Alexander just smiled and shrugged a shoulder casually. "Of course. Well, its more common courtesy than anything, really. I would hope most people would do the same."
Although she was an attractive woman, Alex normally would have said a polite good day, then been on his way. It was his normal instinct, anyway, when he met people, especially of the women variety, outside his job. But a voice in the back of his head that reminded him of his sister's told him to at least try and be a little social.
"Are you, uh, writing in a journal there?" was asked in his best stab at conversation.