than a problem. He loves you, and you love him, even when he makes you feel like you need mouth-to-mouth.
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